The realization that the ruse had succeeded made her bold. As the arrangements were being finalized, she became as tough bargaining with the Colonel as Kevin was. The sense of power was alarming, as if in the midst of the prickly negotiations she’d beaten back a haunting ghost. The triumph felt exhilarating.
“I see you’ve regained your balls, dear one,” Kevin remarked as they were dressing for a celebration dinner.
“You think so?”
“You’ve been holding back on me so much, I thought you’d deserted McLeod Inc. until this afternoon.”
“Desert you? Never!” she exclaimed happily. “I was just biding my time, getting used to Colonel Mitchell Coe. Don’t you find it kind of silly to be calling him “The Colonel”?” she added with a good deal of sassy sarcasm.
“You think it’s a bit much?”
