I’m feeling Shannon’s hand slide up my thigh to cup my dick, to stroke it, and I’m thinking about how good that feels.
Thinking that maybe I can erase that other night forever.
That other woman.
So, when she asks me to go home with her, I pay our tab and take her hand, leading her back to my car.
To my house.
To my bed.
It’s…a release, a moment where the edges of my reality go black.
But when she gets dressed that black begins to fade.
And when she walks out the door with a smile and an invitation to meet her at the same bar the following week, it’s gone completely.
I can’t wait to see you again.
“Fuck,” I hiss, pushing out of bed.
The shower I take is scorching hot.
But it doesn’t erase the words.
Nor the truth?—
That staying far, far away from Harper is the right thing to do.
Three
Harper
“These are really delicious,” Clara says, popping a miniature tart into her mouth, chewing, and swallowing far faster than it takes for me to make the hor d’oeuvres.
So fast, in fact, I feel a little sick.
Why do I spend so much time making this food, only for it to be devoured in a few seconds?
Probably because I charge two-fifty a pop, and Clara’s just made me over seven bucks in the minute we’ve been chatting.
Yeah.
That part.
Stomach settling, I smile at her. “I’m really glad you’re enjoying the food.” I wink at her as I put the finishing touches on my platter of tiny grilled cheese bites, each perched in an oversized spoon of creamy tomato and roasted red pepper soup.
My favorite—just don’t tell anyone.
“It’s delicious,” she semi-repeats through another mouthful of quiche.
“Good,” I say and heft up the platter. “But I do have to order you to stop hiding in the kitchen and go out there and let everyone tell you how fabulous you are.”
Her cheeks go pink, and her eyes slide to the side as she scoops up another quiche. “I don’t even know why I let Luke”—her husband and the man who sweetly went behind her back to hire me—“convince me to have a party.”
I nudge her toward the family room. “Because you got a kickass promotion and deserve to be celebrated.”
“It feels over the top.”
