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“Huh. Like how you convinced me to study here.”
He managed to look smug instead of sheepish. “If you get the studying done, then does it matter?”
I laughed. “Mildly manipulative.”
“It’s not…manipulating. It’s negotiations, love,” he said with a wink and then returned to his scrolling.
I just shook my head at him and went back to my own work. I didn’t mind the “negotiations.” Not really. This was actually peaceful, and I felt locked into my work. Soon, the Chinese was cold and forgotten, and I was deep, deep into my studies. My eyes could barely stay open by the time I looked up from my stupor.
“Oh God, is it already midnight?” I muttered, rubbing my hands over my eyes.
Jordan had retreated to the couch at some point and was typing furiously into his laptop. “It is.”
I yawned. “I should head home.”
“Take the guest bedroom.”
I closed my laptop and walked around to where he was sitting. His dark eyes drifted up to mine, and he quirked an eyebrow in question.
“Are you going to bed?”
He shrugged. “Soon.”
A part of me knew that I should go to the guest bedroom. I’d seen it before. It was lush and probably nicer than my own bed anyway. But he’d done exactly what he’d said he’d do. He’d gotten Chinese and left me to study. I felt better prepared for tomorrow than I had in weeks…maybe months. We’d been…friends. Just like he’d said. I’d been skeptical, and he’d proven me wrong.
I reached out for his laptop, moving it to the coffee table. Then I straddled him, settling my weight down onto him. His hands moved to my waist and slid to my hips.
“This is not studying,” he teased.
“It’s late,” I reminded him before my lips dipped to his.
He kissed me back hungrily, as if he’d barely restrained himself from kissing me all evening. The control behind that kiss revealed everything I needed to know. He wanted the benefits from this arrangement as much as the friends. And he was willing to forgo this to make me comfortable.
“Come to bed,” I murmured against his lips.
He didn’t need to be told twice. He stood, lifting me into the air. I wrapped my arms and legs tight around him, and then he walked me to his bedroom. No guest bedroom necessary after all.
13
Jordan
Annie started studying at my house almost every evening.
She didn’t stay the night every night. Sometimes, she actually finished her work at a decent hour and went home to spend time with Jennifer. On rare occasions, she had study sessions with other fourth years, and I didn’t see or hear from her at all.
Which was fine.
We weren’t dating. No matter how Julian or Hollin joked when it was brought up. And if I was honest, this was much easier than any relationship I’d been in. Those relationships had always been as brittle as glass. Glossy and seemingly perfect on the outside, but one good hit to the surface, and the entire thing shattered.
“Okay,” Morgan said, clicking her pen against the notebook in front of her. “I think that’s a wrap. We all need lunch. We can come back in, say, an hour and a half to get back at this.”
Morgan was the CEO of Wright Construction. She’d been promoted before she was thirty, and a lot of people had been skeptical she could handle the job. Especially my asshole father, who had all but staged a coup to take the position from her. But Morgan had proven them all wrong. She was more than capable, if our stock numbers were any indication.
She was seated next to David, Sutton’s husband and CFO, and her brother, Austin Wright, a senior vice president. The other vice presidents and the executive directors were present, discussing the new soccer complex.
When I’d moved here from Vancouver, there hadn’t been a position for me available, but they’d added an executive director position, and I’d stepped right in. There had been a few grumbles about it until I’d proven myself with The Buddy Holly Hall, a new performing arts center that was going to bring Broadway to Lubbock.
“Excellent,” Austin said. He scraped his chair back and stretched. “I could use some Hank’s. Anyone else?”
“I’m in for Hank’s,” David agreed. It was everyone’s favorite local fried chicken place.
“Jordan?” Austin asked.
I shook my head. “Count me out.”
“You’re not just going to sit at your desk and forget to eat again, are you?” Austin joked.
“I’m heading to Thai Pepper.” I’d promised Annie that I’d bring her lunch since her rotation this week was intense and she had kept forgetting to break for lunch.
Morgan eyed me astutely. “Haven’t y’all noticed Jordan leaving all the time for lunch now? He used to only get up from his desk once a month, and now, it’s two or three times a week.”
“Huh,” Austin said. “Who’s the girl?”
