Page 42 of Drunk on You

chapter seventeen

JULIAN

Me

Don’t forget, we leave for Hawaii on Thursday.

I press Send on the text and shake my head, knowing it’s a dumb text to send since our calendars are synced, but it’s Saturday, and I haven’t seen or heard from Ana all day.

Ana

I know. Our calendars are synced. Why are you really texting me?

I chuckle at her response. The woman never beats around the bush.

Me

I was wondering if you’ll be home for dinner.

Ana

Why? You want to cook for me?

Me

Or take you out … whichever you prefer.

After having Ana grinding on my lap yesterday and seeing that she wants me despite the tough exterior shell she uses to keep herself safe, I’ve decided to lay all my cards on the table. The woman is everything I want—smart, fierce, independent, and beautiful. Even though the circumstances aren’t ideal due to us fighting for the same position, I would be a dumbass not to take advantage of the fact that I have her living with me for the foreseeable future.

Ana

You can cook for me. What time will you be home?

Me

I am home.

Ana

So am I.

Instead of texting her back, I pocket my phone and go in search of her. After checking all the obvious places—including the pool because a part of me is hoping I’ll find her skinny-dipping again—I find her sitting in the library, her laptop open and papers strewn about all over the desk. I didn’t realize she’d made this room her own space, but I like knowing she’s gotten comfortable here.

She doesn’t notice me standing in the doorway, so I take a few moments to watch her in her element. Her hair is up in a messy bun, held together by a pen, and her face is clean of makeup, showing off the beautiful spatter of freckles she has across her nose. She’s sporting a thin tank top, minus a bra, and because it’s chilly in this room, her nipples are on display.

With a pen between her lips and her brows furrowed in concentration, she types furiously, no doubt planning world domination—or a Kingston Limited takeover. The woman is the entire fucking package, and if I have it my way, instead of fighting for power, we’ll rule Kingston together. I just need to figure out how to make that happen.

“Maybe you should take a picture,” she says without looking up. “Then, you won’t have to continue staring at me like a creeper.”

I chuckle at her unfiltered words. “I prefer the real deal,” I volley. “Pictures don’t do you justice.”

She glances up and makes a show of rolling her eyes in an attempt to appear unaffected, but the soft pink now tinting her cheeks gives her away.

“What do you want, Parker?” she asks, calling me by my last name, like the guys at work do. She’s never done it before, and if I had to guess, it’s her veiled attempt at keeping me at a distance.

“I’m bored.” I shrug and walk over to where she’s working and have a seat across from her. “Whatcha working on?”

“My pitch.”

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