Page 86 of Mark my Words

He paused, cup midway to his mouth as he looked over at me, clearly not expecting me to agree to spend time with him.

“You’ve never been to Chicago before, right?”

I shook my head, refraining from telling him that domestic tourism was beneath Melissa Willard’s standards. She’d prefer to take the corporate jet to Paris or Barcelona than to Chicago.

“Perfect. Let me take care of everything. I promise I’ll show you an enjoyable time in the windy city.”

Sam’s good mood was oddly infectious for the rest of the day, and we easily worked side by side as Chase and Evan did their thing, my frame of mind lightening from my dark mood this morning. He hadn’t brought up last night, clearly giving me a pass for acting like an asshole in front of him.

“You ready? Diana said we can take off.” He pulled his messenger bag over his shoulder, gesturing for me to walk in front of him as I grabbed my bag. “I ordered an Uber already if you want to share. It’s too hot to hike across the city in work clothes.”

Sam had already ditched his suit jacket; his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Forcing myself not to stare at the arm porn, I kept my eyes forward until we were outside on the sidewalk. Then I was hungrily taking in his muscles’ strong play beneath all that tan skin as he opened the car door and held my hand to help me inside.

I clutched my bag in my lap as he placed his at his feet, using both hands to scroll through and answer the emails on his phone, the muscles flexing as his fingers flew across the screen. The humidity had caused his hair to curl lightly around the edges of his face, and I was practically panting as I watched a bead of sweat track down his neck and under his collar. There was clearly something wrong with me finding sweat sexy, but it made me recall how he looked sweaty and rumpled from other exertions.

My self-imposed chastity was backfiring the more time I spent with him. Maybe I would be begging him to kiss me. I was already imagining it. The soft feel of his lips on mine and how he sucked on my lower lip which made my toes curl. The feeling of his fingers in my hair or grasping my neck as he coaxed my lips apart with his tongue and...

“You coming?” Sam asked as he pushed the door open on his side of the car.

Not yet, Sam. Not yet.

“Yup.” He hesitated at the squeak in my voice, searching my face as I tried to remain impassive. My neck felt hot as I placed my hand in his outstretched palm, letting him lead me inside the hotel. Tomorrow was going to be interesting.

My phone chirped from my nightstand the next morning, earlier than I would have liked on a day I could have been sleeping in, but I’d already been awake for a few hours trying to get some work done. If I was going to lose a full day, I had to take time where I could get it, even if it meant sacrificing sleep.

Sam: Whenever you’re ready, I’ve got breakfast. Come get the sausage while it’s hot.

Somehow, I doubted he was offering the kind of sausage I had been craving lately.

Kristine: Let me throw on some shorts, and I’ll be ready in 5 minutes.

Sam: You don’t need to get dressed for me. Come on over without pants. I won’t judge.

Laughing, I sent him back an emoji with its eyebrow raised, receiving a crying laughing emoji in response.

Sam: Worth a shot. I’ll take off my pants if it helps you feel more comfortable.

Kristine: Tease.

Sam: Who said I’m teasing? I’ll gladly walk around without pants for you.

Kristine: Just walking around?

Sam: Well, I can think of something more fun to do without our pants on, but I’ll let you decide.

My heart fluttered as I rushed into the bathroom, checking the light makeup I’d put on after my shower early this morning. I’d let my hair dry in its natural waves, a ponytail holder on my wrist for when it inevitably got too hot to keep it down.

I’d spent more time than I wanted to admit rifling through my suitcase this morning for something casual, settling on a fitted tank top and a pair of high-waisted denim shorts. They were a little on the tight side, so I’d left them off while I worked, but I turned to check the fit in the mirror as I shimmied them over my hips, hoping it didn’t look like I was trying too hard.

My phone buzzed again as I applied another coat of lip gloss, rubbing my lips together before I picked it up and glanced at Sam’s text.

Sam: Your food is getting cold. I’m sure you look gorgeous.

Those annoying butterflies were back as I crossed the room, grabbing my small purse before I knocked on the door to his room.

“I was right,” he smiled as he opened the door, his fingers lingering on my hand as he pulled me inside his room. “Mmm. You smell good too.”

I blushed as I focused on the tray on his made bed, two silver domes concealing the contents of both plates.

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