Page 49 of Pretty Little Thing

“You still there, man?”

I swallow. “Yeah. I’ll call you soon.”

I hang up the phone, happy to focus my attention on Nora again. She leaves the break room with a fresh cup of steaming coffee. That dick from creative has intercepted her. He waves his tablet in her face, making her pick and choose between holiday logo designs but Nora obviously just wants to sit down and enjoy that coffee for five fucking minutes.

Then, for a brief second, she looks at me instead.

Her eyes draw to me, locking with mine. I feel a deep, stabbing pang in my chest but it doesn’t hurt. It just tickles, like a silent secret between friends.

She doesn’t linger for very long. She shifts forward again and she continues on back to her office out of my eye-line.

Eight o’clock.

That time yesterday, I had her in my arms. Limp and breathless Nora Payne.

That time tonight, I’ll have her begging for it. Eager and submissive Nora Payne…

I like the sound of that.

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