Page 47 of Perfect Pitch

Shit.

Fucking fuck me. And not in the way I had intended.

I tear my mouth from hers. “I have to go.”

She blinks at me. “Go? Go where?”

“Work.”

Breathless, she rasps, “What was that? Some sort of bat signal?”

My forehead crashes against hers. “Simply put, yes. That was my boss’s ring tone and the only reason he calls me directly is if he’s in trouble, about to cause trouble, or going wheels up to start some up.” I wait for her to put the connection together—me being a bodyguard and Beckett’s Miller’s “Live the Dream” being my ringtone, but she doesn’t.

Thankfully.

Instead, she stares deep into my eyes before sliding her fingers back into my hair. Lifting her lips to mine, she brushes them gently against mine before bracing against my shoulders to hop off the counter. Immediately, my hands move to her waist to help her down.

Every luscious inch of her slides down the front of me sensuously, making me so damn hard, I want to find Beckett and punch him in the damn face. I clench my jaw. “You’re not making this easier.”

She reaches up and brushes a kiss beneath my jaw. “That was the point.”

I glare down at her.

Her cheeks flush with unfulfilled desire. “You have to go.”

The words escape before I can stop them. “The very last thing I want to do is go.”

That earns me a soft kiss, which I greedily consume. Seconds later, after Austyn’s wrapped back in my arms, I’m debating the merits of pretending I never heard Beckett’s call when a more potent noise causes us to spring apart.

A key in the lock.

“Trevor’s home,” she announces unnecessarily.

Regret blooms in my chest as I realize I have nothing but frustration to look forward to for the rest of the day. “And that’s my cue to vanish.” As the last lock twists, I drag my fingers down Austyn’s cheek. “I’ll call when I can.”

She clasps my fingers against her cheek but doesn’t say anything. Then again, does she need to?

I make it to the door just as Trevor opens it. “Hey, Austyn, they have... oh, hey, Mitch. What’s going on?”

“Nothing.” Now. “Work just called. I have to go.”

He shrugs. “Okay. See you.”

My eyes meet Austyn’s. “Yeah. See you soon.”

With that, I head out to see what the emergency is this time.

CHAPTER TWENTY

My best friend is better than yours. End of.

—Moore You Want

“I feel like dancing on the rooftop of the building under the light of the moon,” I laugh as I twirl around my room.

Fallon’s laughing in my ear. “You’ve managed to secure, what eight—‍”

“Ten.” I correct her dreamily. “Ten clubs.”

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