Page 27 of Between the Lines

CHAPTER TEN

“JO, YOUMIGHTas well relax. We’re going to be in the car for a while, and you’re going to get a headache if you keep clenching your jaw like that.”

Theo had his eyes on the road ahead but was aware of every movement, every breath Jo made in the passenger’s seat of the low-slung F-Type Jaguar.

She’d been tense since they’d left the office, navigating through the congested streets of the city and onto the interstate. He could still feel the heat of her skin, branded onto the tips of his fingers from when he’d helped her with the scarf, and he didn’t think the tension was because she didn’t want to be there. In fact, he knew it—he knew Jo.

He knew that breathy little sigh, the same one she’d made when he was inside her. She was tense for the same reason he was—because she still wanted him. She wanted him, and she was confused about it.

He hoped that what he’d planned for today would help her clear her mind.

“Where are we going?” She’d asked this approximately every ten minutes since they’d left Boston, making him grin. Patience had never been one of her virtues.

“You’ll find out when we get there.” Luckily for her, he had patience enough for the both of them. “For now, let’s go over that list of article ideas. Pull it up and let’s see what grabs you.”

Huffing out a breath of exasperation, she wriggled her phone out of her pocket. He watched from the corner of his eye, enjoying the view of her thighs and her slim hips, wondering how on earth she’d managed to fit anything into the pocket of pants so tight.

“‘Wildest one-night stands,’” she read. He expected her to make some kind of sarcastic remark—in fact, he was looking forward to it—but instead she nodded thoughtfully. “I could work with that.”

What?

“What is the main purpose of Crossing Lines, as far as your marketing goes?” She sank her teeth into her lower lip, and he wanted to do that himself. “Is it for casual dating? Relationships? Or is it like that one site...what’s it called? Timber?”

“Tinder.” He pressed his lips together, trying not to laugh, since he could see that she was being serious. “And it’s for all of the above. But the hope is that by having you blog about all kinds of interesting topics relating to sex and love, it will set us up as being more cutting-edge than our peers. More avant-garde, the ones with our finger on the pulse of what the cool kids want.”

She nodded, returning to the list.

“‘Sugar dating—dating on your terms.’” She cocked her head, curious. “What’s that? I know I’ve read about that, but I’m a little unclear on the details.”

“Ever heard the term sugar daddy?” She nodded. “There are a number of sites to connect people who are looking for that kind of situation. Sugar daddies—or mommies—who don’t have the time or inclination for a relationship will post, seeking an arrangement with a sugar baby, mostly women, but there are some men now. In return for company and, most of the time, sex, the sugar daddies will fulfill wishes on the sugar baby’s list—often that’s someone to cover the rent, to help with student debt, to fund travel.”

“So we could do an article about why it’s called dating when, really, it’s a form of sex work?” She chewed on her lip as she thought about it, and he fought to keep his eyes on the road against the distraction those pink lips provided.

“That could work,” he said, taking a moment to look the other way, away from those sexy lips. Unfortunately, the endless field of grass didn’t have much to offer that could hold his attention.

“I don’t think we should do this one. It will make readers curious about these arrangement sites, driving them away from yours. We want to write about things that get them excited about exploring what they’ve read about, eager to meet people...but to meet people on Crossing Lines. Right?”

“I hadn’t thought about that,” he said, surprised. She was right, of course, and John would have likely said the same thing if he’d reviewed the list before Theo had sent it to Jo. “That’s a good point.”

Jo tapped a finger to her temple, grinning. “Not just air in here, my friend.”

A dart of warmth—not heat, not lust, but warmth—spread in Theo’s chest. This was the first genuine smile that Jo had given him since he’d returned. Something twisted in his rib cage, causing a bone-deep ache.

“‘Erotic fire cupping. Naked summer pool-hopping. Marijuana lube.’” She continued reviewing the list, commenting as she went. When she was halfway through the list, she paused, letting out a sexy little sound that made his dick sit up and pay attention.

“‘Sex with an ex,’” she read, setting her phone down on her thigh. “‘Exploring kink with an old flame can be easier than getting dirty with someone you want to keep.’”

He said nothing. He hadn’t added it to the list just to broach the topic, at least not consciously. That said, he’d wondered what she’d say about it, if anything.

With other women, he was on sure footing. He was charming, he was cocky, he was bossy and it worked—oh, how it worked.

Jo, though? Jo wasn’t like any other woman he’d ever met. She saw through his charm, laughed at his cockiness, and if he was bossy, well, one nudge too many and she’d kick back like a mule. It didn’t leave him with many options—at least, not ones he’d used before.

She was silent for a long moment, her thumb rubbing over the screen on her phone. He wasn’t prepared when she half turned in her seat, tucking one leg up underneath her.

“What would you think about that?” she asked, curiosity thick in her words.

“What?” His fingers tightened on the steering wheel. “Like...what do I think about that in general?”

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