Page 16 of Loving the CEO

Yes, well, that was 100 percent true, but also completely beside the point. Leo was a sexy man—I'd always known that. I’d been dating a guy when Leo and I first met in college. But even after we broke up, nothing ever happened between us, maybe because we didn’t want to risk a very special friendship.

He gave the pan a shake, flipping the shrimp over as I took out a bottle of tequila from the cabinet next to the sink. Grabbing two shot glasses, I filled them up almost to the brim. There were plenty of limes in the fruit basket, and I immediately cut two slices. The salt was already on the counter.

I licked my left hand before pouring salt on it. Leo licked his hand and did the same. We each grabbed a slice of lime before clinking our glasses.

"For old time's sake," I said.

"And new beginnings."

Our gazes crossed for a split second, and I nodded. Hell to the yes for new beginnings.

I licked the salt from my hand, then downed the shot without hesitation.Holy shit.It had been years since I’d had a tequila shot, and I felt like it was going to burn a hole through my stomach. I bit into the lime, too, but somehow that wasn't helping at all. I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping the burning sensation in my throat would stop.

Only the sound of Leo laughing made me open my eyes. He had his phone in front of him.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"I snapped a picture of you. You’re insanely cute. You make the exact same face you used to in college."

"That's about the last time I had tequila. My tolerance for hard alcohol has plummeted. Let me see that picture."

He turned his phone around.

I gasped. "Leo, I look terrible!"

"No, you don't," he said quietly, then shoved the phone into his back pocket. "Let's get back to cooking before this goes to my head."

"Good point.”

We didn't have much left to do, though. Once we poured everything into the pot, we just had to wait. I kept glancing at the tequila bottle.

"You want another shot, don't you?" Leo asked.

I snapped my head up, smiling sheepishly. "Yup. I can't resist the siren call. It's so relaxing. You know, after you get over the feel of it burning your insides."

"I’ll pour a second round. It's not like we're driving tonight."

I shimmied my hips in excitement, grabbing both our glasses and putting them next to each other in front of the bottle. I swayed a bit.

Huh... am I already a bit lightheaded? I must be imagining it. Alcohol doesn’t work that fast.

Leo filled up the glasses again. This time, he was the one who poured salt.

"To best friends," I said as we clinked glasses.

He looked at me intently. “For you and me.”

I did my very best to down my shot with dignity, no grimace. When I opened my eyes, Leo cocked a brow. "See? I can do it without the funny face."

"Tory," he said in a low voice I wasn't used to. Then he put a hand on the side of my face, planting his fingers wide so his pinkie was on my neck. My skin was piping hot where he was touching me. "You don't have to pretend with me. I like you exactly the way you are, with all your quirks. I always have and always will."

I swallowed hard, trying to clear the lump in my throat. "Thanks, Leo," I murmured. "I needed to hear that."

"I know." Then he stepped back, giving me a half smile and winking. "Let's check on the jambalaya. I'm starving."

"So am I."

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