Page 33 of A Little Tempting

“Not much to talk about,” he replies. “It’s me and my dad, and he’s an asshole.”

“Got it,” I repeat. I look down at my paper again and scribble dad and asshole on the top line.

“Yeah.” He sighs. “But uh,happy. Hockey makes me happy, and I didn’t steal that one.”

“Hockey. Yup.” I write the word down on my notepad and underline it. “Anything else?”

“Seeing a cute girl in my hoodie.”

Avoiding his gaze and the fact I am most definitely wearing his hoodie, I add the words hoodie and girl next to hockey, then clear my throat. “Anything else?”

“I could think of a few more things, but I think I’ll save those for our next session when we focus on horny, right?”

“Reeves!” I smack his shoulder.

“Hey, you brought it up.”

“It slipped out, okay? I told you I’m awkward.”

“Cute, not awkward,” he clarifies. “There’s a difference. Well, with most girls. You?” His mouth quirks. “Let’s just say you’re good at riding the line, and it’s addictive as fuck.”

I pull my lips into my mouth and stare at the label on my cup, unsure what to say or how to handle this kind of attention from anyone, let alone a guy like him. A guy who’s paid to be an escort. A guy who’s charismatic and cocky.

“You still busy on Friday?” he asks.

“I, uh, I’m not sure.”

“We have to start this project at some point, Dylan.”

“Mm-hmm. Yup. We sure do.”

“So…Friday?”

“What about Thursday?” I counter, peeking up at him.

“Can’t. I have practice.”

“Tonight?”

“Practice again.”

“Sunday?”

“What’s wrong with Friday?” he asks.

Because Friday kind of, sort of makes it feel like it’s a date, and I do not need the added pressure of spending one-on-one time with Reeves to feel like a date. Not if I want either of us to survive the interaction. I mean, we haven’t struggled so far, but doesn’t it mean the breaking point will be even more catastrophic?

“Are you busy Friday?” he questions.

“No?”

“So we can do the first photo shoot on Friday, then?”

Puffing out my cheeks, I give in and nod. “Okay. I can do the afternoon but not the evening.”

“You’re busy Friday evening?”

I’m not, but it isn’t the point.

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