Page 96 of Renewal After Dark

She dipped one in ketchup and ate it. “Those are good.”

“I know, right? They’re from the Wayfarer. Best fries on the island.”

“Good to know.”

He took a bite of his sandwich. “Laptop on the desk has the dreaded QuickBooks on it. Remember, you promised not to be appalled.”

“I won’t be. I’m sure I’ve seen worse.”

“I doubt that.”

Smiling, she said, “I need bank and credit card statements, too.”

“Uh, I think I’ve got them around here somewhere.”

“You want me to poke around for them?”

“You’ll have a stroke when you see the drawers.”

“I’m sure I’ll survive.” She got up to go to the desk, positioning Jax in his seat so he could see her while she worked.

“Let me know if you have any questions.”

“You’ll be the first to know.”

Duke was wondering how he was supposed to concentrate on lunch or work or anything else while she was there, looking so pretty and kissable. “Sierra said to stop by to talk about her books when you get a chance.”

“I’ll do that when I’m finished here.”

“That’s apt to take a week or two.” He’d never been particularly embarrassed by his recordkeeping until now.

“I meant done for today.”

“Ah, okay. So…”

“Stop fretting, Duke. Everyone’s books are a mess when they bring in someone who knows what they’re doing.”

When Ace’s afternoon client arrived, Duke got up to show her to Ace’s station.

“Can I get you anything to drink?”

“No, thanks,” she said, running her eyes over him and seeming to like what she saw.

Where in the hell was all this female attention coming from now that he was interested in McKenzie? Had McKenzie noticed the way the customer had checked him out? He ventured a glance her way and determined that, yes, she’d definitely seen it.

Shit.

Why did this stuff have to be so goddamned complicated? He liked her. Based on how she’d kissed him the night before, she liked him just as much. So why were his insides tied up in knots thanks to Sierra and some other woman he’d never laid eyes on before five minutes ago?

He went back to work on Kyle’s back, relying on nervous energy to finish the wings and start the next part of the design before this session ended.

But he kept stealing glances at the woman across the room as he tried to calculate how many hours it would be before he could be alone with her to continue what they’d started the night before. How was a man supposed to concentrate on anything when she was in the room?

He’d much rather look at her than Kyle’s back.

Chapter20

Duke was cute when he was flustered, and he was most definitely flustered after Ace’s client had given him the once-over and liked what she saw.

---