Page 21 of S.O.S. Billboard

“Uh, how do you want to play this fledgling…relationship in front of my team?” he asked. It wasn’t themajorthing on his mind by any means. Their newly declared association took that honor. But since they were meeting everyone for dinner in a few minutes, it was the most eminent conundrum.

O’Shea snorted as the elevator doors closed behind them.

“Mizzay, the steel trap, already knows I like you, doesn’t she?” O’Shea’s awareness was, as always, off the charts.

“Correct,” he acknowledged. “Who do you think set it up for Brigid to get called away by a bogus Sarge-emergency so I could pick you up?”

O’Shea laughed, not at all bothered. “I figured it was something like that because Sarge and his toe? Not cutting it.And the Billboard I remember wouldn’t have instigated tonight’s unorthodox meet-and-greet.”

Billboard didn’t know whether to be flattered that O’Shea had his number, or annoyed that she didn’t think he had it in him to orchestrate a liaison. He grunted. “I would have gotten around to showing my interest, eventually,” he grumbled.

“Maybe,” O’Shea allowed. “But I wouldn’t have waited patiently. You know me. I wouldn’t have been able to cool my heels anticipating, for very long. Once it got out there that you weren’t with Peggy anymore, I wouldn’t have been able to hold back from making the first move.”

“You mean like telling me you fantasized about me,” he snickered.

O’Shea chortled. “Ooh! You arenotgoing to let that go, are you?”

“Nope. Not until you spill about the X-rated content involved.”

She got a sly look on her face as they walked from the elevator, out into the lobby.

Shit.Billboard kind of wished he’d waited until they were in the car for “sharing time”. He was a, uh, big boy,down there, and if she got graphic…

Hell, if she started talking about touching herself, or vibrators…

Gah! Too late.

He swiftly untucked his shirt and covered his zipper. That would have to do.

“First of all,” O’Shea told him, as yet unaware of his problem, “I pictured your chest.” She hummed a sound of appreciation. “I’ve imagined it so many times. Across your as-yet-to-be-explored ink, there’s a smattering of light brown hair which sweeps across your pecs. Not too much, mind you, or we’d have to do some manscaping, but enough to rub my face intoits softness, to transmit all your fine pheromones up into my nostrils.”

Billboard almost choked over her graphic description.

“That’s pretty, uh, interesting,” he managed.

Damn. He wanted hertongueon him. And her teeth. He cleared his throat. “To put paid to your speculation, yes, I have some hair, but not a lot.”

A noise of approval emerged from between her lips as they exited the lobby using the revolving door, then ended up on a dusk-lit street.

“Mmm. Good to know,” she purred. “Now, next, I picture you taking off your pants, but you’re facing away from me,” she revealed with some lust in her eyes. “I get my first glimpse of your fine ass, all smooth and muscled. And I walk forward, filling my hands with your cheeks.”

Billboard stopped, and found his feet glued to the sidewalk. Picturing her cradling his ass, his limbs refused all orders.

O’Shea came to a halt and arched a brow. “Uh, Billboard? You okay? Where are you parked?”

Billboard growled. “Yes, I’m okay, but you’re asking an awful lot. I’m not a good multi-tasker, you know,” he admonished hotly, getting his feet moving again. “I can’t think of your hands on my ass,anddirect us to my car at the same time.”

O’Shea grinned, then took pity on him. “Fine. No butt-talk then. At least not until we’re in your vehicle,” she added cheekily, raising a brow.

“Right. It’s down that street over there.” He pointed, and they both started walking that way. Him, a little gingerly.

O’Shea thankfully gave up that line of conversation, and looking up, swept a hand at the high-rises around them. “This is actually a very pretty city. How long have you lived here?”

This kind of small-talk, Billboard could do. “I grew up in Cambridge, which isn’t Boston, but close. It’s a direct neighbor,right across the Charles River. My Mom inherited a large house from her mother when she passed, and moved us in after my father died. It was a big old place to bump around in for the two of us, but then I started working construction for my summer jobs during high school and college. I eventually learned enough to take my time and make the place into a duplex, half of which she was able to rent out for some extra income. Then I went into the military for a while…”

Those memories weren’t so great. He brought his mind back around to when he’d returned. “Once I was stateside again, and the current tenant’s lease was up, I moved in, and it’s been great ever since. We both have our privacy, but I can still be there for her if she needs anything.”

“That was an ambitious project at such an early age. And Billboard?” She looked at him as if he was someone special. “It’s very sweet you’re close to your mother.” She stated it with undisguised appreciation in her eyes. “I don’t have that kind of relationship with either of my parents,” she told him pragmatically. “But my brother Cedric and I have always been close. If he hadn’t gotten married, I’d still be sharing a place with him.”

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