Page 55 of S.O.S. Perk

Could she stay true to who she was and not have him think she was too aggressive? Too assertive? He’d soothed her fears on that front when it had all been…cerebral.Andthey’d shared the lead position when they’d kissed. He’d also seemed quite flummoxed that her ex hadn’t appreciated her forthrightness. But now? She guessed it was time to see if Perk would still be okay with her intensity when greater physical shit betweenthemcame into the mix.

Sloane spotted the retro diner up ahead.

“Okay, Melissa. Thanks for talking me down. I’m pulling up to the breakfast spot now, but you’re a life-saver. I’m feeling better, and youknowI was almost ready to turn around and call the whole thing off.”

“Glad to be of service,” Melissa replied. “Now I suppose I have to get up and find coffee,since nobody’s here to bring it to me,” she emphasized.

“Boo, Hoo,” Sloane gave back. “If I know you, it won’t be long before you have someone new wrapped around your devious little finger.”

“From your mouth to my…” Mel hummed, then snickered, but Sloane got the point. Mel loved herself a guy who would give oral. “Now go. And don’t be anyone but yourself.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

Sloane said goodbye and hung up, then pulled her Pontiac—which she’d chosen to drive today in lieu of her Fed-mobile—into a parking space. She didn’t see Perk’s Volvo, so she opened her phone again and began thumbing through some mind-numbing social media to kill time.

When the knock came on her side window, Sloane jumped. She’d been deep into the latest Caturday memes, and hadn’t heard Perk approach.

Seeing him standing outside her car, his face wreathed in smiles, she immediately was hit with just how good lookingthe man was as she fumbled with her phone to put it in her purse. How did Perk get more and more delicious with every appearance? Maybe he didn’t. Maybe she just thought so because this time he was here forher. There was no wedding as a diversion; no work-related matters to discuss. This was an actual, freaking date.

Which meant…

Oh, hell.It meant that she needed to let her actual self fly, or she might end up compromising who she really was, only to get shot down later if hints of her true personality started seeping in.

Sloane sighed. It was better to let Perk know what he was up against right away. Then, if he hated it, he could cut loose and end things before too much of Sloane’s heart got involved.

As if it wasn’t already.

Which sucked.

Taking a deep breath, Sloane opened her door and stepped out, closing it behind her with a solid clunk.

“This is a sweet ride,” Perk emoted, not knowing the turmoil that raged inside her as he eyed her prized vehicle. “Is it a sixty-seven?”

“Sixty-five,” she corrected, calming her jitters. “And I went for her this morning, because she doesn’t get a chance to stretch her legs very often.”

“Totally cool,” he said.

Sloane was inordinately pleased that he loved her baby, but… “Uh, where’s your Volvo?”

Perk grinned. “I ditched it for my F150 today. But don’t worry, I made sure no one was tailing me when I switched vehicles.”

“I wasn’t worried,” she told him, then, running out of small-talk, she shifted awkwardly from foot to foot.

“Well. So…” Perk cleared his throat, also seemingly at a loss. “You want to, uh, go in and check out the menu?”

Shit.If she was going to do this, his inquiry was the perfect segue.

“No. I don’t,” she wrenched out.

“You—?” He scowled.

“I don’t want to eat, Perk.” Her voice got stronger. “I don’t want to dance around any longer. I just want to fuck you,” she bit out, watching carefully for his reaction.

His eyes widened.

“Youjustwant to fuck me?” he repeated tentatively. “Or you want to fuck me as a way to get to know me even better?”

Dammit.She hadn’t exactly been clear.

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