Page 73 of Keep Your Friends Close and Your… Work Enemy Closer?

"But isn't that frowned upon? Wouldn't we have to go to HR?"

She waved her hand in dismissal. "Nah. Lots of people in our office have hooked up, dated, the whole gamut. Right before you started, Joela, you know, the woman you replaced?"

I nodded.

"Well, she ended up married to her work husband whom she first met... guess where?"

"I'm guessing Insight Ink."

She touched her nose. "Bingo."

"Well, I don't want tomarryJared."

"Not yet. But you could fuck him."

Now my eyes were the ones to widen. "Mona!"

She shrugged. "What? No offense, Cordelia, but when was the last time you got laid?"

"It's been a while," I admitted.

"Don't you miss it? Sometimes, you just want a man instead of a toy or fingers. And Jared is a fuckingman."

Fuck, she was right.

"Girl, you better hurry," she said, "or I'm about to go down there myself."

I let out a laugh. "You wouldn't dare."

"Hmm, I just might. Jared is... well, he's the whole package."

He kind of was. Damn. How had I not seen that before?

Scrambling off the bed, I reached for my bag, rummaging through the contents in a frantic search for my swimsuit. It was a two piece, one that was more sporty than revealing since I hadn't wanted to bring something skimpy to a work function, not that I'd had a chance to wear it until now.

Rushing to the bathroom, I put it on, Mona's words ringing in my head. She was right. I did miss being with a man. It'd been ages.

But having sex with Jared? That seemed like a huge leap from hand holding and kissing, and I honestly didn't really want to go there tonight. One thing I was sure of, though... that Jared wouldn't push me or pressure me into having sex. After all, he'd asked before even kissing me.

After brushing my teeth, I put on a long t-shirt and grabbed a towel before busting back into the room. "Okay. I guess I'm ready."

Mona beamed at me. "I'm so proud of you."

"Wish me luck?"

"Good luck. And most importantly,have fun."

I nodded, no idea what to expect as I opened then shut the door behind me.

Tiptoeing down the dark hallway, I held my breath, hoping that no one would come out of their room and catch me. The creaky floor gave me a few heart attacks, each noise like a gunshot in the quiet night, but thankfully, I made it downstairs without anybody spotting me.

Was Jared already outside waiting for me?

A flutter of nerves hit me as I stepped out onto the deck and immediately saw him, removing his shirt—yikes—and tossing it onto a lounge chair. His eyes found mine, and a grin took over his face.

I closed the distance and walked over to him, that flutter turning into a tsunami.

"You came," he said softly.

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