Page 64 of Sass

“I’d give up now, if I were you.” Leon shook his head at my attempt to finger some style back into my slightly sticky hair which was going to need some repair. “To be honest, I kind of like this dishevelled version. It’s hella sexy.”

I gave him my best eye-roll. “Shut up. They’re all going to know, you realise that?” I nodded downstairs.

He shrugged. “Does that bother you?”

I thought about the question. “Not as much as it probably should.” I abandoned my hair and went up on my toes to kiss him for the last time. Thelasttime. Regret and something else caught in my chest. “But as good as that was—” I straightened his T-shirt over his camo trousers. “And trust me, it was really, really good. But that definitely has to be the last time. I just needed one last taste.”

He tipped my chin up with his fingers, forcing me to look at him. “It doesn’t have to end.”

“Yes, it does,” I repeated firmly. “I said I wouldn’t hurt you.”

“Why don’t you let me decide what I’m willing to risk.”

I patted his chest. “Say good night when you pass by the office tonight. And stop avoiding me. Friends, right?”

He stared at me for a moment, then nodded. “Sure. But if you ever need—”

I put my finger to his mouth. “I won’t.”

He kissed it sweetly and my heart tripped.Enough already.I turned tail and fled like the coward I was, down the stairs and out the back door to avoid running the gauntlet of Ty and JJ’s scrutiny. JJ’s workstation curtains were closed, thank God, but Ty sent me a knowing wink as I flew past the service desk.

Dammit.I was never gonna hear the end of it.

I sneaked into Flare via the kitchen, hoping to make it to my office unseen by Drew. If I could make a few emergency repairs to my hair and face before he caught me, I’d be golden. But the store was quiet and the man himself was planted right behind my desk, my cold cup of coffee front and centre.

He took one look at my face, my hair, and my undoubtedly swollen lips and snorted a laugh. “Holy shit. I’d ask where you’d been all this time, except JJ rang to enquire what the fuck was going on between you and Leon as you’d both disappeared upstairs.”

Damn.“That would be precisely none of your business.” I gathered the skirts of my dignity as best I could.

He grinned. “Is this the part where I remind you how you stuck your nose in mine earlier?”

“Only if you don’t value your job... or your balls.”

He mimed zipping his lips. “Fine. Then perhaps you’d like me to reheat your coffee after all that thirsty work?”

I shot him a glare, which he happily ignored, adding, “Running, of course. I’ve no idea whatyouthought I meant, Kip. Because that’s the reason you’re out of breath, right? Running. And so—” He ran an eye over me, head to toe. “—messy.”

“Think you’re funny, don’t you?” I waved him out of my chair.

“Pretty sure I am, actually.” He moved aside to let me sit and I bit back a smile.

He really was coming along nicely. “Don’t you have work to do?” I eyed him and his grin widened.

“Nope. All up to date. Which means I’ve got plenty of time to talk, in case you’re wondering.”

I woke my computer screen, then shot him a glare. “If you’re not out of here in three seconds flat and looking busy, you can steam the contents of those three boxes that arrived this morning before you go home.”

The grin left his face. “But we don’t need—”

“Three, two—”

And he was gone so fast he left dust devils in his wake, the little minx.

I went to shut the door after him and then collapsed in my chair and tried not to think about what a complete idiot I’d just been.

I also tried not to think about the siren look in Leon’s grey eyes that seemed to promise so much.

And when my cell buzzed on my desk and George’s name popped up on the screen, I tried not to break another fucking phone.

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