Page 87 of Can't Get Enough

My fingers still over the keys and a muscle twitches in my jaw. I stop typing and sit back in my chair, hands folded over my stomach. He wanted my attention and that comment got it.

“Meaning what?” I ask.

“We’ve discussed this before.”

“And was it none of your business then, too?”

“Mav, seriously. Zere. Hendrix. This could get really messy.”

“I’m aware and also don’t care.”

“But—”

“The fuck, Bolt,” I snap, dropping all pretense of indifference. “Whose balls did you wake up with to think you can question me?”

He doesn’t flinch at my sharp words, his face as impassive as usual.

“My own balls have always served me just fine,” he says. “But if you’re asking what gave me the audacity to question your current course of action, I guess you did by always encouraging me to speak my mind and to let you know if I see you making a mistake.”

“Hendrix is not a mistake,” I say through tight lips.

“I’m not saying she is, but the timing is inadvisable. Just because Zere went on one date—”

“This isn’t about Zere. I mean, did I feel relieved to see her moving on with someone else? Yeah, sure, but I was already pursuing Hendrix.” I smirk, hoping to ease the tension that has entered the conversation. “At least I know how to use my words and actions to show the woman I want how I feel, instead of dragging her off to fuck her in a closet every time we’re in the same room.”

Bolt’s inscrutable expression cracks, revealing irritation before he quickly smooths his brow and levels out his scowl.

“I don’t want Skipper,” Bolt says evenly.

“Might want to tell your dick that.”

“I have. We’re in agreement now. Those few times—”

“Fewtimes?” I cut in, my eyes going wide. “You’ve only met Skipper twice, right?”

There’s complete silence while Bolt flattens his lips and mean mugs me.

“Right?” A laugh rolls out of me and I tip back in my seat. “Shit. Did you creep down to Atlanta for a cross-country hit?”

“It was not a…” Bolt sucks in a sharp breath and meets my eyes. “It was a quick trip, an ill-advised decision that we both regretted later.”

“This was after the playoffs game in the box?”

“Tell me. Do you delve this deeply into all your employees’ personal lives, or am I the only one this fortunate?”

“Only the ones who can’t keep their asses out ofmypersonal business and try to tell me I shouldn’t go after the woman I want.”

“It’s not an issue of want. It’s timing.”

“If you wanted someone the way I want Hendrix, then you would not waste time, and you for damn sure wouldn’t be waiting on a green light from your ex. I care about Zere. I respect her and I was faithful to her while we were together, but we aren’t together anymore. Period.”

My cell rings on my desk, and we both look at it. The screen displays Zere calling.

“Tell her that,” Bolt says, allowing himself a grin for the first time since he entered my office—asshole—and then leaves, closing the door behind him.

“Hey,” I answer the call. “What’s up, Zee?”

“Hi,” she replies, her tone formal. “How are you?”

---