Page 23 of Masks and Mishaps

“Hypocrite,” Everett retorts, wrapping his arm around Cora and leading her into the hallway. “How long have you been unemployed, Lan?”

“How long have you been a shit biscuit, Ev?” is Lander’s response, followed by Valeria and Cora’s fading groans as my friends head to the elevator.

And then Dalton and I are alone.

He’s now slumped low on the couch with his hands in his lap. When I cross my arms, his brow tightens even deeper, and he releases a slow, audible exhalation through his parted lips.

“You ignored my texts,” I mention. “I hate that. Why didn’t you respond?”

“Because not a single part of me believes I have the willpower to stay away from you now, Essie.”

He delivers the words so factually, without an ounce of obfuscation, and the candor sends my heart pounding. Dalton is otherworldly attractive in a way that transcends his appearance. His honesty is a part of his appeal, but he couples it with his warmth and his thoughtfulness. I have such an undeniablethingfor it. Like Dalton, no part of me believes I still have the willpower to resist that beauty.

I’m done resisting.

I step forward, and he tracks my movements. “What we did was a colossal mistake.”

“Yep.”

“There are a hundred reasons why we weren’t supposed to fuck—reasons I was admittedly willing to overlook once—but I never wanted to do it on camera.”

“I know,” he concedes, standing now.

“A lot of people watched,” I continue. “And they paid a ton.”

“Of course they did.” His eyes rake over me. “Essie,look at you. I’d pay anything to have you.”

I swallow. The way he talks could easily have me on my back in a few sentences, but I have to focus. “The fallout has the potential to be messy. Our parents are obviously still getting married.”

“We’re supposed to sign the license,” he reminds me, now closing some of the gap between us.

I also take another step. “I’m still an intern at your bank and I intend to get a full-time offer in December.”

“I can see your desk from my office,” he adds—insult to injury and all.

“You are undiluted, concentrated chaos,” I go on. “And if you want, you have the ability to make my life very, very messy.”

“Without a doubt,” he replies, standing directly in front of me. He looks down at me, and I basically have to crane my neck to maintain eye contact.

“But I also know this,” I gesture between us, “has the ability to change my life.”

His eyebrows rise. “Yeah?”

“Last night exceeded my expectations in every way possible. I keep looking at the post-stream, and I can’t wrap my mind around it.”

“Around what?”

“How unbelievably well it went,” I say, exhaling—bracing myself. “And I think…I think we should do it again.”

Eleven

DALTON

Essiesayingshewantsto fuck brightens my mood immediately. Her eyebrows are elevated with anticipation while she waits, and the fact that she thinks I’d ever decline is disgustingly cute.

“Yeah?” I confirm, allowing a smile to break through. I’d been suppressing one since she called me “undiluted, concentrated chaos.”

Essie nods, head bobbing so her long hair swishes. “What do you think?”

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