Page 42 of All We Need

Overlooking his failed ploy,Iactually had fun today.Iforget about his condescending comment regarding my knowledge ofSuttonBaybecause he wasn’t wrong.Now, thanks toPetey,Iknow the history of this little fishing town, of the first families that moved here, and what’s in season when.

Unintentionally,Boothgave me the best dayI’vehad since arriving.Ididn’t worry about work or second-guess whyI’mhere.

Which is whyIgrab him some water, find a towel in the bathroom, and wet it before returning to his still form.Iplace the glass on his bedside table and lay the cool flannel across his nape.Hesucks in a breath before melting into the comforter.Goosebumps raise the flesh of his back.

“You’re being awfully nice.Doyou treat all your victims like this before murdering them?”Hesits up on his elbow and drains the glass in three large gulps.

“Don’t be ridiculous.I’dpay someone to do my dirty work.”

He chuckles.It’sdeep, masculine, and wraps around my body, stroking and caressing me all over.

“I’ve got to hand it to you,Silver.Yousurprised me today.Areyou jacked underneath all those layers?Youwere hauling those traps up like it was your last mission onEarth.”

I scoff and fold my arms. “Wouldn’tyou like to know?”

Jesus,Mary, andJoseph,Alessandra.Stoptalking.

“Do not answer that,Booth.Ican see it in your eyes.Badboy.”

Well, that pours gasoline on the fire.

His eyes light up and his angelic expression turns dangerous. “Oh, butIcan be such a good boy for you.Ornot.Takeyour pick.”

I ignore the shiver that runs down my spine.AndIcertainly don’t envision him being goodorbad.Becausethat would be stupid.Askingfor trouble.Impulsive—whichI’mnot.

Or amI?

I’m here, in a random town with no plan.What’sone more impulsive decision?

Nope.Nope.Nope.

There’s no denying he lights a fire under me in so many ways.Ninetimes out of ten, he’s infuriating, but there’s something about him that lures me in.

My phone dings, notifying me of a new email.Pullingit out of my coat,Iread each word.Thenagain.Itake a deep breath, that does nothing to calm me, and silently turn back toBooth.

Noticing the shift in mood, he frowns. “What’swrong?”

I’m an idiot.

It’s bad enoughItook the bait this morning and agreed to our outing, but there was a tiny part of me—minuscule—thatthought he could be a grown-up about this all.Thathe would respect my position and me.

I flip the phone around, showing him the screen. “Perhapsit’s the invoiceI’vereceived for a dual deck gas convection oven.Specifically, the oneIexplicitly told you not to buy.”

“Fuck,” he hisses and jolts up, only to sway backward. “Doublefuck.”

“You can’t help yourself, can you?”

“It’s not like that.”Whatevertruce we had moments ago dies.

“What’s it like then?”Isweep a hand down my body. “Youwaited until now.Becauseyou found outIwas a woman—someone who’s easier to undermine?”

That gets his attention.Nauseaforgotten, he stands. “Yourgender means nothing to me.Onceagain, if you knew anything about the restaurant, you’d know my predecessor is namedGloria.Shetaught me everythingIknow.Mymother didn’t hesitate to step up when my dad passed away, even though she hadn’t worked in over twenty years.Johannais one of the strongest womenIknow.Quinnbuilt a successful business for herself from the ground up.Mylittle sister could negotiate herself out of any situation.Heck, my niece is going places and she’s only five.Sono,Aly, my issue isn’t that you’re a woman.It’sthat you think just because your name is on the deed, you’ve earned our respect.”

I quickly close the distance, our toes touching, heaving chests inches apart. “Thenwhat?Imade it crystal clear that purchases above two thousand dollars had to be signed off by me.”

“How amIexpected to manage a kitchen without working equipment?”Hisvoice shakes, like he’s ready to crack.

The feeling is mutual.

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