Page 76 of All We Need

He looks sad at the idea of cleaning me up.Boothglances around, then leans over me to tear off a piece of paper towel.Withcareful swipes, he cleans up his mess, then fixes my dress.

WhenIface him,I’mnot surprised to find him looking smug as he scrubs a hand down his jaw.Hissmirk grows when my eyes narrow.

“Don’t say it.”

“I don’t have to.Theway you came around my cock is confirmation enough.”Heleans in, nose skimming down my cheek. “Twice.Youdidn’t scream like that with your toy.”

“You’re fired,”Imumble, though my satisfied tone contradicts me.

“Nah.I’myour favorite employee.”BeforeIcan blink, he lays a chaste kiss to the edge of my mouth, tucks himself away, and steps toward the door. “Seeyou at work, boss.Whata way to bring in the new year.”

His parting wink is the last thingIsee before he disappears.

Despite knowing there’s only one outcome,Ican’t find a modicum of regret over what we just did.Well, there is some.I’dnever admit this toBooth, butI’mquickly wishingIhadn’t declared this a one-time occurrence.

That is untilIrealize he still has my panties.

Motherfucker.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

booth

Two days.

That’s how long it’s been sinceIlast sawAly.

In those forty-eight hours,I’vefucked my fist three times, with the picture ofAlypainted in my cum as my muse.

I wish the restaurant had been open onNewYear’sDay, as it would have stopped me from overanalyzing my feelings.Sadly, we were closed, andIlost myself in an ocean of what-ifs.

What if it happened again?

What if we met under different circumstances?

What if we weren’t worlds apart?

I’ve never done this with a fling before.

But that’s the issue.Shedoesn’t feel like a fling.

Today,I’mgrateful to be back at work; the sizzling of food and clanging of pans drowns out my thoughts.It’soddly busy for earlyJanuary, but rather than question it, the team works tirelessly through a grueling service.

The shift wouldn’t be as bad hadKyleshown up.

The boneIhad to pick with my line cook after his drunken state at the party was a big one.

Red mist blurred my vision when he snatchedAly’sarm uproughly.Tono surprise, she handled the situation.Doesn’tmeanIdidn’t want to deck the prick.

His shift started four hours ago, which makes firing his ass that much easier.It’snot only his borderline harassment toward his employer and a female, but his piss-poor work ethic, tardiness, and lacking skills.Hisresume was obviously fluffed up, butIgave him the benefit of the doubt and was willing to train him.

A mistakeIwon’t make again.

Simon slides two entrées in front of me, andIthank my lucky starsIcan rely on him.

“Good work,Chef,”Itell him as he gets to work on the next ticket dangling in front of us.

“Wasn’t prepared to get slammed like this today.”Heblows out a breath. “Whyaren’t people vegging out on the sofa recovering from the holidays?”

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