Page 39 of Forbidden Desire

“I’m Cassidy,” she says, holding out her hand.

“Marco.” I shake it lightly.

“What brings you out tonight?” she asks.

“Just bored,” I say, knowing my face is as bored as I feel.

“I haven’t seen you around. Do you go out much?” she asks.

“Not really,” I say. At least not lately, not since Erica walked back into my life.

“Marco here is heartbroken,” says Jacob, cutting in.

I shoot him another annoyed look, but he just laughs it off.

“He could use some love.” He pouts.

Cassidy looks at me, ready to jump on that opportunity, and puts her hand on my knee. She gives me a sympathetic look.

“Is that true?” she asks, her blue eyes dancing.

I just take a sip of my drink. She runs her fingertips slowly up my thigh.

“You know, I’m really good at comforting people,” she says into my ear as she leans in close. “Whatever you need.”

I’ve been so pent-up lately, I almost give in to her touch. It would be an easy way to release, and maybe I wouldn’t be so wound up at work. Hell, it could even help with tomorrow’s meeting. I feel her breath against my ear. It would be so easy to turn and kiss her, taste her. Take her home and have my way with her. But instead, I shake my head and stand up.

“I should really be going, actually. I have to work in the morning.”

Cassidy shoots Jacob a look like she can’t believe what I’m saying.

“It was nice to meet you,” I say. “Jake, talk soon.”

I turn and leave the booth, and I’m pretty sure I hear him say, “More for me.”

I shake my head frustratedly as I push my way through the crowded dance floor of the club. It’s the last place I want to be right now, with sweaty people and loud music and flashing lights. I know the only place I want to be right now is with Erica. I wonder what she’s doing right now, if she’s with anyone. Outside, I hail a cab home and pass out, knowing it will make the morning come sooner, bringing Erica along with it.

I wake up the next morning feeling better than I’m sure Jacob was. He left a drunken voicemail in the middle of the night, with those two girls laughing in the background. I don’t feel remotely jealous or that I missed out. I get ready for work and headinto the office early to prepare for the meeting with the website developer.

I see Erica is already in her office, typing on her computer. She looks up when she sees me, before looking back to her computer like I don’t exist. Great. It’s going to be one of those days. She’s so hot and cold, I can barely stand it anymore. I take a deep, frustrated breath and walk into my office to go over mockups for the website. WhatThe NY Daily Newshas currently is outdated and not user-friendly. It’s like they’re trying to make you buy the paper to get the news. Old fashioned and stubborn, that George was.

There’s a knock at my door and I see Erica peek her head in. I give her a smile, like I always do, but it’s only met with a tightlipped expression.

“Just seeing if you need anything before today’s meeting?” she asks.

“Actually, yes. Can you come in here?”

She looks hesitant.

“You can leave the door open.” I refrain from rolling my eyes. I have some self-control.

She nods and walks over to my desk where the mockups for the website are.

“Which one of these do you like the best for the new website?” I ask.

She picks up each one, looking over them intently, her brows furrowing in concentration or anger, I’m not sure. I wait for her to say something, but she just keeps flipping through them. I wait patiently, drumming my fingers against my leg.

“These are all so different from what we have now,” she finally says.

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