Page 20 of Infatuation

“Soon,” Jonas says. “I just gotta figure some shit out first. With both of us leaving . . .” He lets out an anxious breath. “I don’t want Uncle William to feel like we’re deserting him.”

“I know, but it is what it is. I’ll be seeing him next week at the board meeting,” I say. “Why don’t I tell him then?”

“No, just wait,” Jonas says. “Lemme figure out the game plan first, get my strategy into place, write the press release. I really wanna tell him in person together.”

Jonas looks so wracked with anxiety, I don’t have the heart to argue with him. “Okay, bro, whatever you say.” I pat his cheek. “No worries. But I really should go to that meeting, regardless. Are you gonna be okay if I leave and go to New York next week?”

“Of course. You don’t have to babysit me. I’m a grown-ass man.”

“I know.”

There’s a long pause.

“But thanks for babysitting me,” Jonas finally says. He exhales. “Thanks for coming when I called.”

“I always will.”

We smile at each other.

“Okay, Climb & Conquer,” Jonas says. “Our baby. Let’s figure out how to give her legs.”

“And then wings.” I rub my hands together. “It’s gonna be fucking awesome, bro.”

“Fuck yeah, it is. I’ve got the whole thing planned in my head. Now to flesh it out and make it real.”

Jonas launches into an animated monologue about his vision for our new company, but as excited as I am about the whole thing, my mind keeps wandering. I keep thinking about Kat, her golden blonde hair swooshing across her naked shoulders, those big blue eyes of hers staring at me as she rides me. Or sucks me off. Or as I fuck her nice and slow, my hands cupping her breasts. Shit. Just thinking about her is making me hard again.

“Hey, are you listening to a word I’m saying?” Jonas asks. “I’m bursting at the seams to tell you this stuff and your eyes are glazed over.”

“Sorry. Got distracted. I’m totally listening now. Shoot.”

Jonas looks at me sideways. “Does this have anything to do with whoever you were texting a minute ago?”

“I can neither confirm nor deny,” I say. “But if itdoes, it’s because she’s so fucking hot, no mortal man could resist her.”

Jonas laughs. “You’re talking about Kat, aren’t you? She’s exactly your type, man.”

I grin broadly. “Never mind. Come on,” I say, rubbing my hands together. “Climb & Conquer. Let’s do this shit. I’ve never been more excited about anything in my entire life.”

Eight

Kat

My phone beeps loudly with an incoming text. Shoot. I thought I’d turned off the ringer when Cameron and I sat down at our table. I reach into my purse.Oh. My stomach fills with butterflies—it’s a text from Josh Faraday. My eyes dart across the spacious restaurant, just in time to see Cameron slip into the men’s restroom. I look back down at my phone, grinning like a fool.

“Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, I’m free at last!” Josh’s text says.

I chuckle and tap out a quick reply. “What happened?”

“Can I get a ‘fuck yeah!’ from the gorgeous blonde in the front row?”

“Who me?”

“Yeah you! Do you see another gorgeous blonde in the front row?”

I laugh out loud. “Fuck yeah!” I type. “What am I ‘fuck yeahing’ about?”

“Sarah just called Jonas and asked him to ‘bring her home.’ Jonas just flew out of here like a bat out of hell to get her!”

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