Page 65 of Out of the Shadow

“Let’s call it a night,” I say. “Want to go out for dinner?”

She pushes away from her desk. “Nope. We don’t have to go out. How about we order in?”

Her words make my body hum. She wants to spend more time with me—in her apartment. I know exactly what I want for dessert. Leaving all our papers on the desks, I walk to the front door and switch the sign to “closed” before locking it. “What’s on the menu?”

She bites her lower lip as her brown eyes start at my thighs and move upward. The moment is broken when her stomach rumbles again.

Chuckling, I say, “After. Food first.”

I pass the flowers on the reception desk on my way back to Angie. I almost ask her about them—did Marlene maybe want them there? Or did Angie not want to advertise the fact that we’ve been spending time together?—but she sweeps up from her desk and leads the way to the formerly mysterious door. My thoughts have already shifted from the flowers to her apartment. To the fact that I might see her bedroom tonight.

We order Chinese and continue our discussion about bringing in new clients. She hands me a fortune cookie, which I break open.

“Wait,” she instructs as I reach inside for the strip of paper. “You have to add ‘in bed’ to whatever fortune you get.”

I smile. “Gladly.” Looking down, I read, “‘Flattery will go far tonight.’” I pause, then add, “In bed,” waggling my eyebrows up and down.

She giggles. “Mine is ‘Do not mistake temptation for opportunity’—in bed.”

“Am I the temptation or the opportunity?” I place my hands on her cheeks and tilt her head up.

Angie licks her lips. “Definitely the former.”

She needs to see that I’m both, a thought that catches me off guard but doesn’t make me bolt for the door. I kiss her mouth, which tastes of Chinese sauce. “I’ll take that.”

Angie

A WEEK HASpassed since King and I started fooling around, and I’m ready to take things to the next level. Armed with this knowledge, I waltz through the front door of the office, where Marlene sits in her usual spot at the reception desk. “Wow! Looking hot, Angie. Going anyplace special?”

Hopefully into King’s bed. “Maybe. I needed to get my haircut and didn’t want to ask Shelley do it. Juliana does the best job.” I pause. “For free.”

She nods and picks up some envelopes. “Here’s the mail—I’m afraid they’re all bills.”

My euphoria over seeing my sister and getting my haircut dims as she hands the pile over to me. “Gee, thanks.” Until I receive the promised payments from the show, and the commission check from the Maguires’ sale, I have to continue limping along. I bring them back to my desk, where I eat the last chocolate in the box King gave me as I arrange the bills in a stack by date.

The door opens and I hope for a new client. Nope, it’s King, looking drool-worthy in an amber shirt that matches his eyes and a pair of navy shorts. He winks at me and heat rushes up my neck.

From the reception desk, Marlene welcomes him. “Good afternoon, King.” He makes his way over to her, kisses her cheek, and she taps his shoulder. What’s that about? Marlene diverts my thoughts by holding up some envelopes in his direction.

He retrieves them. “Thanks.” His head bobs over them, then he pulls one out. “It’s here,” his voice booms as he waves the envelope in the air.

“What?” I ask, while Marlene smiles like the Cheshire cat.

“My test exam results.”

I jump out of my chair and join him by Marlene’s desk. He’s flapping it around so fast that neither Marlene nor I can catch it. Laughing, I say, “Open it!”

“If the boss lady says I have to.” He stops his shenanigans, flips the envelope over, and runs his finger behind the seal. I catch a slight tremor in his hand.

I suck in my breath as he pulls the sheet of paper out and skims the contents. If he passed, I can add him to the website and he can start tweeting about his involvement with the agency. New clients will probably line up around the block. A small part of me also wants to be able to brag that myhook-uppassed the test after only studying for a week.

Marlene stands up, trying to catch a glimpse of the words. His face falls and the hand that’s holding the letter drops to his side.

Shit. I place my hand on his shoulder and squeeze, while Marlene falls back down in her chair.

“They really got the wording down pat.”

Realizing I’m still holding his shoulder, I release it and step back. No need to give Marlene a show, even if I want to comfort him.

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