Page 35 of One Little Mistake
“Argh!” I jump and lose the sheet I’m holding when he scares the shit out of me. Scrambling to cover my naked ass, I hear him laugh. Once I’m reasonably sure that I’m covered, I turn to find him leaning against the wall next to the bathroom, still blessedly naked and unashamed. In my haste to exit, I completely missed him. “Jesus Christ, East. What the hell are you doing hiding like that?” Even as I ask, I’m inching my body away from him toward the exit.
With a smirk and a raised eyebrow, he takes a step forward for every one I take back. “Where are you going, Lexi?”
“Well …” I search the room for my clothes, pleased when I see my T-shirt at the foot of the bed. Quickly sidestepping Easton, I grab the shirt and slide it over my head. Once it’s in place, I let the sheet fall since the shirt covers all my lady bits. Avoiding Easton’s steely gaze, I shuffle around the room in search of my panties, then remember they’re likely ruined. My thighs clench at the memory. “Ah, it’s late. I should probably get to bed.” I step to the left to go around him, but he slides with me, blocking the path.
Inching toward me with a sexy grin, he crosses his arms over his chest, mimicking my stance.
“There’s a perfectly good bed behind you, Locket.”
Choosing to ignore the nickname, I bite my lip, contemplating what to say next. Surely, he understands what a colossal mistake this was.
“But, it’syourbed.”
“It is.”
He takes another step forward, and my body tingles in response. I should not be having this type of reaction to him—to any man, for that matter.No men, Lexi. Remember? Your man-finder is broken. Sleeping with your boss, who is also one of your only living relatives, sort of brother-in-law, is the prime example of my epically bad choices.
I step to the right, but he blocks my path again, so I switch tactics. Turning to the side, I inch back to put some space between us. I need space where he is concerned—he has a habit of turning my brain to mush.
“And I have my own room next door.”
“You do.” He moves quickly, and we’re caught in a game of cat and mouse. There’s no mistaking who’s being hunted here, though. I am the prey, and he isn’t letting me go without a fight.
In another lifetime, I would have welcomed the chase; I would have thrived on it, actually. But now, I need to get us out of this landmine before one of us implodes.
“Listen, East. I know those southern manners are deeply engrained, but I’m a big girl. I can handle the truth.”
His eyes narrow as he watches me. “The truth?”
“Yeah, I mean, we both know what this was. There’s no point in dragging it out. This already has the chance of getting incredibly messy, and I’m not in a position where I can give up this job.”
“I agree with the messy part of your spiel, but it’s not anything that we can’t handle. As for whatthisis? Why don’t you enlighten me, sweetheart?”
“First, sweetheart is the issue. I’m not your sweetheart. I’m your assistant.”Inner bitch rising fast. Warning. Warning. Get your shit under control, Lex. He’s trying to be nice.“Second, I’m not some clingy bitch who needs you to hold her. One-night stands are sex and only sex, and I get that. We were a good distraction for each other when some pretty heavy, emotional shit went down, but I don’t need you to pretend this is anything other than what it is.”
Easton cringes when I mention the catalyst for our little sexcapade, and I feel guilty. Men are wired differently. He’d probably been able to forget all about the hurt he shared with me tonight. Then I went and dragged it all back out into the open.
You’re not sleeping with him again to make him forget, so don’t even think about it.My clit throbs in protest, and now I know for sure I need to get the hell out of here.
“You know the expression it takes two to tango, sweetheart?” Easton is stalking closer with every word.
I’m tempted to roll my eyes, but don’t because if I take them off the beast currently inches away, he might pounce. No more pouncing, Lexi!
“Of course I do.”
“Well, then you should also know that there are two ways of seeing every situation. I’ll acknowledge fucking phenomenal sex is a great distraction, but I don’t see anything about this being a one-night stand.”
“Huh?” It comes out in the least lady-like sound I’ve ever made. Somewhere between trying to hawk up a loogie and a fisher cat. A horrifyingly tragic sound. “Of … of course this was a one-off, Easton. You’re my boss. We’re fucking related, for Christ’s sake. Eww, we’re related?”
“Stop.” His deep baritone cuts through the panic that’s setting in, but only briefly.
“Wait, does this count as incest? What are the rules? Do you have to be blood relatives for that? What are we, like fourth cousins twice removed or something?”
“Locket.” The fact that he is so calm and sure about life in general sets me off.
“Don’t. Don’t you Locket me anything. What the hell are you talking about? Not a one-time thing? You’ve lost your damn mind. This was thebiggestmistake. What the hell were we think—”
Easton’s lips swallow my words, and as much as I want to fight him, my body’s already addicted to him like the worst kind of drug. The realization brings my world to a crashing halt. Miles was my drug for so long, I couldn’t see the evil he was morphing into.Holy shit.I’m doing it again. I can’t let Easton Westbrook be my world. My world has to be me, just me. It’s the only way I can survive my future.
