Page 24 of Secret Obsession

“Mmmhmmmhmm.”

Damn her faulty internal filter.

“Stop. People are coming.” I moved my hand away but kept it hovering near her face, at the ready.

“Okay. But you have to give me all the juicy details later.” As she walked toward the exit, she glanced over her shoulder and shouted, “Grab him by the Donkey Kong!”

I groaned and hurried into my office. I was not in the mood to see my peers’ reactions. My head automatically peeked up at the clock.

4:58 p.m.

The rhinos charged their way through my colon. I mad-dashed to the bathroom just in time.

Phew.

Disaster pants avoided.

***

Facing the mirror, I saw Lustful Lila take over. My hand planted on my hip as if it dared someone to take in all the sights.

I wore the tight red mini skirt Mae had given me for my thirtieth birthday. Did it really take me five years to actually find an excuse to wear it? Or was I always hiding my curves in baggy clothes?

My mischievous smile promised we would not be hiding our curvy selves tonight. Any insecurities about my weight vanished like a Houdini act. It was only an illusion. But today, Lustful Lila was in the driver’s seat. And she was a confident driver.

My usual career preoccupations were pushed out of my mind. Replaced by an altered psyche consumed with the pursuit of carnal happiness.

Back in my office, I decided I needed a couple of more touch-ups of my makeup, and I’d be good to go. I rummaged in my Christmas-themed bag I used year-round because it was too cute to hide away for eleven months of the year.

Actually, that was a lie. I wasn’t the cutesy type, and I rarely wore makeup, except for the occasional lipstick. It just was too much of a hassle to switch makeup bags during the year.

A familiar sound from down the hall made my heart do a little flip-flop. The distinctive pattern of acertainsomeone’s footfalls was permanently etched in my memory cells.

Yes, I can tell his footsteps apart from others. Don’t judge me, people.

Would he avoid me? He had left so abruptly last time I was certain he’d do anything to bypass my office. Lucky for me, it was on the main floor, and one had to walk by it to reach the entrance.

I was about to apply my blush when Hawk strolled into my office. I no longer needed said blush, and my cheeks weren’t the only parts of my body that were suddenly flushed.

He kept his distance, staying near the door. “Hey.” His tone was casual.

I guessed we were back to being friendly strangers meeting briefly in passing and engaging in idle chit-chat.

“How’s Rambo doing?” I decided to keep the topic of conversation away from ourselves. Dogs were a safe territory for us.

“Pretty good. I gave up on making him sleep on the floor. He was too persistent about jumping on the bed. He’s my spooning buddy now.”

I chuckled. “Give him a hug for me.”

Suddenly, his gaze turned into an intense stare that fixed on me. He looked me over…slowly. His brow furrowed as he took in my low-cut shirt and makeup bag. “Big plans tonight?”

Why yes, I might get my brains fucked. “Oh, just a tea date.”

“You look beautiful.”

My breath hitched. And you look absolutelybang-able. “Thank you.”

He clenched his jaw. “Have fun.”

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