Page 31 of Rude Boss 2

“And don’t be talking about me either.”

“I can’t make you any promises there. There’s so much to talk about. So much…”

“There isn’t.”

Essex says, “We can debate this all day, but you know I’ll win. Now, behave. I’ll be back for you.”

I flash a lopsided grin. “You got some nerve tellingmeto behave. You better not be mean to my father.”

“Your father can handle his own, I’m sure.”

“Yeah, but he doesn’t know you like I do.”

He leaves a kiss on my forehead. I feel its lingering effects flowing through my body, stirring life into me. With each passing day, he’s finding it harder to keep those lips to himself. He says, “See you in a few.”

“Okay.”

I watch Essex walk away with my father. He just moved himself right into my life. And I know I wasn’t hearing things. When I told him he could go, he replied,I made that mistake one time before. What exactly did that mean?

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