Page 63 of The Reading

Taylor walked towards me, and I really just wanted to turn around and leave, but he didn’t let me. “That’s very kind of you,” he said, his eyes narrowing a bit. “You didn’t poison it, did you?”

“No,” I choked out. “Oh, God.”

Taylor grabbed the plate, still eyeing it. “Well, there’s only one way to prove that,” he said. “You’re going to have to join me for dinner.” I could hear the nurse chuckling. “I’m not eating any of it until I see you eat some of it first.”

Before I could deny his claims of poisoning some more, Taylor freakin’ Mannis grabbed my hand with his free one, linked our fingers together, then drug me behind him towards his office. I mean, sure, I was excited at this unexpected development, but my mind was still racing with the sexy nurses that he was surrounded by all damn day. As Taylor shut the door to his office, I reminded myself that Sloane was right; Taylor didn’t need to be my soulmate. He could just be someone on my way to meeting my soulmate.

I stood in the middle of his office as Taylor set the plate on a small conference room table to the left of his office. The thing was piled with files and paperwork, and he actually had to move some of the documentation aside to make room for the food.

“You need a secretary,” I blurted, glancing around at the mountains of paperwork.

“Are you applying for the job?” It was a simple question, but the way his voice sounded while asking it had me clenching my thighs. “Because you’re not necessarily wrong.”

I glanced over at the gorgeous man, and I seriously felt tongue-tied. “I didn’t poison the food,” I said. “I…I still feel bad, and when your mom said you were working-”

“Rachel, it’s okay,” he said kindly, and this was such a stupid idea.

“Oh…uhm…I’ll just let you eat, and show myself out-”

“Oh, no. You’re not going anywhere, baby.”

Chapter 5

Rachel~

That was the second time that he had called me baby, and it was getting my hopes up, even if it shouldn’t. For all I knew, he might call all women that.

“I’m not?”

Taylor walked towards me, and I could feel my palms begin to sweat. “I believe that the food isn’t poisoned,” he said when he was standing in front of me. “But I still don’t think you should let me eat Thanksgiving dinner alone.”

“Your nurse-”

“She’s notmynurse,” he corrected. “She’s not my anything. She works for me as a valued employee. Just like the rest of my team, that’s what they are.”

I wondered if he could tell that my mind was trying to compare us. Usually, I wasn’t insecure, but this was also the first time that I was semi-throwing myself at a freakin’ doctor, for Pete’s sake.

“Is inviting me to stay your way of offering a truce?” I hedged.

All thoughts fled when I felt Taylor’s hand land on my hip, then yank me closer. “No,” he replied carefully. “I’m not interested in a truce, Rachel.”

I had to clear my throat. “Then…uh…what are you interested in.”

“I think you know,” he said softly.

“You’re not worried that…that I’m only here because of…of how magnificently you passed the test?” I squeaked.

Taylor let out a laugh as his other hand took position on my other hip. “Baby, I hope youarehere for my dick,” he said. “If getting you sprung is the only way to keep you with me, then a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.”

I stared up at the man, knowing that he was a bit out of my league, but I couldn’t find it in me to care. If Taylor Mannis ended up being an adventure only, then I was okay with that. He might break my heart, but the remains of that toilet paper roll said that he was worth it.

“Full disclosure, I can be difficult at times,” I confessed.

“Rachel, I don’t give a fuck,” he said, and his voice sounded like sex. “Ican handle your moods, your baggage, your crazy, and anything else you throw my way. Give me a chance to handle your body, and I swear that you won’t regret it.”

Screw it.

Stretching up on my tiptoes, I wrapped my arms around his neck, then went in for what I hoped was going to be the best kiss of my life.

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