Page 80 of The Reading

“Well, I am.” Though it was humiliating to admit, it was the truth.

The man took another deep breath. “Look, let’s just agree to disagree about…your methods of finding love. Can we do that?”

I nodded. “Of course,” I snorted. “We’re both adults.”

“Alessa-”

“But I’m getting my midnight kiss, Carter,” I warned him. “I might…I’ll think more about kissing our regulars, but I am getting a midnight kiss come hell or highwater.”

Carter eyed me for a bit. “Why?”

“Well…because everyone kisses everyone at midnight on New Year’s Eve,” I grumbled, disappointed that he didn’t know this life fact. “It’s…tradition.”

“How about I make you a deal?”

“What kind of deal?” I drawled out cautiously.

“If you don’t meet anyone with potential by midnight, then I’ll be your midnight kiss,” he offered, and I’d never felt so pathetic in all my life.

Chapter 3

Alessa~

“Idon’t need a pity kiss, Carter,” I bit out defensively. “I get that you think true love is stupid, and that my want for a real relationship is a pipe dream, but I don’t appreciate being treated like a pathetic idiot.”

Carter jerked his head back.“What?”

“I don’t need you sacrificing your midnight kiss just to placate one of your employees,” I went on.

His blue eyes narrowed. “I don’thavemidnight kisses,” he fired back. “And I never said that love was stupid-”

“Just that I’m stupid for wanting it.”

“I never fucking said that you were stupid,” he snapped. “Jesus fuck, what is your problem? Why are you putting words in my mouth?”

I knew why I was acting touchy about the subject, and it really was pathetic to admit. Even though I knew that Carter Nightingale didn’t date his employees, it was hard not to have a crush on him. Not only was he tall, built, blonde, blue-eyed, successful, and a decent guy, but he looked like he could lay it down in the bedroom. As tall and muscular as he was, it stood to reason that he was big everywhere, and there’d been nights when he’d been the star in some of my fantasies.

If Carter showed me even the smallest amount of interest, I’d be all on that. As complicated as it might sound, what with him being my boss and all, I would not turn down a chance with him. The best thing about Carter was his character, and I’d had more than my fair share of douchebags. I was ready to settle down with a decent guy. Yeah, our regular customers might not fall into that category because I didn’t know them beyond their favorite drink, but I had to try something. Only I could change the direction of my life. Me and me alone.

“I’m not putting words in your mouth,” I denied. “I’m simply letting you know that I might be desperate to find love, but I’m not pathetic enough totake charity kisses at midnight. At least, not at this point in my life.”

“Because you seriously think that I’d be kissing you out ofpity?”

“I think that you’ve…somehow, you’ve decided that you…that you’re responsible for me, and you’d be willing to do anything to keep me from kissing the customers,” I accused.

Carter ran his hands down his face. “This is the most insane conversation that I’ve ever had, and I work at a fucking bar with drunk people.”

“Oh, great,” I snapped. “You’ve upgraded me from crazy to insane.”

He shot me a look. “See? You’re doing it again. I never said thatyouwere insane. I said thatthis conversationwas insane.”

“Same thing,” I argued stubbornly.

“It is not the same thing, Alessa,” he argued back. “At this point, you’re being obstinate just to be obstinate.”

I slapped my hands on my hips as I decided to call him out on his bullshit. “And what would everyone think if they saw you kissing me at midnight? Because even if you don’t believe in New Year’s Eve’s midnight kiss, the rest of the world does. You don’t think that kissing me would cause issues? After all, it’s rumored that you don’t get involved with your employees. You kissing me would raise a lot of eyebrows.”

“And you’d care?” he challenged back. “That sure is a quick turnabout, Alessa. You don’t care what people will think of you kissing random customers, but you care what they’ll think if they seemekissing you?”

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