Page 20 of Seductive Scoundrel

She’s seriously opening my mail? Isn’t that illegal?

“I’m sorry about last night, and I promise I’ll make it up to you. Dean.” Her voice is loud enough for everyone within a twenty-foot radius to hear. “Dean. Is he your significant other?”

My face and neck are officially on fire, and I contemplate crawling underneath the desk. No freaking way am I going to explain who Mr. Big Dick is. I don’t even fully understand it myself.

Instead, I just shrug. “It’s complicated.”

She nods, the familiar scowl reappearing on her face. “I get it. He did something awful, and is trying to worm his way back into your good books.” Jane eyes the dress and shoes. “Whatever he did must’ve been a doozie. The scumbag probably spent his life savings on you.”

I want to laugh because I doubt Dean’s bank account noticed these purchases.

“Piece of advice, Ford,” she says, tossing my card onto the desk. “Don’t take him back. I did once, a long time ago. Big mistake.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it,” I mutter, shocked that Jane shared something so personal or that she had an intimate relationship with an actual human being. Goes to show, you can’t judge a book by the cover.

After Jane vacates my space and I’ve read Dean’s card a hundred times, I pull out my phone.

Mia: I can’t accept these gifts. Thank you, though, I appreciate the gesture.

Just typing the refusal kills a little piece of me. It’s lunchtime, so I don’t expect him to reply, but less than a minute later, his message pops up. He must have been waiting for it.

Dean: It’s rude to decline gifts. Besides, I’m looking forward to seeing you wear them on Saturday.

Mia: They’re way too expensive.

Dean: Well, then, feel free to thank me. Repeatedly.

A war wages in my mind. Part of me wants that dress andoh-my-godthose shoes are to die for. But another part of me – the independent, doesn’t take anything from a guy side – demands that I return them.

His text pops up as my fingers hover over the letters, the battle continuing in my brain.

Dean: Mia, I want you to have them. I picked them specifically for you.

Mia: I need to think about it.

Dean: You’re keeping them. Talk later – about to head into a meeting.

* * *

I walkalong the streets of Manhattan with the boxes tucked under my arm, trying to decide if I’m going to keep Dean’s gifts. It’s about a 60/40 split right now, with the 60 swinging towards keeping them.

Now, I just need to get my stupid pride to give way.

That’s when I spot a tie the exact color of his eyes, just sitting in a store window calling to me. It would be the perfect contrast to the dress. My dress.

Maybe it wouldn’t be horrible to keep Mr. Big Dick’s gifts – if I buy him one in return? The tie isn’t as expensive, but I get the sense he’s more about sentiment than price point. He’s rich enough to buy himself any and everything he wants anyway, so surely it has to be the thought that counts.

I have the tie gift wrapped and delivered to Dean’s office with a note that simply says,I accept – thank you. You’re forgiven.

Chapter Seven

Dean

It’s been a long,stressful week, and I still have at least two sixteen-hour workdays ahead of me before I finally get to see Mia again. I haven’t decided how much I’ll grill her about why she left me last weekend, but I’ll make her apologize with my dick between her lips.

I’ll also ask to meet her so-called dog.

Not having Gwynne around to get my rocks off whenever I want is…annoying. Perhaps I gave her up too soon considering Mia hasn’t officially agreed to become her replacement, but I’m not certain I’d even get hard for anyone other than Mia. She consumes me.

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