Page 70 of Token

“Speaking of this weekend, what happened to you on Sunday? You said you were going to call,” Kennedy reminded her. Not that it was a big deal. After a night and morning in Nate’s bed—she could tell sex with him could quickly become an addiction—she hadn’t minded going home to take some time to herself and regroup. She’d then spent the rest of the day resisting the urge to invite Nate over to watch Netflix and chill, where there’d be lots and lots of chilling.

Aurora began picking at her skirt, something she did when she was nervous. Or guilty. Or flat-out lying. “I know. I’m sorry. It turned out to be a big cleaning day. The fridge, the oven, the floors. I cleaned everything and now the place is immaculate.”

Kennedy studied her, replying slowly. “No worries. Just curious.”

“Anyway, I’ll let you get back to work,” Aurora said, her smile overly bright as she quickly departed.

“You called?” Kennedy queried with a raised eyebrow when Nate opened his apartment door to her.

“It was a request, not a demand.”

“Right,” she said, smirking as she walked past him, only to be hauled unceremoniously into his arms.

“Don’t I even get a kiss?” he murmured, his breath warm and minty on her cheek.

Kennedy pretended to ponder the question before turning puckered lips up at him. But Nate wasn’t having any of that, plowing his hand into her hair and taking her mouth in amake you forget what day it iskiss, employing his lips, tongue, and teeth in a manner that had her nipples standing at attention and started a familiar thrum between her thighs by the time he finally broke it off.

“Much better,” he said, smiling down at her. “You look beautiful, by the way.”

Aroused and breathless from his kiss, Kennedy could only nod. She’d come straight from the office and thought she looked fairly conservative in her tailored skirt and blouse. He, on the other hand, had on worn blue jeans and a striped T-shirt, his size eleven feet bare. She found the look incredibly hot.

Nate paused beside her while she removed her heels, and then followed her to the living room. “Does the kiss mean this isn’t going to be one of those talks?” she asked, her tone light.

He grimaced. “Yeah, sorry about that. That’s how I get when I’m running late for a meeting and stressed out at the same time. Sit down. Can I get you a drink?” He headed toward the kitchen.

Kennedy let out a snort of amusement as she settled onto the couch. “Are you serious? After the day I had, I came here fully expecting to be fed.”

He treated her to a Cheshire cat smile and a wink. “Don’t worry. Dinner is on its way.”

“I hope it’s something good, because I’m starved.” The Hanson & Co.emergencycall had been the highlight/lowlight of her day. Talk about mission impossible. Margaret Hanson-Gertz would be lucky if she emerged from her ordeal with only her reputation in ruins and her stores being picketed for a month. It was a near certainty the board would vote her out as CEO and president, which had been Kennedy’s recommendation.

The woman needed to step down.

Like yesterday.

“So tell me about the emergency you had at work today.”

Kennedy watched as he deftly opened a bottle of wine. “You know Hanson’s on Park Avenue, right?”

“My mom says it makes Tiffany look like a thrift shop.”

A slight exaggeration, but she got his point. The place was ridiculously expensive and only serviced aneliteclientele.

“Well, last night, they refused to allow Vanessa Scott into the store and...” Kennedy’s voice trailed off with a sigh. The resulting scandal spoke for itself.

Two glasses of wine in hand, Nate handed her one before joining her. “Vanessa Scott?” He let out a low whistle. “So your new client just insulted the richest Black woman in America. Looks like somebody’s about to lose their job or the company is going to lose a shitload of customers. I don’t need to flip a coin to know which one they’re going to pick.”

“I wish it were that simple,” Kennedy said. “Apparently, the employee in question came forward with an email sent by Margaret Hanson-Gertz, the CEO, saying—and I’m paraphrasing now—that certain minorities were not welcome in their stores because most can’t afford the merchandise. Exceptions were of course made for celebrities, but Vanessa Scott was dressed in jeans and wearing little makeup, so no one in the store recognized her. When they wouldn’t let her in, her cousin pulled out her cell phone and started recording. It only took one hour for the video to go viral.”

Nate placed his wineglass on the end table at his side, and then carefully pulled her into his arms, as though he’d been doing it his whole life. “What did you tell her?”

“Not her. I spoke to the chairman of the board. I told him she needed to step down for the good of the company.”

Pushing her hair aside, he nibbled her ear. “What about her? What does she think should happen?”

Kennedy let out a hum of pleasure. The man was deliciously distracting. “It doesn’t matter. Saving the company’s reputation is what really matters, and it’ll go on better without her at the helm.”

“Then she has to go.” His warm breath bathed her ear and cheek, sending tendrils of lust through her.

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