Page 82 of Token

Love is easy when things are going right. It’s when things are not that love either withers and dies or deepens and strengthens to survive the storm.

Her parents’ love had deepened and strengthened over their thirty-five years of marriage because, her mother swore, they lived by those words.

“Let me check with Keith and see what he thinks.” She trusted him implicitly when it came to this stuff. They wouldn’t have hired him otherwise. And as sweet as Nate’s offer was, no way was she going to step on Keith’s toes by bringing in someone to look over his work without asking him first.

“Yeah, of course, whatever’s good with him.”

“About tonight—”

“Would you mind—”

At their simultaneous utterances, they both fell instantly silent.

“You go first,” Nate said. “What about tonight?”

“No, no, you go,” Kennedy insisted. “Would I mind what?”

Nate took his time responding, and then when he did, his voice was flat. “Jack wanted to go out tonight. He says I’ve been blowing him off since I came back.”

“Then go,” she urged. “Honestly, I don’t mind. We can do something tomorrow.” Kennedy knew this wasn’t coming out of nowhere. She sensed something like this coming after Jack showed up at Nate’s place last week. She wasn’t sure whether Jack’s dislike of her was the general variety kind, or if he specifically disliked her for Nate; all she knew was that it was there. It was there in the way he’d looked at her and some of the bothersome comments he’d made.

The lawsuit brought Nate back home, so you can’t say it’s all been bad.

She’d had to bite her tongue at that remark.

Let’s just hope he doesn’t change his mind. People like Markham—men with political aspirations—have a habit of playing both sides against the middle to further their personal agendas.

When she’d accidentally on purpose overheard him saythatwas when she’d realized who’d told Nate about her and Trevor.

She’d debated whether to say anything to Nate after his friend left but had decided against it. What good would it do? Nate would tell her she was being too sensitive and blowing things out of proportion. After all, the men had been friends since high school, and Jack was the trusted chief technology officer of his company. She wasn’t about to test the bonds of their friendship against whatever was going on between her and Nate. It was too new and fragile.

“Are you sure? Because, to tell you the truth, I’d rather spend the evening with you.”

Kennedy smiled. “Lately, you’ve been spending every evening with me. One night apart won’t hurt us.” Yes, it would. She’d gotten used to frequent and earth-shattering orgasms.

“Hold on a second. Who said anything about us spending tonight apart? I was hoping we could meet at your place after. For dessert,” he said, his voice dipping seductively low.

“I think you can get by withoutdessertfor one night,” Kennedy stated, all bravado with her empty words. In truth, without him beside her, she’d probably be twisting and turning in her bed all night. “Plus, I’m going to use this time to catch up with my girlfriends. Jack isn’t the only one feeling neglected.” It had been at least two weeks since she and Aurora had hung out, and Sahara was back in town, making it the perfect time for a girls’ night out.

A grumbled sound of denial emerged from his throat. “You, of all people, should know how much I need my dessert. I can’t go without it. And most nights I have at least two servings, and another in the morning.”

Kennedy’s face suffused with heat just thinking about how thoroughly they always indulged. Up against walls and bookshelves, on the kitchen counter, and on the rug in front of the fireplace, there wasn’t a room in his apartment they hadn’t thoroughly debauched. “What if I said I’d make it up to you?” she teased, her tone husky.

“Then don’t make any plans for Saturday that require clothes.”

Kennedy gave a throaty laugh. “So you plan to keep me naked all day?” She would have laughingly dismissed it if the idea wasn’t such a turn-on. She had no doubt that he’d do it, and since he’d be supplying the orgasms, she was fully on board.

“Do you blame me? I mean, have you seenyounaked?”

Kennedy bit her bottom lip. She’d seenhimnaked and that was reason enough.

A movement at her door drew her attention to Mina, who stood on the threshold, a frantic look on her face.

Oh shit.“Listen, Nate. I’ve got to go. I’ll call you later. Have fun tonight,” she said and hastily got off the phone.

“We have a problem,” Mina stated, giving voice to her expression.

“Who is it?” Kennedy steeled herself as a half dozen possibilities ran through her head.

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