Page 26 of Rumor Has It

“I said no more drinks.” She wags a finger at me, looking damn sober on top of damn cute.

“Is that what you’ll write in your article? ‘He took me up for a nightcap that I refused.’”

“Yes. And after that, I’ll advise ‘Never have a nightcap if you don’t intend on kissing him goodnight.’” One eyebrow hitches. “I’ll have a bottle of water though.”

I grab her a Smartwater. She drinks from the bottle, her delicate throat moving as she swallows each cold sip.

“Would kissing me be that bad?” I’d totally make out with her. She has a mouth that looks both plush and soft, and I’ll bet that sharp tongue would soften once I stroked it with mine.

“I’m not kissing you!” she says around a laugh. “Again, is this what you say to your dates? If so, it’s not hard to figure out why you’ve been single ‘on and off’ for so long.”

She rounds the white leather sofa and sits primly on the edge. I take the middle, sitting so close that my jean-clad thigh touches hers.

“Seriously, Fox.” She gives me a mild glare before scooting a few inches away from me. “Okay. The column. You’ve been hiding your summary from me, and I want to see it.”

“I decided to turn it into Mia directly.”

“What? Why?” She sounds sincerely disappointed.

“I don’t want to flavor your views with mine. We see the world differently, Kitty Cat.”

“You’d better not lie and say we made out tonight.”

“I’m not going to lie.” A stubborn strand of hair has wrestled its way loose from her ponytail again. I reach up and slide it behind her ear. “When I write that we made out, it’ll be true.”

She watches me carefully.

“But not tonight,” I tell her, backing off abruptly. “You’ve had too much to drink.”

A choking sound exits her throat. “Have not.”

I smother a smile at the lip of my beer bottle.

“I’m in control of my faculties, Fox. If I wanted to kiss you after a few glasses of wine, I would. And you couldn’t stop me.”

“Hey, hey.” I hold up my palms. “Don’t make me report you to Mia for sexual harassment.”

“Me! You were the one offering to have sex with me in Marge’s old office.”

“An offer that still stands.”

She takes an exaggerated gulp from her water bottle and regards the label. “Oh my goodness, it works. I’m not going to have sex with or kiss Barrett Fox. Thank you, Smartwater, for making me smart!”

“Hilarious,” I grumble.

“Eh. I can do better.”

“You really can, Kitty Cat. You have sharp wit. That was bland.”

She shrugs off my compliment-insult combo.

“I mean it. I read your articles. You’re funny. Concise. Sharp.”

“Sharp and concise and funny.” She says this to the living room window overlooking the river and the cityscape beyond.

“Those were compliments. Do you prefer I compliment your body instead?” I don’t wait for her to answer. “You have a great ass, hair I want to run my fingers through, and I bet your lips are heaven on earth.”

She swallows, appearing more than a little stunned. I lift her hand. “You have pretty fingers, too. Elegant. Ever play the piano?”

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