Page 26 of Beneath the Hood

My eyes narrow. “Did you just quote Ben Shapiro to me?”

She laughs. “He’s a quotable guy.”

My forehead scrunches. “Is he? Give me another one then.”

“Bring a bucketanda mop.”

I grin. “I’m pretty sure that’s Cardi B.”

She lifts a shoulder. “Some might say his best quotes are from her.”

Shaking my head, I bite back a chuckle. “Sometimes it’s so hard to forget how young you are.”

“Well, maybe you could use a little youth and vitality in your life.” She winks.

She resumes her exercise and my eyes drop, grazing along the top of her cleavage, her breasts jostling from the movement. My stomach clenches, frissons of heat spiraling from my skin, daring me to reach out and touch her. Begging me to justgive in. It would feel so damn good to feel her bounce on my lap instead of on that ball.

I lean in, my voice raspy from the image. “Just so you know, I wasn’t trying.”

Her body falters from the steady up and down motion. “Trying at what?”

“To meet your expectations.”

She sucks in a breath. “Maybe you should.”

I smirk. “Be careful what you ask for.”

She stops moving entirely, her breasts grazing the edge of her desk. “I knowexactlywhat I’m asking for.”

My cock jerks as I stare her down, debating on whether this is a road I want to go down. If I can keep my dick in check long enough to actually try and be her friend.

Sighing, I tap my knuckles on the counter. “Be ready tomorrow at noon.”

“For what?”

I lower my voice. “If I told you, then you’d get those peskyexpectations. Better to keep it a surprise.”

Her fingernails click methodically against the top of the desk. “Is this a date?”

My heart stutters.A date?“No. Definitely not a date.”

She tilts her head. “Well, how am I supposed to know what to wear?”

I shrug. “Wear your pajamas for all I care.”

“I sleep naked.” She grins.

My gut jolts, and I shift to relieve the pressure of my dick pressing against my zipper. “I don’t care what you wear, Blakely. Just be ready at noon.”

Walking away, my heart slams against my ribs.

I don’t think of Lee for the rest of the day.

13

Blakely

It’s eleven fifty-eight on Saturday morning and Jackson isn’t here.

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