Page 60 of Tempt

“My house. My popcorn.”

Her gaze runs over me, lingering on my arms and shoulders before coming back to my face. “You’ve been drinking.” She announces it smugly.

“Two beers.”

“You told me you get silly when you drink.”

“Silly in a steadfast, respectable way.”

Her lips curve.

We’re flirting, and it’s addictive.

It’s not like I’m imagining how good her mouth would look wrapped around my cock.

Or how hot and wet she’d feel when I threaded my hands in her hair while I thrust.

She hops up and heads for the hallway. “Don’t pause it. Fill me in when I get back.”

I watch for a few minutes, getting more and more drawn in without knowing why, before I hear her feet in the hallway.

“Check it out.” She holds up a handful of folders, fanning them out.

“Your application?”

“Almost done. Every section except for one.” As her gaze holds mine, my heart kicks harder in my chest.

“Well done.”

“I wouldn’t have done it without your help.”

“Yeah, you would’ve.”

“No, I wouldn’t. I’d have half assed it and then when I failed, I’d tell myself it was someone else’s fault.”

What kind of girl believes that about herself? Who told her it was true?

She tries every day. I see it with my own eyes.

“What’d I miss?” When she crosses to set the folders on the table, I shake myself.

“Oh. This woman was ringing the cowbell. Krystal.”

“Chrishell. She does that a lot lately. Doesn’t hurt she’s sleeping with the boss,” she adds, padding between me and the TV.

I shift in my seat. “How does that work out?”

Kat places a hand on her cocked hip. “Don’t know yet, but I’m optimistic. See, he might be the boss on paper, but she’s important to him. Probably the best thing he has going at the office.”

The screen is a mass of colors and background noise. I tuned it out the second Kat reappeared. “That shouldn’t matter.”

“It’s everything. She’s not powerless. If anything, she’s holding all the cards.”

The strip of fabric is gone from her face. She’s makeup free, fresh and pretty, and I could stare at her all night.

I lean closer. “Don’t see any blood. Looks like you’ll live.”

Kat laughs, dropping back next to me, close enough her bare thigh brushes my jeans. “It’s not a bandage, it’s for your pores.”

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