“I wanted to tell you personally, so you can hear me when I say, you’re wrong.”
“Excuse me?”
“You’re wrong about what you said in your email. I’m not trying to suck up to you, as you continue to believe.”
“Okay…” She pauses.
“Don’t get me wrong, I was concerned by how we met and feared maybe it was going to fuck up your first impression of me, but not exactly for the reasons you seem to think.”
She considers her answer. A subtle click sounds in the distance, and the line goes quiet.
I hold out the phone in front of me, checking to make sure we’re still connected, and we are.
“What are the reasons then?”
“I think you have it all wrong about me. I’m not sucking up to you, Brielle.” She sighs, and I continue. “I’m fighting for my life to forget that fuckin’ kiss. The only sucking up I’m willing to do is to find a way to finish what we started.”
“Madden, I—” she says, but I cut her off.
“I get it. Your job.”
“Yeah,” she murmurs, and it almost sounds dejected.
“I won’t tell if you won’t tell.”
She snickers. “I don’t doubt you won’t.”
I picture her sitting at her desk in her office. Those sexy-ass legs crossed, and her hair pulled up like she had the first day we met, wearing another one of her fitted dresses. The way they accentuate every one of her delicious curves taunts me, nearly bringing me to my knees.
“Are you seeing anyone?” I ask, holding my breath.
I want to tell her not to overthink it even though I know she is. She seemed to second-guess every word when we were together, almost as if she was holding herself back.
“I haven’t dated in a while.”
Who in their right mind would pass up an opportunity to get to know her? I sure as shit won’t be.
“Good.”
“Good?”
“Well, I’m hoping when I tell you I’m saving your personal number from your email, you’ll tell me you hope I’ll use it.”
“Madden—”
“C’mon, Brielle. If anything, give me a chance to do a little more sucking up, only in my way.”