Page 71 of Best Frenemies

Thatch: If this is how you’re going to try to schmooze the investors, things aren’t going to end well.

Me: You’re right. I appreciate the opportunity. It doesn’t matter why the first two meetings didn’t happen. I’ll be at this one.

Thatch: Just FYI, if you try to cancel on me last minute, I’ll sic my wife on you. I’ve never seen her actually castrate anyone, but she sure does love to talk about it.

Me: Like I said, I’LL BE THERE.

Thatch: Great. How did all that forced proximity go, by the way?

I start to text him back with as few details as possible, but the sounds of the auditorium doors swinging open and then swiftly slamming shut with a crashingbang!take priority.

Katy’s walking down the aisle, squinting into the mostly dark room as she tries to locate me, and I shove my phone back into my pocket.

“Mack?” she whisper-yells. “Are you in here?”

“I am, but you don’t need to whisper,” I answer through a laugh and stand to my feet. “Pretty sure we’re the only people left in the building.”

It’s hard to see in the shadows, but I swear she rolls her pretty little eyes as she closes the distance between us.

Thankfully, the light is better as she gets closer. I would have hated to have missed the way her toned legs look beneath the little floral dress that fits her body in the most delicious way. It’s this soft lace material that only showcases a hint of her curves, but the memory of their every detail is vivid enough in my mind to paint a much more extensive picture.

Fuck, she’s beautiful.

“What’s the big emergency?” she asks impatiently, looking around like something’s going to jump out and bite her.

“Follow me.” I grab her hand and lead her up the stairs of the auditorium stage and don’t stop walking until we’re hidden behind the massive red velvet curtains located stage left.

“Mack, what are you doing? What’s going on?”

I grin down at her. “Just making sure we have some privacy.”

“Privacy?” She crosses her arms over her chest. “What are you talking about?”

“I know we’re just coworkers now, but I feel compelled to tell you that I’ve missed you.” I step a little closer, ensuring that our chests are mere inches from each other. “A fucking lot, actually.”

“Huh?” Her nose scrunches up in the cutest way, and her blue eyes scrutinize mine. “What is happening right now?”

“Katy,” I whisper her name and reach out to run my index finger down her cheek. I even stop to brush a piece of her hair behind her ear. “This just-coworkers thing doesn’t feel right, you know?”

In a matter of seconds, I watch her face go from puzzled to outraged. “Thisis the emergency?”

I shrug. “My need to see you was urgent.”

“You said it was about Career Day!”

“Did I?” I question and punctuate it with a dramatic tilt of my head. “Are you sure?”

“Mack Houston!” She smacks at my chest, but she doesn’t step away from me. “Do not tell me you brought me here to flirt with me.”

“What can I say, babe? Sometimes, desperate times call for desperate measures.”

“Desperate?” she repeats through a snort. “What do you have to be desperate about?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” I retort and take one step closer to her, this time making sure our chests are pressed against each other. Carefully, I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her even tighter to me.

She doesn’t pull back. If anything, she willingly moves forward.

Hell yes.

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