Page 91 of The Playboy

I knew she’d impress the team during her interview, and after the two examples she’d given me at the diner, I believed she had the skills to analyze each department within our older locations and determine specific areas of improvement.

I kissed the side of her ear. “Should I not keep bringing it up?”

“No, please do. It’s just that you’re assuming I’m going to get it, and I don’t even know what it really entails or if the manager of the department will even like me or want me to work for them.”

The manager of the department.

Something I’d been thinking about endlessly since I’d offered her the interview and had that conversation with Cooper on my way home.

At some point, she was going to find out it was me. Not necessarily during the interview—I could make sure that wasn’t revealed. But if she got the job and I decided to stay in the position, it would be inevitable.

What would that do to us?

Would there even be an us by then?

Fuck, I hoped so.

“You know, if you decide to interview, HR is going to fly you out to LA fairly quickly.” I pulled my mouth off her skin and straightened in my seat. “They want to fully staff the team within the next couple of months, which means they’ll start recruiting now.”

“That timing is perfect. I’ll be graduated by then.”

With my arm still wrapped around her, my hand sank into her hair. “Would going to LA in the next week or so be a problem? With school and work, could you swing it?”

“I’d make it happen, no matter what.” She bit the center of her bottom lip. “What would a visit there look like exactly?”

“They’d give you a tour of our corporate headquarters. You’d have one interview, most likely two. They’d put you up in a hotel for the night and fly you home the next day.”

Her head shook, and her eyes went wide. “Wow.”

I chuckled at her amazement. “Is that a good wow or …”

“I never thought I’d ever be flown somewhere to interview for a job. I had goals and dreams, of course—I’ve told you that. I just didn’t think it would happen like this or so fast.” She let out a deep breath. “This is all just wild to me.” Her hand went to my leg, her eyes on her fingers until she finally lifted them. “And it’s all because of you.”

I pushed the hair out of her face. “You’ve earned it.” My hand stilled on her cheek. “You fell into my arms at the right time, and since I met you, I don’t even recognize myself. I’ve done a one-eighty. That’s what’s wild to me.” I took a quick glance through the windshield, seeing that we were approaching the airport, and I leaned toward Brooklyn. “The things you’ve made me realize, the things you’ve made me want—I never thought it would ever happen … until you.”

I kissed her.

But this kiss wasn’t like the others I’d given her tonight.

When my lips surrounded hers, they moved with urgency.

I was hungrier. Needier.

Demanding.

And she felt it.

I heard it in her breath; I sensed it in her fingers as they clung to my leg.

And when I finally pulled away, feeling the SUV come to a stop, I whispered, “We’re here.”

Her eyes slowly opened, staring into mine before they gradually searched the windows. “We’re at … the airport?”

“We’re going to fly to dinner and fly back. Just a quick trip.”

“What?” She swallowed. “Where?” She scanned my eyes. “And how is that even possible?”

I smiled at her innocence, even laughed a little. “When I asked your favorite flavor,sushicame flying out of your mouth. If I’m being honest, I was going to take you to Japan for a couple of days. That’s the best in the world, in my opinion. But I assumed you either had school or work or both, and I didn’t want to keep you from those, especially knowing how important they are to you.” I kissed her again, just a quick peck to get more of her taste, to satisfy that deep need pulsing inside me. “I found the highest-rated sushi restaurant in Hawaii, so that’s where we’re going.”

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