Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 102781 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102781 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
“Where are you going?”
“Shit. You scared me. I thought you were asleep.”
“You were going to try to sneak out?”
“No. Ummm… Yeah. I thought maybe it would be better if I went home.”
He pulled me back down to his chest, hugging my shoulder tight to him. “It wouldn’t.”
“Are you sure?”
“You’re a nice girl. A nice woman. I like you here. But if I tell you that some of my scars aren’t healable on the inside, you’re going to try to heal me.”
“And something is wrong with that?”
“Some scars don’t deserve to be healed. But that doesn’t mean I want you to go home. Get some sleep, babe.”
Chapter 31
* * *
Bennett
“The board has selected the last of the accounts that the two of you will be reviewed on,” Jonas said. “It’s a new account to both of you, so I think you’ll be as happy as you could be under the circumstances.”
“That’s great. What kind of an account is it?” Annalise asked.
At the same time, she also uncrossed and recrossed her legs, so I lost track of the conversation. It didn’t help that I knew she had no underwear on under that skirt. After an hour-long fuckfest in the shower this morning, I’d gone for a run while she went home to get dressed. We happened to pull up for work at the exact same time, and both of us had to park in the lot down the street rather than the usual spots we snagged near the building when we were early.
She’d texted me from her car, asking me to walk ahead so people wouldn’t suspect anything when we walked in at the same time. I’d thought it was overkill, but I’d soon realized she was full of shit and why she really needed the minute alone.
The doors to the elevator I’d entered had started to slide closed when Annalise strolled into the building lobby. Instead of letting it go and taking the next car, she waved and yelled from the door. “Hold the elevator, please!”
There were a few other people in the car already, and a woman from accounting pressed the open button.
“Thanks.” Annalise rushed in and stood next to me. Trying to follow her request that no one at work find out about us, I acknowledged her with a simple nod and faced forward. She, on the other hand, went out of her way to address me in front of people.
“Bennett.” She held out a brown paper bag. “I think you might’ve dropped something getting out of your car in the parking lot.” Her face didn’t give anything away, but I caught the twinkle in her eye.
What the hell was she up to? I took the bag, even though I hadn’t dropped it. “Yeah, I did. Thanks.”
At our floor, she exited the elevator first, giving me a fine view of her swaying ass as I followed her down the hall. Curious, I walked into my office and ripped open the brown paper bag. A note sat on top of balled-up red, lacy fabric. The thong was still warm.
Don’t let these distract you today. Or the fact that I took them off in the car.
I’d laughed, thinking she was being cute. But now I realized I truly was fucking distracted. Was it me, or did she look even more fuckable today than usual? How far was the closest motel from the office? I wondered if she’d be up for a quickie at lunch.
That thought had been still rolling through my head when Jonas had given the name of the new account—Pet something or other. But the change in Annalise’s tone brought me back from fantasyland. She sounded apprehensive.
“Pet Supplies & More? The online company based in San Jose?”
“That’s the one,” Jonas said. “Are you familiar with them?”
She side-glanced over at me and then back to Jonas. “Yes, I am.”
I squinted. “You’ve pitched them before?”
Annalise shook her head and spoke to Jonas. “Trent and Lauren Becker, right?”
Jonas nodded. “Yes, that’s them. Have you worked with them before?”
Something about Annalise’s reaction was off. She didn’t seem excited that she knew them, when that could be a clear advantage.
“No, I haven’t. How did the RFP come in?”
“Our CEO got a call from their CEO.”
“Oh. Okay. Lauren may not even know I work here with the merger and all. But I can give her a call.”
“Why you?” What kind of a game is she playing?
“Because I know her.”
I straightened my tie. “Obviously not that well if she didn’t call you for the RFP and doesn’t even know you work here.”
“I’ll make the call, Bennett. Don’t worry your pretty little head. I won’t try to exclude you from getting information. But we both know it’s better for someone with a relationship to take the lead than someone without one.”
“I guess that depends on who is more competent.”