Page 100 of Start With A Slap

Terrell opened the door for her, and she got into the backseat.

Theemptybackseat.

The door shut.

She pulled on the handle, but couldn’t open it. “Hey! Terrell! What the?—?”

The engine started up and the car merged into traffic. Ivy banged on the partition, yelled through the intercom, but got no response.

Her phone rang. Guess who. “What the hell, Sever?”

“Oh,” he said as if he’d just remembered. “You’re coming to my place.”

“I... gah!” She was going tokillhim after they had sex. “I could have you arrested for this, you know.”

“But you won’t.”

“Promising not to touch me ‘in the car’,” she said. “That’s just low.”

“Kept my promise, didn’t I? I told you, I’m a man of my word.”

“You are so lucky Jason had to work late tonight.”

“Are you talking to me or yourself? Because I’m not afraid of him.”

She huffed. “I can’t stay long. I have a dog to walk and things to do?—”

“Can’t you call someone to walk your mongrel?”

They did have an afternoon dog walker, and neighbors had the key if he couldn’t make it… “I mean, yeah, but?—”

“Do you see the bag on the floor?”

There was a paper shopping bag near her feet. She toed it. “What is it?”

“Don’t be so suspicious. Look inside.”

The first thing she saw was the sheer high-waisted pantyhose. “You’ve gotta be kidding me.”

“I’m dead serious. Strip naked and start over with everything in that bag. I’ll see you in my office.”

Blouse, skirt, push-up bra, box of shoes, Afterglow perfume... “What makes you think I’d do this for you?”

He’d already hung up.

Ivy felt ridiculous.All she needed was a pair of glasses and a stripper pole, and the look would be complete.

And the shoes? So not made for walking. She was pretty sure Vikram was laughing on the inside when he opened the front door.

But then she saw Sever look up at her, and she wet the nylons a little.

One corner of his mouth curled, and she rolled her eyes to the side, trying not to smile.

“Well,” he said, throwing his pen down and leaning back in his chair. “Who might you be?”

“I ‘might’ be Ivy Tyler-Mark.”

“Oh, come on. Play with me.”

---