Page 57 of Sexy Bad Neighbor

James stands there and stares at the mess we can see through the open front door. “Well, Garrett can now no longer say Queen B has the biggest dick he’s ever seen.” He glances at Paynter. “Are you going to sweep it all up and ship it to her?”

Paynter shakes his head. “It’s going in the trash. Along with every other thing that might possibly tie me back to our relationship.” He rolls over and splays his hand on my chest, pushing me back against the grass. And then he’s hovering over me, his hands pressed to the ground on either side of my head. “Did you mean it?” he demands.

I glance at James, who is pretending to inspect his suit coat for lint or wrinkles.

“Maybe.”

“Not good enough. Say it again.”

“Wait, what are you talking about?”

“You told me you love me.”

“Oh. That. Yes, I meant it.”

“Then say it again.”

I glance at James again. Paynter shakes his head.

“This isn’t business. You’re off the clock. I want to hear it. I nearly died a minute ago. I think I deserve a heartfelt admission, even in front of my brother.”

“If you’re referring to being in love,” James says, “I already figured it out weeks ago.”

“Then why the hell are you trying to send her to Kansas?” Paynt demands.

James shrugs. “Chloe would be great running that location. Although, actually, the more I think about it, I may want to keep her here after all. She has a stellar reputation in Chicago, and I think it pulls in clients I might not otherwise secure.”

“I don’t want to go,” I blurt, watching Paynter and refusing to look at my boss. Probably, eventually, my brother-in-law.

“If that’s the way to your promotion, you’re going,” Paynter says. He glances at James. “She’s taking it.”

“No,” I insist. “I want to be here with you.”

“I can work from anywhere, and this promotion is what you’ve been working for, for what? Your entire adult life?”

“Yes, but I now realize that isn’t what’s most important. Love, happiness, finding my soul mate. You. That’s what’s important to me. The rest is just necessary to survive. Well, so are you. I don’t think I can live without you. I don’t want to try.”

“I just said I’ll go with you. If you’ll have me.”

I twist my hand into the front of his shirt. “I want you. Anyway I can get you. Anywhere I can have you.”

“Excuse me while I go barf,” James says, making gagging noises for emphasis.

Paynt chuckles. “You go do that. Meanwhile, I’m going to ravish the woman I love, right here on the front lawn.”

“That sounds divine,” I say, throwing my arms around his neck.

“Before you do that, Chloe, do you want the promotion?” James asks.

I stare into Paynter’s eyes while I respond to my boss. “I need some time to think about it.”

“Well, if it helps, I’d rather you stay here. And I’m willing to make you partner.”

Cupping my face, Paynter dips down for a kiss, licking his way into my mouth, his tongue dancing with mine.

“Is that a yes?” James asks.

“Yes,” I say, the word muffled by Paynter’s lips.

“Good. My work here is done. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d really rather not watch this display.”

I’m pretty sure he walked away at that point. Distantly, I hear the sound of a car motor revving, but I’m too focused on my man to pay much attention.

I cling to Paynter, wrapping my legs around his waist and twisting my ankles behind his back. I hear a yip yip and I’m sure it’s Jersey housewife, taking her damn dog for a walk. For once, I don’t care that she’s witnessing Paynter and I practically having sex on the front lawn. Her condemnation means nothing to me. All I care about is what Paynt thinks. And judging by how swiftly his hand snakes under my shirt to cup my breast, I have a crystal clear idea what he’s thinking right now.

“The only disappointing thing about not moving to Kansas,” he says, interrupting my thoughts as I try to determine if there’s a piece of furniture we haven’t yet christened, “is that for a minute, I was really looking forward to seeing you in a pair of sexy red heels. And nothing else.”

“We don’t need to go to Kansas for that to happen.”

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