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Yes, I’d like that.

“Rough day at the office?” His voice is a low rumble against my ear.

“You have no idea.”

“Want to talk about it?”

Connor knows the stresses of my job, but I’ve never shared the depths of my frustration and fatigue. I’m not sure he’d understand.

“It’s just…” I trail off with a sigh, gathering my thoughts. I’m constantly putting out fires, dealing with one crisis after another, barely having a moment to breathe, and when I do, there are a dozen more problems waiting.” I close my eyes. I’m not sure how much more I can take.”

Silence.

I open my eyes to find him watching me with a gaze both intense and gentle.

“You don’t have to handle this alone. You should trust more in others and let them handle it. Delegate it.” His thumb brushes my cheek in a soothing caress. “And I’m here for you, too. However, you need me.”

Tears prick my eyes, a swell of emotion choking my throat. Why am I getting like this? I turn my head aside, blinking hard against the sting.

“Sometimes it’s hard because I have to put on this role. Being strong, showing no weakness, because we Wemptons are perfect.”

“Do you feel the same with me?” He presses a tender kiss on my shoulder.

I shake my head. With him, I’ve never needed to pretend or put on a facade. I tried, but he sees through it. Sees the real me and somehow still cares and stays.

“You’re already perfect. Just by being yourself.”

I give a watery chuckle.

He nudges my chin. “I mean it. Everyone in the office looks up to you. You’re caring, brilliant, beautiful...” His thumb brushes over my bottom lip. “Perfect.”

Our lips meet in a tender kiss.

“So, why the dating shows?”

“It is my stress relief. I feel like I can escape my own world. I used to watch them with my sister.”

Connor smirks. “Stress relief, huh? I can think of some other ways to help with that.”

Heat rushes to my cheeks. “Not everything is about sex, you know, and yoga does the same job, by the way.”

“Oh, I know. But sex sure is more fun.” He winks, his grin turning wicked.

I roll my eyes, shoving at his chest playfully. “You’re impossible.”

“And you love it.”

I do. God help me, I really do. Even when he’s being an arrogant ass, I can’t help the way my heart flips in my chest.

“So, you watch these shows with your sister?” He steers us back on track.

“Used to. Ella and I had marathons when we were teenagers. It was our thing, you know?” My smile fades. “But now…”

“Now?”

“She hates me.”

Connor’s brow furrows. “Why would you think that?”

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