Page 120 of Only Fate

With her arm out, she pulls back and does another twirl. “Don’t you have a job?”

“I’m off for the rest of the day.”

“That’s not very professional.”

“I’m not concerned about being professional at the moment.”

“What are you concerned about?”

We’re in the lobby, in front of a window, for people’s eyes tosee. I collect her hand in mine, take us to her office, and push her against the door as soon as I shut it.

My lips are instantly on hers, and she doesn’t hesitate before kissing me back. Our kiss is slow-building and intimate, and I fucking love it.

Essie grips the back of my neck, sucking in breaths, and slips her tongue inside my mouth. I groan, grabbing her thigh and hooking it around my waist.

She moans my name at the same time my pocket vibrates.

The sound cuts us out of oureverything is okay between ustrance.

Reality cracks through us, and she lowers her leg from my waist.

I draw back a step, pulling my phone from my pocket, and without bothering to glance at the screen, I ignore the call.

Our moment is gone.

Silence returns, but this time, it isn’t comfortable.

It’s awkward and bursting with uncertainty.

I gulp, wishing we could time-travel back to only a few minutes ago.

Hell, if I had an actual time-traveling wish, I’d go back to before I was stupid in college.

She clears her throat. “I, uh … need to get back to work.”

I rub my sweaty hands together. “Do you want me to walk you back to your car since it’s still at the bake shop? I’m sure you could use the company.”

“No,” she says, her voice suddenly shaky.

It’s like we were riding a high, and now, we’re coming downhard.

And, dammit, just like an addict, I want to take another hit to bring us back to when my lips were on hers.

I nod, playing with the phone in my hand. “Before I go, will you promise me something?”

She flutters her lashes, halfway looking at me and the floor simultaneously. “What?”

“I’m sending you an email. Please read it.”

“Nice work today,” I say, fist-pumping my abuela when I slide into her Buick.

According to my GPS, the walk back to my place would have been an estimated hour.

Since my abuela was still at her nail appointment, I sat on the same bench Essie and I had been on earlier and waited until she was finished.

My abuela grins from ear to ear. “We make a good team, don’t we?”

I nod. “Sure do.”

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