Page 49 of Forty, Flirty & F*cked

"Remember Regina St. Claire's daughter?"

"The llama enthusiast?"

"She's graduated to camels." Ariana shows me the screen. "Three of them. Currently loose in Pike Place Market."

I blink at the photo of what appears to be several very disgruntled camels investigating the fish-throwing station.

"I have to go." She's already gathering her things. "The files I need are at my apartment, and?—"

"I'll take you."

"You don't have to?—"

"I want to."

She stills, something growing warm in her gaze. "Connor..."

"Let me help." I step closer, close enough to see the golden hues in her chocolate-brown eyes. "Please."

A heartbeat passes.

Then another.

"Okay," she whispers.

I signal Christoph, who appears with suspicious speed.

"Leaving so soon?" Grams calls as we head for the door.

"Camel emergency.” Ariana hugs her and hurries away. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Reeves.”

I kiss my Grandmother’s cheek. “I’ll be over for poker night soon.”

We turn and head out before my Grams can start calling out poker night buy-in numbers.

The ride to Ariana's building is surprisingly silent. The proximity. The vanilla scent of her skin. The closeness tonight.

The air feels squeezed out of my own lugs, by the time the car slows to a stop outside her building.

Neither of us moves.

Rain drums against the roof, creating a cocoon of sound that makes the rest of the world feel very far away.

"So," she says softly.

"So."

"I should go." She doesn't move. "Those files..."

"The camels can wait."

"That's not very professional of you."

"I'm not feeling very professional right now."

Her breath catches as I lean closer. "Connor..."

“Fuck. Don’t listen to me. You should go ahead and go.”

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