Page 7 of The Most Perfect Wrong

“Nah. I’m here for work. Had a conference earlier in the week, but now I’m just enjoying the weekend. How long are you here for?”

“I’m not sure yet. I’ll probably stay a few more days and work remotely.”

“Oh? What do you do for work?”

“I’m an assistant project manager for a software development company. My job isn’t that exciting to talk about, but I enjoy it. It’s chill and laid-back.” She finishes the rest of her drink. “Are those people you work with?” She gestures toward the group I was sitting with earlier.

I nod in their direction, catching a few of them glancing our way. “Yeah, those are my coworkers. Most of them headed home today, but a few of us decided to stick around for the weekend.”

“Are you staying here?” she nods toward the hotel.

“Yep.”

“And what do you do?”

I take a sip of my beer. “I’m a Vice President of business development for a tech company. Isn’t that exciting?” I say sarcastically. “My job isn’t exactly thrilling to talk about either, but the work’s interesting, and I’m lucky to work with cool people.” We lock eyes for what feels like minutes, and before I can stop myself, the words spill out. “Jesus… you’re gorgeous. I’m surprised you haven’t been bombarded by guys all night.”

Damn. Did I actually just say that out loud?I’ve always been confident, but right now, I feel like I’m second-guessing every word. It’s been over a decade since I’ve looked at a woman like this, let alone said things like that out loud.

She grins. “Well, the night is still young. And, if you remember, I wasn’t here alone. I was with my sister… and then this hot guy scared her off.” She leans forward, almost whispering. “Who’s gonna hit on me with you around?”

I grin back. Maybe I suck at flirting, but I think she’s into it.

“Are you upset about that?”

“I was…” She pauses, letting the anticipation build between us. “I’m not anymore.”

“That’s good.” I let my eyes drift down her body—because,Jesus,she has a body. And yes, I’m undressing her in my mind. I can’t help it; I feel like a coyote on the hunt—starved and losing control. But then my eyes meet hers again, and something steadies in me, and it’s weird—how she makes me feel wild and steady at the same time.

“What are you doing tomorrow night?” I ask. “I’d love to take you to dinner… if you’re interested.” I have no idea what I’m doing, but I know I need more time with her before I leave.

She takes a breath and sits back casually in her chair, taking her sweet-ass time with her answer. “Look, I appreciate the offer,” she says carefully, “but I’m not really in a place to date.” She hesitates, her eyes traveling slowly down my body, a hint of a smile playing on her lips, stirring a slow burn of desire deep in my gut.

Her eyes eventually land back on mine, and she adds, “But if you’re looking for something with no strings attached… I might be game for that.”

My eyes widen. Does she mean a one-night stand? That’s not something I’d normally do—or would I? I used to be up for that. Coming over here, I wasn’t sure what I wanted or what to expect, but I guess for a guy from out of town, the best possible outcome would be this—sex with the hot girl, no strings attached.Damn, I’m hard just thinking about it.I definitely want her… even if I’m still figuring out exactly what that means.

But now that it’s on the table, I’m not sure that I want it to go down like that.

She’s completely caught me off guard.

“No strings attached? Tonight?” I pause, unsure.Jesus, is this what it’s like dating in your thirties?Women throwing themselves at you with no pretense?Shit, I can’t believe I’m even asking this, but I have to be sure. “You mean… sex, right?”

She laughs. “Let’s call a spade a spade, Ryan. You didn’t buy me a drink and come over here because you were curious about my job or my relationship status.”

That’s exactly why I came over here.

She leans in closer, a smirk on her lips. “And yeah, I mean sex.” She pauses, letting that sink in. “So, I’ll make you a deal:whenever you’re ready to leave,” her voice lowers to a whisper. “Just say the word.”

Holy shit.

My dick stiffens all the way, a full-on boner pressing against my jeans, and I’m stuck between pure need and contemplation, weighing the consequences. My eyes zero in on her boobs.Jesus, they’re big. And I’m so goddamn horny.When I finally tear my eyes away from them, I meet her gaze, and everything else fades. God, this is a different kind of hunger, one I haven’t felt in… forever. It’s raw and consuming. My pulse races as she holds my stare confidently. There's an electric charge between us—a chemistry so palpable it’s hard to ignore. Is that it? Or am I just so damn horny I’d feel this with anything that had tits and looked at me this way?

I lean back in my chair, crossing my arms, trying to play it cool. “Really?” I ask.

“Really,” she whispers, placing her hands on the edge of the chair, squeezing her tits together. She’s wearing a very low-cut shirt, but I force my eyes to stay on her face. My gaze slides to her lips instead—full, inviting, and I’m already imagining them on mine. Suddenly, my good intentions go out the window. I want to touch her, feel her skin, taste every inch of her.

“Okay…” I say with hesitation, because what do I say to that? I take a breath.Focus, man. Every part of me wants to make a move, but I also don’t want to be a dick. I want this to be more than just… that.

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