Page 71 of Kisses and Paperclips

He extended his hand to shake hers.

I didn’t think…I moved. My manicured fingers intercepted his mid-sip, brushing against his knuckles in a whisper of a touch that sent a shockwave straight to the sole of my heels. When our skin connected, Julien’s gaze snapped to mine like I’d yanked an invisible leash.

When a man looked at you like that? That’s not eye contact. It’s a silent confession and a dare.

Beside him, the model’s glossy smile collapsed in real time. I didn’t even blink in her direction; my eyes were only for him.

His lips parted, but I knew that look. Knew the way silence could say everything we’d both tried to forget. The space between us pulled tight, full of memory and heat.

The drink was cold. It was sweet in that artificial way…bright, syrupy, and forgettable. Nothing like him. He was aged heat and slow burn. The kind of taste that stayed with you.

He didn’t stop me.

Didn’t reach for the glass. Didn’t say a word.

He just watched, like a man remembering too much all at once.

His face barely shifted, but I caught it—the flicker. That pause in his eyes. The kind of hesitation that only shows up when control slips for a second and something real slips through.

I stepped in, not whispering. Not hiding a thing.

“I’ve got something sweeter waiting,” I said, keeping my voice smooth and steady, “if you’re still thirsty for another taste.”

A pause. One breath. Two.

His throat bobbed. His gaze didn’t move.

And then, he smiled.

Not for the crowd. Not for her.

For me.

Chapter 12

Serena

I sat in the conference room, my laptop open, and paperwork fanned around me. A half-drunken cup of chamomile tea sat forgotten by my elbow. The door opened, but I didn’t look up.

For one, I’d booked this room; everyone knew my blocked-off hours meant: do not disturb.

But more than that, I felt him.

Julien.

His stare hit me like a touch. Before the door even closed behind him, I felt him. He dragged the chair out beside mine, too damn close.

The screech of wood against floor vibrated right through my ribs. When he sat, the heat from his body rolled toward me like summer pavement under thin soles. Close enough for his cologne to cut through the stale office air and wrap around me like a hand at my throat.

I kept my eyes on the contract in front of me. Tried to act like I didn’t notice the tension thickening the air between us. Sleeves rolled to the elbows. Forearms tight. His whole body angled toward mine like he couldn’t help it. His brown eyes were unreadable, heavy with something he hadn’t said yet. He didn’t just look at me, he studied and tracked me like I was the only thing worth looking at.

I used to think desire felt like butterflies. But with Julien? It’s a low hum deep in my belly, rising to a heat that makes me want to run, and makes me want to stay even more.

“What’s up?” You wouldn’t guess my heartbeat was missing every other step like it lost the beat.

“Nothing.”

A lie, I could hear it in his tone.

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