Page 19 of Boss

“I’m ready,” Kassidy said.

“It appears we both are,” he agreed. The two started back toward the plane together. This time she reached for his hand.

5.

Kassidy woke when the plane landed. She lifted her head off the passenger window and wiped at the corner of her mouth. She looked out at the snow covered lanes. She knew instantly they were in Anchorage. Tarek walked up.

“The weather won’t allow us to fly in tonight. We’ll get a hotel here and leave in the morning.”

“Okay.”

“Dinner?” he asked.

“Sure, fine, whatever,” she yawned. She undid her seatbelt and eased out of her seat. He blocked her from exiting into the aisle. He stared at her.

“That was a good proposal you put together. You good with numbers.”

She smiled and didn’t answer. He stepped back and let her pass. Once again they debarked together, like a couple.

A car waited not far from the plane for them. And it was cold. She could only imagine what awaited them in Deadhorse.

“We need to talk about it.”

“About what Angela?”

“About that scar on your neck and the blood on your collar,” she said.

“It’s a scratch. Nothing.”

“Why? Why did you attack me? Why did you make me attack you? Why did any of it happen?”

Tarek glanced to his window. “I apologize. It won’t happen...”

“What? Again? It was another test wasn’t it. If I had laid there like a limp fish and let you have your way would you have lost interest? Or are you a man into rape?”

“I’m not a fucking rapist.”

“You sure?”

He turned his gaze toward her. “It happened. I didn’t intend for it to happen but it did. I can’t explain it. But let’s be clear Kassidy. When we fucked I had your consent.”

She shrugged. “You’re a strange man. And now I know you’re a violent man too.”

“Don’t pretend you didn’t know that before.”

“What?”

“You know more about me than I know about you. I’m sure.”

“Not the real you. I met the real you this morning fucking me against kitchen counter.”

“We can have a professional relationship from this point forward. Trust me. I understand boundaries. I can handle it.”

She chuckled.

“Something funny?”

“Yes. You and the new professional tone you’ve taken with me. I guess it’s funny how we are back to where we started. Remember? Me, you, a plane, a limo ride to dinner that turned out not to be something different.”

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