Page 134 of Hard to Resist

“Sex.”

She chokes on her beloved donut as I continue scrolling through my emails, sorting through the listing inquiries I received overnight.

“Seriously?”

I give her a wicked grin. “What? You’re going to argue donuts are better than morning sex?”

A commuter passing us falters in their steps, giving us a sidelong glance before continuing on their way. Verity gives me a glare.

“Could you be any louder?”

I laugh before biting into my own hazelnut donut, eliciting an eye roll from my girlfriend.

A new email populates to the top of my inbox, the sender and subject line capturing my attention. I click on it, giving the contents a quick scan. Not even a moment later, a text comes through from Alonso.

ALONSO:check your email

ME:I did

ME:you asking me out on a date?

ALONSO:you’re hilarious

ME:then why are you inviting me to a charity gala?

ALONSO:because Clifton donated half a mil to it

Interesting.

“Hey, what are you doing on the twenty-ninth?”

“Uh, I don’t think I have anything planned. That’s a few weeks away.” Verity looks back at me before scanning into the turnstile in the subway station. “Why?”

I swipe my watch after her.

“Want to come to a charity gala with me?”

Her eyebrows rise. “Charity gala?”

“Yeah, one of my clients will be there, and I need to woo him.”

“Is this that guy you were telling me about?”

“Yeah, the bank deal.”

She mulls it over for a moment, the wind in the tunnel whipping the stray hairs that have escaped her ponytail as the train enters the station.

“I’ve never been to one of those before. It sounds kind of fancy. What would I even wear?”

“It’s black tie, so anything like what you wore to Jace’s event.”

“Oh.” Her brows furrow as she plants herself onto one of the plastic seats. She gnaws on the corner of her bottom lip, seemingly affected by my suggestion. I have no idea why, though.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, it’s just—” She lets out a deep sigh, gaze averted. “I don’t really have anything else like that dress. Hannah has some, but she’s about two sizes smaller than me.”

“Not an issue. Why don’t I go shopping with you?”

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