Page 19 of Strictly Yours

“No, you’re not fired,” I say in a soft tone. “You’re a valued employee and I’m glad we have you.”

Now, she’s blushing.

“Thank you, Mr. Strickland,” she says as she plays with her necklace.

“Go to a spa or somewhere nice,” I tell her as I pull out my wallet. “And put it on the company card.”

I drop it on her desk and have to hold back a laugh because she looks so stunned. She’s staring at the credit card like it’s about to burst into flames.

“Bring a friend if you’d like. And have some fun.”

I walk away before she can find her words.

I push open the door to my office and?—

Holy hell.

There she is.

Amber Fletcher.

At my desk.

Spinning slowly in my chair.

Grinning like she owns the place.

“What are you doing here?” I blurt out.

It’s the wrong choice of words, but I’m just so shocked to see her. I feel like I need to touch her to make sure she’s real.

“I’m here to bust you out.”

My lips curl up into a smile despite myself.

“Bust me out?”

“Yeah,” she says as she stands up, looking even more incredible than I remembered. “You ever play hooky?”

“I can’t say that I have.”

My heated eyes roam up and down her stunning body as she walks around my desk. She’s wearing a white sundress with sunflowers all over it and I don’t know where to look—her long bare legs are in the lead, but those round breasts and her thick luscious hips are definitely in the running too. I can’t take it all in fast enough.

Her brown hair is loose and wavy. Fuck, I just want to sink my hands into it and pull her mouth to mine. There are so many things I want to do to her, but I can’t do any of them in my busy office with these goddamn glass walls and doors.

“Well, that changes today,” she says as she steps up to me, looking radiant in the afternoon light. I’m in awe of this woman. How can she be real? “We’re going out.”

I’d go anywhere with her.

Her smile fades. “I’m sorry I left like that last night,” she says in a resigned tone. “Duty called and I kind of panicked.”

I gently take her wrist in my big hand and turn her arm. I wince when I see all the fresh scratches all over her perfect skin.

“I’m guessing Munchies didn’t want his medication?”

“No,” she says with a laugh. “He did not. But the furry little fucker got them anyway.”

I laugh. Happiness and relief to see her floods into my chest like a warm wave. I can’t believe she’s here. I can’t believe I get to spend another magical day with this woman.

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