Page 64 of Kentrell

“Don’t ever walk into my office like that again. Don’t crowd me. Don’t show up and violate the boundaries I’ve set—especially not inmyworkplace.”

His nostrils flared, but I didn’t stop.

“I don’t care what happens outside these walls. In here, you’re a client. That’s it.”

He looked ready to snap back. Something sharp was sitting on the edge of his tongue.

But I didn’t let him speak.

I leaned in, softened my tone, dropped it just enough for him tolisten.

“Outside of here…”

His head tilted slightly.

“Outside?” he echoed.

My fingers curled around the edge of the desk. “I don’t want to keep tiptoeing around this thing between us. I’m tired of pretending I’m not one kiss away from breaking every rule I ever made.”

I swallowed.

“I want to shed that. Just once. Get it out of my system.”

His jaw tightened. He was listening now—really listening.

“You sayin’ what I think you sayin’?” he asked.

“I’m saying,” I exhaled, steady now, “if I’m gonna make a mistake, I want it to be deliberate. Clean. Contained.”

His smirk came slow, skeptical. “Put that shit on something.”

I stepped around him, picked up my purse, grabbed my phone, and started tapping.

He watched me, brow furrowed. “Whatchu doin’?”

I glanced up, calm. “Calling my doctor.”

He blinked. “For what?”

“I’m scheduling a full panel. For both of us.”

His eyes widened.

Then he laughed.

A real laugh. Deep. Unfiltered. The kind that made his shoulders shake and his voice rumble through the room like thunder.

I stared at him, stunned.

I didn’t know he could laugh like that.

He bent forward slightly, hand on his chest, still chuckling. “Man...what?You tweakin'!”

I crossed my arms, arching one brow. “I’m not sleeping with anyone who hasn’t been tested. Full panel. Same day results. I’ll book the concierge.”

He shook his head, grinning now—his whole vibe cracked open.

“Damn,” he said, shaking his head. “You really serious.”

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