Page 14 of Duty Became Desire

“You got roped into this too?”

“Yeah,” I told her, taking a seat. “James said he was busy and that he knew what we’d like.”

“Yeah, I got the same thing from Demi.”

Before we could say anything more, the samples were placed in front of us. We each took a bite of everything. The food was good, and I knew James would like it. But he wouldn’t love it. And Demi wouldn’t want to serve this to her guests.

“Hard no?”

I looked up at her and shrugged.

“A no for sure. It’s not something Demi would want.” I stood up, waved to the gentleman behind the counter, and shook my head. “Thanks, but it’s not quite what we’re looking for.”

“Good luck on your wedding,” he called.

I sat my hand on Skylar’s back and escorted her out, not giving her the chance to correct the man, otherwise, we’d be spending forever at every venue. And I didn’t have that much time today. I had papers to grade.

“Why did you do that?”

“Because we got a long enough day, we don’t need it longer. Now, your car or mine?”

She crossed her arms, ready to let out a tirade no doubt, but I wasn’t in the mood.

“Don’t start, Skylar. Let’s just go, please?”

“Fine.” She marched over to my car, and I opened the door for her, grateful for small mercies. “Do you know how many places?”

“I think there were five on the list James sent me, along with three places for cake tasting.”

She rubbed her face then pushed her hair back and pulled it into a low ponytail. I watched her, the brief image of shutting her mouth with my cock while that hair wrapped around my hand flashed through my mind and I had to stop the groan.

It was also a stark reminder that I needed to get those papers squared away, and fast. Even if it was in name only, I wasn’t the type of man to cheat and if I was having sexual fantasies come up about this woman, I needed to get laid.

“Let’s get a move on,” she smarted off, and I bit my tongue before heading to the next location.

Which didn’t do any better than the first. The Mexican one wasn’t horrible and was a solid maybe. But the fourth location, it was an Asian/Thai merger that had the salty, the spicy, the fancy, and the delicious; a winning combo for them both.

“Oh, this chicken!”

I grinned as she dived for the third and final piece. By her reaction alone I was going to say it was good, since she left none for me.

“Have some…oh.” She looked down at the plate and then gave me a sheepish smile. “Sorry.”

“Don’t worry. I tried enough, I think they would like this. Agree?”

“Yes! This is what they need.”

“Perfect.” I quickly sent James a message that we liked this one and told the owner the couple would be in touch, not letting on if it was us or someone else.

“So, cakes?” she asked.

“Yes. Though, after some of that rich food, I’m not sure I want to go that road.”

“Right.” She patted her stomach as she sank back into the chair, her gaze locked out the window. “Oh, did you have time to go to the clerk’s office?”

“Not yet. It was on my list today, but I got this instead. Things have been crazy with the family and work.”

“Right,” she repeated, but for a whole different reason.

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