Page 30 of My Office Rival

“Yeah. I do.” She sighed and sipped the dregs of her wine. “Imean, I don’t, but I do. I think you understand. My life would look very different now if I had taken that route.”

I nodded slowly. “I do. But I’ve never really questioned my path. It’s always been about money for me. Money and success.” I’d always wanted to be on top, which meant I’d chosen the biggest firm, with the most prestigious name and the most prestigious practice.

“Lucky you.” She scrunched her nose. “It’s probably why you’re so freaking good at what you do, though.” She trailed off and looked away.

I hate this.We were enemies at the office, but here, in the house, seeing her looking so lost? I had the insane urge to gather her in my arms, or make her laugh. Yeah, definitely insane, seeing as I couldn’t remember the last time I’d made a woman laugh.

“Do you want to ask that question now?” I asked.

She brightened. “Sure. I’ll play. Can I have a beer first?”

“Finishing my wine wasn’t enough for you?” I teased, keeping my tone light, so she knew I wasn’t serious. I got up and passed her a cold one, watching her eyes heat as she scanned my body.Stop looking at me like that, sweetheart.

“I don’t even like this. But it beats drinking water, I guess.” She sipped and grimaced. “Damn, that’s gross.” She tapped her index finger against her lips and I stilled, gazing at her pillowy bottom lip.

“I’ll go easy on you. Uptown or downtown?” she asked.

“Uptown,” I answered easily.

She made a go-on motion with her hand.

“Uptown is a calm oasis in comparison to downtown. Downtown is chaotic.” I shook my head. What I liked was the control, the routine.

“More like lively,” she shot back.

“I knew you’d be a downtown girl,” I responded. It fit. She was all light and fire.

“I’m really a Queens girl, but that’s way too far from the office. And I just knew you’d be an uptown person. Ugh.” She mock shuddered.

“That bad?” I grinned at her vigorous nod and swigged my beer. “So Queens, eh? I could see it.” And I could. She talked fast, thought fast.

“No joking about Queens,” she said and pointed her finger. Her eyes shot fire, and I smothered a smile.

“I wouldn’t dream of it,” I responded solemnly. “Queens has the best food in New York. That ceviche place in Jackson Heights? To die for.”

She brightened. Clearly food was the way to her heart. “Oh, it’s on my list. One of these days when I leave the office at a reasonable hour.”

“You work like mad, don’t you?” I asked. It was apparent. She was always sending deal emails after midnight, always delving into points in detail on the phone.

“I do,” she replied and shrugged. “I have to keep up with the Bretts of the world. You know it’s tough being a woman in a law firm.” She sat back like she expected me to argue.Careful, Jason.

“I know.” I nodded. “A lot of repeating yourself only to have a male associate take your ideas, right?”

“Yeah,” she said and grimaced. “Whatever. At least you’ve been a right asshole across the board. You’re just about as rude to Gerald as you are to me.”

A laugh burst out of me and she grinned. “You noticed that?” I asked, though I knew she had.

“You’re kidding right? It’s kind of your thing,” she said. She leaned in and her eyes danced. “The whole GQ model, but I eat babies for breakfast vibe.” She cocked a brow. “So, do you?”

“GQ model, eh?” I smirked at her. “Go on.” My fist tightened on the beer bottle.You know she thinks you’re hot.Attraction is not the issue.

“Of course you focus on that.” She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. Her even teeth flashed over her pink lower lip and my stomach tightened.I want those lips on my body. On my cock. I shifted uncomfortably.

“So, anything else you want to know?” I asked.

She tilted her head. “I’m just drunk enough to ask this question. Why were you so insistent that we can’t have sex again?”

Her words hung in the air, and I swallowed. Losing my job was part of the reason, but the other part of it was embarrassing. Because I was terrified. Because every woman I slept with walked away from me. Once was enough and twice meant I needed to bare myself to them. And that meant rejection.

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