Page 64 of My Office Rival

She nodded. “I do. I love being a protector, someone people can depend on. But sometimes…” She trailed off and chewed her lip.

“But what?” I prodded.

She sighed. “But sometimes it feels like a millstone around my neck. I’ve always been the responsible one in my family. My parents are so quick to say ‘It will be fine. Don’t worry about us. Don’t worry about money.’ They come from different worlds. In America, money iseverything.” Her voice was fierce, her frustration palpable. “I’ve never stopped to ask myself whatIwant. I’ve been the good daughter, the one who is always there on holidays, the one who goes home for the weekend, because my brother can’t. The one who gives them money when they need it. Always giving and giving. I guess it’s selfishto wonder what my life would look like if I lived it mostly for myself, or who I might be. I’m probably not brave enough to find out. I like the money too much and the status it brings me, especially when I grew up without any.” She fell silent, and I looped my arm around her shoulder and pressed my face against her hair. “That’s not selfish at all,” I murmured against her. Just for a moment, I held her, feeling her stiffen in surprise and then relax against me. The fiery strands escaping from her bun tickled my nose, and the feel of her tucked under my arm made me want to protect her from the world.

“What if, while we’re here, you live just for you?” I stepped back and shoved my hands back into my pockets so I wouldn’t touch her again.

“What do you mean?”

“You have no obligations except work. We’re here for at least another week or two. Have fun with me. Live for you, not them. Say fuck it.”

Her eyes searched mine, her brows furrowed in confusion, or perhaps uncertainty.

“I’ll tell you what. I’ll do it too,” I offered.

“Yeah?” Her lips quirked. “You’ll let go? You’ll say fuck it? That might be impossible for you.”

“I can start right now.” I held my arms open wide.

“Okay.” She gave me a tentative smile, and I returned it.

“Where to first? The night awaits.”

38

CYNTHIA

“Nowthatis heaven.” I took a second bite of the deep-fried Oreo, and a little groan escaped my lips.

Jason shook his head. “It’s good, but I think the deep-fried cheese has my heart.”

I chewed, eyes closed. “You’re crazy. This is better than sex.”

“Sex with other men, you mean.” I opened my eyes, and he winked. “Because I know I’m better than an Oreo.”

A piece of cookie went down the wrong way, and I started coughing. Jason slapped me on the back.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I coughed out. “Nothing is better than dessert.”Liar, liar.But there was no way I’d let him see how gone I was for him, how I kept returning to the memory of his strong hands, the way he’d liked it rough, and the way I’dlovedit.

He grinned as if he knew exactly what I was thinking but mercifully changed the subject. “Time for the roller coaster?”

“Blech. After eating? It looks like a death trap.” I eyed the rickety coaster set up across the field.

“Look on the bright side. If there’s a horrible accident, assuming we don’t die, we can definitely sue them.” His eyes danced as we wovethrough the clumps of people waiting for food or eating on the benches set up for picnicking.

“Only you would think that’s a bright side, Jason.”

“Maybe so,” he responded cheerfully, grabbing my hand as the crowd thickened. “Try to keep up.”

I let myself be pulled along, his hand strong and sure on my own. The roller coaster was worse up close. Jason passed some money to a bored teenager and then pointed at the height requirements sign.

“I think you might need to check your height. Are you tall enough to ride?”

I scowled at him. “Very funny. I’m five foot two, thank you very much. Just because I’m not nine feet tall like you are doesn’t mean I’m child-sized.”

“Well, you know what they say about tall guys.” He wagged his eyebrows, and I groaned.

“Stop.” I punched his shoulder. “All men are the same. This proves it. And here I thought you were classier than that.”

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