Page 35 of Text Me Baby One More Time

He turns to me and sticks his hand out. “It was great meeting you, Mr. Clark. I’m a huge fan of your baseball pants.”

“Eric!” Denny admonishes.

I burst into laughter and shake his hand.

“Thank you for the compliment. It was great meeting you. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you a lot in the upcoming weeks.”

His perfectly groomed brows shoot into his hairline as he looks between me and Denny.

“And why’s that, Mr. Clark?”

“Didn’t you hear? Denny and I are a thing now. We’re—”

“You ass!”

Denny launches out of her chair, clambering around her desk—I’m certain she hits her hip on the corner—and covering my mouth with her hand.

“Not. Another. Word,” she instructs through clenched teeth.

I laugh against her palm.

She gives Eric another falsely sweet smile. “Thanks, Eric. So much.” Her words drip with sarcasm. “I’ll let you know if we need anything else.”

The receptionist shakes his head and laughs, heading back to his station, probably not wanting to be witness to Denver maiming me.

I can’t blame him. For someone so tiny, she sure can pack a punch.

Denny returns her attention to me, hand still covering my mouth, eyes ablaze.

“I will murder you in your sleep, Shepard Clark. I don’t give a shit if you’re some hotshot baseball player or not.”

I lift a brow in response.

“Don’t test me. Tell me you’re not going to test me.”

I dart my eyes down to her hand.

“I don’t trust you. Shake your head up and down if you promise not to test me.”

I do.

“Good. Now—”

Before she can finish her sentence, I dart my tongue out and lick her palm, laughing as she wrenches it away in disgust. She groans and wipes her hand against her jeans.

“I am so going to get fired for murder.”

“Just fired? Not jail time?”

“If it goes to trial, I’ll just explain how obnoxious you are. I’m certain I’ll be able to sway several jurors in my favor.”

“Not if the jury is mostly women.”

“Those poor, delusional women.” She wipes her hand on her jeans again like she can’t get rid of the feel of my tongue against her skin. “Why are you here, Shep?”

“Dress shopping.”

“Excuse me?”

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