Page 55 of The Dating Prohibition
“Okay, well, go ahead and send the kitchen staff home and then you go home too. There’s no need for you to stay here if there’snothing left to do. We can close.”
“Are you sure?” Lani’s eyes grew wide as saucers, as if she was looking at a pile of gifts under the Christmas tree.
“Yeah, if you wouldn’t mind, just go ahead and close up the curtains and then you can take off. I’m sure you have other stuffyou wanna get into tonight.” She shared a knowing look with her cousin, as Lani had shared earlier that she and Stanley werefinally trying to get together for a date night. Logan had gotten tired of them making eyes at each other and talked to Stanleyabout a late-night art exhibit that he knew Lani wanted to see. Apparently, Stanley had been stalling because he was tryingto figure out the perfect date. Once he had that information from Logan, he immediately pulled Lani aside to find out if shewas free.
Lani bounced with excitement. “Okay, I’ll lock the door so no one comes in while you two are finishing up.”
Kendra nodded and went back to collecting an inventory of their wine selection. When she finished, she turned on her heelsand strolled toward the bar, where BJ was cleaning another steaming load of glasses. “Do you have a lot more to do?” she asked,finally looking up at him. His deep brown eyes poured into hers and she caught her breath.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?” He blinked.
“I was asking if you had a lot more to do. I just need to close out the register and print the receipt.”
“Bet, I just have one more load, so I’ll probably finish right about the time you do.”
“Okay.” She turned away from him to the tablet and began reviewing everything, confirming the cash that was in the till, andtaking some notes for her brother. After she’d divided and marked the tips for the day’s servers, she placed what she neededto bring home in an envelope and turned back toward BJ, her hand grazing his arm.
“So, sorry,” she stuttered. The warmth emanating from his body raised her internal temperature and she fanned herself withthe envelope.
“It’s fine. You didn’t do anything wrong.” He nudged her playfully.
“No, I know,” she said, laughing awkwardly. “I just, you know...”I’m picturing you naked.
“You’re trying to keep your distance, aren’t you?” He removed his glasses, pressing an arm of the frame against his lips thoughtfullylike a sexy Black Sherlock Holmes.
“I don’t really know what to do,” she admitted, her forehead growing hot as she willed herself not to sweat. Her envelopefan was losing some of its integrity from her clammy grip.
“I thought we talked about what we were going to do.” He stepped closer, and his scent filled her nostrils.
Kendra tilted her head, looking up at him through her thick lashes. “So you’re saying you want to take a boxing class withme?”
The corners of his mouth turned up. “Something like that. Although, I’m not sure I’m the one taking the lesson.”
Kendra grinned cheekily. “Listen. Just because you are a professor in the classroom doesn’t mean that you can beat me in thering.”
“Is that a challenge?” He crooked his eyebrow.
“Maybe it is. I know how strong I am. I know I can go more rounds than you...”
“Is that right?” His gaze dropped to her mouth as she licked her lips.
“Yep. I pack a mean punch,” she said and playfully jabbed at his stomach.
He grunted, his lips curving. “Well, then, we need to finish these glasses so that we can get ourselves into the ring.”
“Let’s.”
Within fifteen minutes, they had made it to his apartment. They practically street-raced to get there.
In the car, Kendra had popped a mint into her mouth, reapplied her lip gloss, and fished around in her purse for her travel-sizedperfume to refresh her scent. The juncture between her thighs ached in anticipation.
They barely got in the front door before they began ripping each other’s clothes off. BJ’s massive hands gripped her hipsand brought her close, his need already apparent as it rubbed against her. Kendra hummed, a moan escaping her lips as sheopened her mouth to grant him entrance.
His soft lips trapped hers as his tongue gently skimmed hermouth. Slow strokes led to deeper currents, and they kissed like they were the last two people on Earth and time was running out.
Kendra’s blouse and BJ’s button-down hit the floor in a frenzy of limbs seeking freedom. She reached for his buckle, but hestopped her. “Come on,” she teased.
He drew closer, his hands still on her hips as he pushed her back.
