Page 86 of Toxic Temptation
“Not with me.” Venom laces her voice. “I used to spend hours in the library studying medical journals, then show up for my internship the next morning. I can function on no sleep and still concentrate. If he thinks he can break me, he’s fucking wrong. He’ssofucking wrong.”
Admiration and lust hit me in equal measure. My cock stands at attention, ever appreciative of a strong woman who doesn’t back down.
It doesn’t help that her top has slipped lower, giving me a glimpse of the upper curves of her breasts. Any woman who wears scrubs is wasted potential, but especially this one. She belongs on a stage, on the cover of a magazine.
On my arm.
In my bed.
“I wouldn’t bet against you,” I say in a quiet rasp.
That almost gets me a smile. Almost. She sets the plate aside. “Thank you. That was delicious.”
“I’m happy to be your personal chef as long as we’re living here.”
She squirms, pulling her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. “You’re ducking the question, though. I know why I look like shit. Why do you?”
I’ll be damned before I admit she’s the reason I haven’t slept. It’s not that I missed her. It’s merely practical concern. How can we maintain this charade if we’re constantly at each other’s throats? That’s all.
“I love Luka, but having him with me these past few days has wreaked havoc on my schedule.” Not a complete lie.
“I thought he had a nanny.”
“She quit last week. I need someone new. Someone who hasn’t been terrorized by the she-devil Luka calls a mother.”
Vesper straightens. “Actually, I might have a candidate.”
“No.”
Her face falls. “Why the hell not? This man will pass any background check you throw at him.”
“‘He’?” My blood pressure spikes.
“Yes, he’s a he. Do you have a problem with that?”
“Only that I don’t know him from fucking Adam.”
She rolls her eyes. “Then test him. Do your background checks. Vet him. Interview him. This guy is above board. He’s also great with kids.”
“What’s his background?”
“He’s a qualified teacher. Just left his position?—”
“Why?”
She throws up her hands. “I don’t know the details of it. Internal politics, basically—plus, being a teacher is the most thankless job in the world. And he doesn’t like drama. He’s considering tutoring, and I think this could be a perfect change of pace. Luka will love him, I promise.”
My jaw clenches. “You’re really going to bat for thismudak.”
“There are only two people in this world I’d vouch for completely,” she says. “Waylen is one of them.”
I’m about to ask what her relationship to him is, but I stop myself. It doesn’t matter. It shouldn’t matter. And if he’s an ex-lover, I don’t want to know.
“Do you trust him?”
She doesn’t hesitate. “With my life.”
I’ve never wanted to kill a man I’ve never met more than I do right now. But I force a smile, if only for the sake of keeping this fragile peace between us.
