Page 62 of Twisted Empire

I grinned and started tapping my thumbs as I kicked off the low-heeled pumps I’d worn for this semi-formal occasion.The presentation went amazing. I still can’t believe I got the opportunity at all! I’ll have to thank Prof. Fernandez again… especially because I may have scored the most awesome summer internship in existence!

OMG, what?Summer wrote back an instant later.Don’t leave your bestie hanging.

My grin only grew as I answered.Jamie Harvey from Harvey Labs attended the talk—that’s the medical research facility I was telling you about that just won an international award for innovation. Afterward, he came up to me, told me he was impressed by my talk, and gave me his card telling me he’d love to have me interning at the lab this summer.

I was still high from that accomplishment. The thought of all the things I might learn and get to be a part of in just a couple of months had me giddy.

That’s fantastic! We need to go out and celebrate ASAP. I have some good news too, but not as big as yours. My date last night with the new guy was pretty spectacular.

My eyebrows shot up.Don’t tell me you’ve actually found someone you want to go on a second date with. That’s front-page news!

Summer sent a laughing and a tongue-sticking-out emoji in response, and I laughed to myself.

I’ve got to get back to work—break’s just about over—but I’ll call you tonight and fill you in,she wrote back.

I tucked my phone away and set my shoes on the mat in the front hall next to Dexter’s loafers and Slade’s spare pair of sneakers—neon yellow, naturally. Looking at them together, breathing in the scent I was just starting to associate with home, a softer smile crossed my face.

Just having this place, which we’d only moved into a couple of months ago, was pretty amazing. We’d only been able to afford the five-bedroom because of Beckett’s significant financial contribution, but he’d insisted on the investment, saying it was a drop in the bucket for him.

Living with all four of my guys was fantastic. There was nothing better than coming out of my bedroom in the morning and getting to steal a good morning kiss—or a few—within seconds. Sometimes before I even left the bedroom.

The clinking of pots and utensils drew me into the kitchen: modest-sized but decked out with high-end appliances that Dexter had practically swooned over. A spicy, savory scent tickled my nose before I’d even reached the doorway, setting my mouth watering.

I found my culinarily-inclined boyfriend standing by the stove, stirring something in a sauté pan while two other pots bubbled merrily and something sizzled faintly from within the oven.

“Looks like you’ve been busy,” I said, walking over and judging his response before reaching out for physical contact. When he leaned a little toward me in welcome, I slipped my arm around his waist and pecked him on the cheek.

Dexter beamed at me. “I figured a feast was in order. You had that big presentation—and the internship offer to celebrate too—and Beckett’s getting back from his trip to hash out that huge business deal.”

“We could have just ordered in,” I teased him, knowing exactly what response I’d get.

He let out a huff of mock offense and adjusted the heat dial for one of the burners. “You’re never getting a meal as custom-tailored to everyone’s tastes with takeout. And I needed the mental break from my final essay anyway.”

I laughed lightly and gave him an affectionate squeeze before letting him go again. “I’m sure we can find other ways to distract you if the cooking isn’t enough.”

He shot me a sly glance before returning to his work, and I found myself remembering my first rehearsal of my presentation with the guys looking on. Slade had acted out the advice “picture the audience naked” to a literal extreme… with interesting results that had definitely loosened me up.

A blush tingled across my cheeks. I glanced across the counter and noticed a few tomatoes sitting on the cutting board. “Do you need these cut up? I can pitch in.”

Dexter looked between me and the tomatoes hesitantly, likely weighing the risks of me cutting them incorrectly by his standards, before he nodded and passed me a knife. I positioned the tomato in front of me on the board and sliced it down the middle.

“Have you heard from Beckett today?” I asked. “I texted him about the internship but haven’t gotten a reply.”

“He texted about an hour ago saying he’d just gotten in at the airport. I’m sure he’d have let you know too, but he was probably worried he’d interrupt your presentation. Maybe he’s waiting to congratulate you in person.” Dexter’s gaze tracked my motions with the knife, and his mouth twitched. “Here, let me show you a more effective approach.”

I suppressed a giggle as he came behind me and placed a hand over each of mine. He really liked having all the control in the kitchen, and I wouldn’t critique him for it. Instead, I leaned back into his warmth as he guided my hand through the motions of cutting the tomatoes in a completely different way that he considered more effective. Which, knowing how conscientious he was, was probably true.

When we were finished, he dipped his head to press a scorching kiss to the nape of my neck. Then he nudged me toward the two stools at the kitchen’s small island. “That’s enough help after all the work you did today. You can sit and watch.”

I gave him a mock salute and hopped onto one of the stools. I was just settling onto it when a key clicked in the front door’s lock.

“It’s me,” Logan called out, a faint note of weariness in his voice that I only heard on days like today.

“We’re in the kitchen,” I said.

Moments later, my stepbrother strode through the doorway and made a beeline straight for me. He wrapped his brawny arms around me and hugged me tight, his head dipped close to mine.

I hugged him back, my throat constricting. “How was it?”

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