His Temporary Assistant

“You hungry?”

She didn’t hesitate as she clicked on her belt. “Yeah.”

Already my mind was wheeling. “We could go to The Stadler House. It’s private and remote and—”

“How about Denny’s?”

I frowned. “I haven’t been to Denny’s since college.”

“Were you sober?”

“Definitely not. Does anyone eat at Denny’s when they are?”

“I do.” Her amusement came through loud and clear. “I can introduce you to a few things that will blow your mind.”

“Are we still talking about Denny’s?”

She laughed, low and rich. “Feed me and see.”

Fourteen

“What do you think?”

I didn’t set down my sandwich long enough to answer, just nodded.

“Good, right?”

I gave her a thumbs up and kept eating. Who knew toasted bread, cheese, scrambled eggs, and ham could be so delicious? This was definitely hitting the spot.

My dinner companion brightened the table considerably. Just sitting across from me in our corner booth, Ryan sparkled. More than once, I noticed a guy checking her out, usually after she laughed that sexy, throaty laugh of hers.

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say I thought about maiming each and every one of those men.

I didn’t blame them. How could I? With her flowing jet black hair and armful of jingling bracelets and that smile that could kill a man dead, she drew the eye every bit as much as that bewitching crystal hanging between her breasts. Now that I knew what she looked like beneath her dress—at least above the waist—I found it even harder to keep my eyes where they should be.

“And you made fun of me for ordering this.” She popped a gooey piece of cheese in her mouth, chewing slowly. Then she tore off another piece and slipped it into the carrier at her side.

Smoky snatched it through the bars.

She’d told the server with all sincerity that the cat was her emotional support pet. I half expected her to go get that pussy papa contraption and put it on while she ate.

But no, that ensemble was evidently reserved for me.

“You’re setting him up to be miserable.” I finished my sandwich and wiped my greasy hands on my napkin.

Good thing I enjoyed the punishment of a ten mile run.

“Hmm, yeah, I probably shouldn’t be feeding him table scraps. You’re right. He’ll never leave you alone at the table.” She made a face and went back to her sandwich. “Sorry. Wasn’t thinking. See why I don’t have pets?”

“I didn’t mean that. I mean, he’s going to miss you when he’s stuck at home with me.” He wasn’t the only one who would miss her.

Who already dreaded taking her home.

My self-protective jokes about sex hexes aside, I just…liked her. It didn’t make sense. We didn’t line up on any level. She was pure sunshine with that witchy hint of pleasures I couldn’t even begin to dream about. Free in a way I wouldn’t ever be.

I didn’t like admitting it, but I was probably repressed.

Okay, I definitely was. By necessity. If I didn’t keep my urges on lockdown, who knew what would happen?