My turn to peer around Jack. “It is. It was. It will be.”
Connor laughs again. “All right, so my non-work here is done. Good luck with Max. Try not to die.”
“Almost did.” Jack shudders. “Twice.”
“Peace be with you, my friend.” Connor slaps him on the shoulder, and it’s not even weird; it’s like he gets it, and I finally have that weird closure I’ve always needed.
“Be happy,” I say once they fold the massage table back up and he’s on his way out.
He nods and looks between us. “What a Monday.”
“Should have seen us on Sunday.” Jack winks.
“I have a feeling it would have been illegal in most states.” He grabs his stuff, the door shuts, and I just jump onto Jack.
“Whoa, whoa, what’s that for?”
“For wearing gray sweatpants and making his dick feel small, for making my heart feel big, and for loving me even though I want to kill you half the time.”
“Aw…” Jack flicks me in the nose lightly. “That’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. Does that mean the stapler gets to come back?”
I kiss him hard on the mouth and then bite down on his lower lip. “Never.”
“Damn it, I had high hopes.”
“High hope this,” I say as I pry myself away, get onto my feet then drop to my knees. “I mean, I do still owe you.”
“I mean, if you have to pay up, I won’t complain.”
I cup his balls.
He nearly kicks me. “I’m sensitive; you were hard on me last night.”
“Hard.” I laugh.
“So. Hard.” He thrusts his cock in my direction, and I take him in my mouth, sucking deep, then pull away. “Whoa, what’s wrong?”
I get up quickly and turn. “Gonna have to chat the girl, Jack.”
“I’ve chased her a long time,” he points out. “And I’ll capture her. Every. Time.”
I don’t run far.
I make it a few feet.
And then I’m on my back, in missionary position, realizing that it can be pretty great with the right person, with my legs up on his shoulders and his eyes locked on mine.
Yeah, it can be pretty great.
This whole Office Date thing.
Just don’t tell Max.
Chapter Eighteen
Max
“You’re a genius, sir.” Dustin creeps up my ass again.
Max swats him away and stares at the kiddos in the boardroom.
They’re in love.
And I’m a friggin’ matchmaker.
It’s confirmed.
He smiles as Dustin holds the folders showing them their starting salary and the apartments they’ll be keeping unless they want to move into one.
“I don’t know how you do it,” Dustin says as he wipes a tear. “I hate you half the time but look at them.”
The interns are holding hands.
His work here is done.
Just another office romance.
All because of him.
“By the way,” Dustin says as he hands Max a report. “The Board of Directors said they really liked the physicality of the temple; maybe next year we should do something like—”
“Shhh, shhh, shhh, little bird.” Max puts a finger to Dustin’s lips. “You know how the games go. The old interns pick them out. I merely orchestrate the love.”
Dustin rolls his eyes.
“Saw that.” Max adjusts his tie. “Now go feed the gecko, don’t forget about the goat, and remember not to breathe too heavy around me. It’s agitating.”
“I have allergies.”
“Excuses.” Max grins. “Oh, and the goat has the shits.”
Dustin curses as Max walks into the boardroom. “Winners, let me introduce you to some of your co-workers. First line of business now that you’ve fallen in love and decided to be giant winners—you get to pick next year’s games.”
Jack jumps out of his seat. “THIS IS THE BEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE.”
Ivy kicks him. “Really?”
“Second?”
She kicks him again. “Fifth, tenth, damn it, Ivy, I want to torture people!”
Max laughs. “Knew I picked the right people. Now stop kissing long enough to sign your contracts, and kiddos… make it rain pain.”
Max has never, in his career, and years later will admit to this, seen a former intern look more evil in the way he smiled.
Good.
Ah, little grasshopper.
Fantastic.