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“I-I need to let Dean in,” she says softly, her eyes fixed on my chin

“I want to ask one thing first” I hold her tightly, battling an inconvenient hard-on

“I need to” Her fingernails dig in harder, and I feel the slight shift of her hips That last part

“Have coffee with o for chocolate milk I just want to talk”

She peers up at ainst my ribs I remember with unparalleled clarity what her nipples feel like inharder by the second If she feels it, I’rees to go out with me It’s a conundrum

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why do you want to have a drink with me?”

“Because I like you Because you’re fun Because I want to get to know you better Because I want you to see for yourself I’uy you think I am”

Her silence lasts a long time “One drink”

“Yeah?”

She nods

“Are you free this afternoon?” I don’t want to give her a chance to change her mind

“I should be done at five today”

“I could take you for dinner—”

“No rip on ers slide down my arms “There’s a coffee shop across the street I’ll meet you there”

Dean knocks again I unlock the door, open it two inches, and hold up a finger while giving him my fuck-off-or-I’ll-beat-you-with-ain and turn to Violet

“You’re not going to ditch me, are you?”

“I don’t see the point You’ll probably break intoin my closet or under ing ree

“I don’t think I’d go that far” Even I havebusiness

“You’ve locked me in a conference room with you Who knows your limits?”

Before Dean has a coronary, I flip the lock and open the door again He glances between me and Violet

“Alex Waters?”

“I’”