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“Co followed behind, his ears perked up into perfect triangles “Et tu, Brute?”

Onion’s tongue lolled out of histo be petted, he followed the pizza scent into the house

Jake, already in the kitchen, popped open two bottles and handed her one The dark, porter-style beer slid down her parched throat like bitter honey Heaven Her body unwound all the way to her toes She couldn’t have been more relaxed if she was neck-deep in a vanilla bubble bath, a glass of Malbec wine balanced on the tub’s edge and Chef Anthony Bourdain’s latest book in her hands

They ate in co around the kitchen island The setting sun filtered in through theand acted as their candlelight Onion wandered fro a piece of pepperoni

“So…” Claire watched the string of cheese connecting a pizza slice to Jake’s delectable o?”

He laughed and swiped at the ard cheese He swirled it around his finger and deposited it in his mouth Claire’s knees turned to jelly

“No Nor on co with corporate spies Every once in a while I’ll spend the afternoon tailing a cheating spouse, but that’s rare”

“Really? I kind of pictured you always up in someone’s personal space”

“Nah, I prefer to letClaire up and down “But when it co in someone’s…personal space”

Heat raced up fro behind that The dinner’s easygoing vibe dissolved into heated anticipation Would it really be so bad to touch hiainst the Voice of Doom

Andto be wrapped up in his arms

Claire licked an errant bit of sauce from the corner of her ation?”

The leer slid off his face, blank affability taking its place “It’s the old story of money and power Kendall’s dad has plenty of both and uses the est client We weren’t going to turn him ahen he asked for a favor” Jake polished off his second piece of pizza and reached for a third “Now it’s my turn How’d you end up at Harvest?”

“Long story”

“I’ll be here all night”