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  “Well, you’re slow. Claire and I agreed on this before I left the building. I got here last night and already showed it once this morning. Sweet couple. They loved it, by the way.” She shakes a russet lock of hair back away from her face. “So if anyone’s leaving, it’s you.”

  “So you could have mentioned it when we agreed to coordinate showings to avoid this kind of situation, but you didn’t.”

  “And you could have texted to let me know when you finally came up with the same idea later, which would also have prevented this, and you decided against it. Why is that, Caleb? It was your idea, after all.”

  “Fine.” I spin and walk out to the car, fuming the whole way. There goes my relaxing weekend. There goes any shred of comfort. Being in the same room with her is like sitting on nails. She’s still waiting when I walk back in with my overnight bag.

  “I’m already in the master bedroom, so find somewhere else to sleep.”

  “Are you implying that I’d try to get in bed with you? Sorry, sweetheart, that ship sailed.”

  She presses her lips together and shakes her head. “Try an upstairs bedroom. If you’re going to be here, stay away from me.”

  “With pleasure.” After I shove my bag in a closet, I check the bathroom mirror. To recover my focus, I check the line of my shirt’s buttons to be sure they’re aligned over the zipper of my wrinkle-free khakis, refasten my belt, and press my fingers over the crisp fold of my collar. I’m dressed down for the lake property, but I refuse to be sloppy.

  Downstairs, Audrey’s taking another batch of muffins out of the oven. She whirls when I step on the stairs, waiting for the next round.

  She’s closed off, like me. Arms crossed, eyebrows knitted together, nostrils flared. Except on her it’s hot. Don’t focus on the way her full breasts are pushed together, the way her fast, angry breathing draws my attention straight to them. Don’t think about that bikini out back, for god’s sake, or her in it. Think about the job. I stare behind her head at the lake, hoping the light off the water will temporarily blind me.

  After taking a minute, I can admit that I underestimated Audrey’s drive and grit. She’s definitely as eager as I am to make this sale, even if she acts like a new age bakery owner. I respect that about her, at least.

  I let my arms fall and make an effort to loosen up. “You know, Claire and Derek could have prevented this too if they spoke to each other, but we’re out of luck there.” I force a chuckle, a sort of peace offering.

  She huffs a sigh of agreement, the closest she’ll ever come to criticizing a client, and relaxes her stony glare.

  She takes a deep breath, treating me to another heave of her lovely chest, and drops her arms as well. “Okay, let’s make the best of this then. There’s certainly enough room here to stay out of each other’s way.”

  “I’ll write down the times I have people coming this weekend, if you’ll do the same. I’ll create a shared calendar like you suggested, and after this we can update rather than communicate directly.” Since she clearly is as reluctant as I am to reopen old channels.

  “Sure. That’ll work. Just so there’s no misunderstanding, Caleb, I’m not sitting on my thumbs for this. I have every intention of going after these sales aggressively. I wouldn’t want you to think I was being sneaky by doing my job.”

  I bristle at her snarky tone, but control myself, if only to have the upper hand.

  “Thanks for letting me know,” I say coolly. “I’m sure you can guess that I plan to do the same. I’ll set up that calendar this evening, and we can avoid each other much more effectively.” I check my watch with an exaggerated motion. “Oh hey, I’ve got a client arriving in a few minutes. I’d planned to go over the house and stage things, so if you don’t mind…”

  “I’ll get out of your way,” she says sweetly. She’s caught up to my kill ‘em with kindness game. “I’m just going to change and go for a quick swim.”

  She’ll be out of the house, at least. But then she’s going to come back in half naked and dripping wet. And I’ll be annoyed and turned on at the same time. I concede she might be an evil genius. She has to know I’ll be picturing her, in the water, in that bikini, the whole time I’m showing this house.

  3

  My first buyer rolls up in a silver Tesla just as I’m walking downstairs after one quick trip around the house to be sure I know what the fuck I’m working with. Audrey’s appearance on the scene screwed over my plan to give everything a once-over and take care of the last-minute touches. With a last glance outside to be sure Audrey has removed both herself and her swimsuit, I walk outside to greet him.

  “Hey, Todd. Good to see you.” We shake hands as he looks around the yard. “Come on in and let me show you around.”

  “Thanks for the heads up about this place.” I hold the door and follow him inside. “I’ve been looking for something out here, but I want first class all the way. Best of everything, no cutting corners.”

  “I’m glad you could come on short notice, because it’s going to go fast. You’re going to love this one. Best of everything and total privacy.”

  We pass through the entry hall and into the airy atrium. He glances up at the heavy wooden beams angling up to the second floor walkway. The tall, narrow windows flood the room with pale light. Like the apartment, the décor leans modern, but the exposed beams and stone fireplace echo the old-meets-new vibe of the exterior.

  “The floors are hand-hewn hickory, one of the hardest and most beautiful woods on the market. The stair railing and balustrade is custom, one of a kind, by a local metal artist. Most of the details throughout the house are custom, designed specifically to fit this property, with no expense spared.” I’m not sure if this is a guy who appreciates the finer things, or if he just likes the fact of owning finer things. It’s a narrow distinction, and I don’t give a shit. I can make the pitch either way.

  As he walks around the room, I glance at the lake. I can’t see Audrey, but I can’t forget she’s there. If I were being honest, I’d admit I haven’t been able to forget her since that night.

  It was the office Christmas party, the infamous tradition that spawns so many awkward office moments. It’s like a mini Vegas that you spend the rest of the year pretending never happened. We’d all been spreading the Christmas cheer in liquid form, toasting each other and hugging people we mildly disliked. Then someone—I don’t even remember who—pulled Audrey to the dance floor.

  Once they started dancing, I saw nothing but Audrey. The way she moved, I’d swear her hips wrote my name in the air. It was fucking brilliant, and that wasn’t just the liquor talking. Audrey and I had been friends since she started at the agency, and in three years and two Christmas parties, neither of us had ever crossed a line despite plenty of opportunity and tension. We weren’t just co-workers; we were friends. I’d lusted after her for years, but that night, watching her dance, I forgot every reason why I shouldn’t tell her.

  I wanted more than friendship. She was funny, insightful, and considerate, and dead fucking sexy. Maybe the alcohol lowered my capacity for pretense. And in that dangerous moment, I started wondering if we could be more. I downed the last swallow of my drink to dull the nerves in my gut and walked out to her as another song began, cutting out the colleague who remains faceless in my memory.

  The song was slow enough to draw closer, our bodies moving together without touching. Her eyes would find mine and slide away before I could be sure the heat I saw there was real. The song ended, and we stayed there, drunk people jostling us. I leaned in and slid a hand down her arm, lingering at the elbow.

  “You never told me you like to dance.”

  She put her lips by my ear. “It never came up.”

  “I’m glad I know. I like the way you move.”

  “Isn’t that from a song?” Her laugh was breathy and low.

  “Maybe, but it’s true.” An inch closer, and I could take her earlobe between my lips.

  She pulled back and stared in m
y eyes. “And?” she challenged.

  “And I want to see more of the way you move, Audrey.”

  “Mmm,” she hummed. “Is that right?” She held my eyes as she backed away a few steps, then turned and walked away.

  What else could I do? I followed her to a balcony just outside the private room the agency had booked for the event. On the other side of the railing, another party raged on a floor below. The heavy door swung shut behind me, blocking our wasted colleagues from view. Audrey retreated down a hall and into a shadowed corner, then spun to face me.

  “Caleb, are you following me?” Her voice lifted in mock surprise.

  “Are you suggesting you didn’t want me to?”

  A smile tugged at her full lips, glossy and deep crimson. Like when I watched her dance, the uncharacteristic color highlighted what I’d never noticed before: how those lips begged to be kissed.

  I walked toward her, and she backed into a wall. But the way she met my hungry stare with need of her own was invitation enough. She bit her bottom lip, making my already swelling dick go rock hard. I stopped when my face was inches away. Her breath quickened, fragrant with a sweet-smelling liqueur.

  “Hey, man, what can you tell me about the master bedroom suite?” my buyer calls from the master bedroom. Cursing myself for the lapse in attention, I stride after him.

  “First, you’ll notice this property is about as smart as vacation homes get. You’ve got a remote here, as well as a panel by the bed. This one controls the curtains—” I hit the right button and the curtains draw back. “Come see this bathroom. Italian marble, dual showerheads, double vanity, and whirlpool bath.”

  He pokes his head inside and looks around, then wanders out. Hygiene must not be a priority.

  We spend almost no time in the kitchen, but I notice Audrey found time to hide the muffins she made. Still, the scent lingers, and I notice Todd’s eyes flicking around as he sniffs.

  “I see you’ve noticed my baking scented incense. Makes you hungry, right?” I laugh and make a note to start buying baked goods for showings. “Let’s check out upstairs. If you think this view is nice, wait until you see the lake from the tower room.”

  I usher him up the stairs, but the way the balcony overlooks the living room sends me reeling back to that night. The night. The one I can’t shake.

  Her arms snaked around my waist, the last signal I needed. Her chin tipped up, and I took the mouth she offered in a bruising kiss, backing her against the wall. I braced one hand behind her head and spread the other over the small of her back, pressing her hips into my erection. My tongue invaded her mouth, but although she allowed the kiss, she didn’t return it, not like I’d expected. I doubted. Pulled away.

  Instead of anger or uncertainty, her face held a wicked grin. Her arms tightened at my waist, and she rocked against the bulge in my pants. I clenched my jaw. When I was about to ask her what the fuck kind of game she was playing, she went for my belt. I was too stunned to speak as she grabbed the waistband of my pants, pulled me into her dark corner, and flipped our positions. Now my shoulders pressed against the wall as she jerked the button open and unzipped my fly.

  Jesus Christ, we were yards away from co-workers. Nothing had ever led me to expect this from her. And it was fucking hot.

  My dick sprang free with a little bounce when she pushed my boxer briefs down under my tight balls. Her eyes widened, the way most women’s do when they see me hard and unleashed. Then she flicked her tongue against the side of my neck, slid her hands down my sides, and sank to her knees. My own knees nearly buckled when she wrapped a tight fist at the base of my shaft and took me in her mouth. How was I going to stay silent? But I would die before doing anything to make her stop.

  Alcohol buzzed through my blood, tingling in my fingertips. I reached for her hair. The silky strands of her auburn waves seemed to twine around my fingers. Her tongue swirled around the head of my dick, and my balls drew up, aching for release. She sucked me in, deep. Her tongue curled and flattened, applying delicious pressure along the underside. I felt her other hand on my leg, and gentle strokes began smoothing over my balls. Fuck. The different sensations assaulted my pleasure circuits. I gasped as she bobbed back and forth over the ridge of my head, hand pumping in time. My dick throbbed in her mouth, getting impossibly harder.

  She gave this deep-throated moan that vibrated down to my balls, and my dick bounced again. Close. I was so close.

  I stared at the ceiling first, then squeezed my eyes to let the feeling build. I’d never want her to be found this way—it would tank her credibility at work. So I didn’t resist the pull. Didn’t fight to prolong the experience, as much as I wanted to. The pounding beat from the party downstairs seemed to echo my heart, banging against my chest.

  I looked down. As she moved, I got glimpses of her tantalizing cleavage. I pictured my spit-slick cock sliding between those plump mounds, her tongue flicking over the head just like—ah fuck, just like that. I imagined the way her juices would smell smeared all over my face. She adjusted her position and took me deeper, swallowed, and pulled me in a little farther, her fingers still working up and down my rigid shaft. Out again, and her lips slid over me again. Again. My dick surged, the final warning. My fingers still tangled in her hair, I tugged lightly. Instead of pulling away, she sucked me in and worked her tongue and lips around me in tight pulses.

  I gritted my teeth over a moan and thrust my hips forward, spilling into her mouth. Pleasure racked me, and her soft, sweet lips never left me until the last spasms passed. I slumped against the wall feeling like a wrung out dishcloth.

  She pulled up my underwear, tucked me in, and accepted my hand to help her up. She smirked as I reordered my clothes and zipped up. I offered her my pocket square, and she wiped away the smudged scarlet lipstick that told the tale of her deed.

  I grabbed the back of her head and crushed her mouth to mine, the salty taste of me still on her lips. Still nestled in the dark corner, I nibbled along her jaw to her ear. “That was amazing, Audrey. I want to taste you, eat your pussy until you come for me, and more than anything I want to be inside you. Will you come home with me tonight? Now.”

  “That’s an attractive offer, Caleb. I ah—” She gasped as I rubbed a thumb over her taut nipple.

  My dick was half hard again in seconds. With both hands, I reached down to cup her magnificent ass, something I’d been itching to do since she stepped on the dance floor.

  “Don’t think,” I whispered. “I want you. Let me make you feel as good as I do right now.”

  “Come on, then,” she said.

  When she turned to go, I let my hands slide over her hips, and then pulled her against me. Holding her in place with one hand, I yanked her dress up with the other, tossing it up so I could run my palm up her thigh, over her belly, and under her panties. She panted as my fingers dipped into the wetness soaking the lacy fabric, sliding back and forth between her folds. Teasing. When I removed my hand, I let my fingertips graze her clit. Then I released her, and waited until she glanced over her shoulder to taste the finger slick with her arousal. Without another word, she headed for the door.

  Whispering and caressing, we dashed for the front of the club, collected coats, and burst into the night air. I threw a hand up and a cab swerved toward the curb. I couldn’t stop telling her how sexy she was. She laughed as I whispered the dirty things I wanted to do to her. Giddy lust consumed me.

  Then, right as the cab pulled up, fucking Gina in commercial sales stumbled toward us.

  “Audrey!” she squealed. “Oh my god, I can’t believe you’re going to be leaving us. But congratulations on your new job. Oh my god, Hitchens and Donner is such a good agency. I’m—ugh, excuse me—I’m sure you’re going to do great. Call me for lunch okay?” She lurched into Audrey for a hug and sloppy kiss on the cheek, and then her husband Randall pulled her away.

  And during this, Audrey had frozen. Her eyes found mine. The chill that settled over me had less to do with the
weather than with the anger building in my gut.

  “What the fuck is she talking about, Audrey? Did you get that job at Hitchens and Donner?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “Hell, no. You knew I wanted that position. What was it I said to you? Oh yeah. My dream job. I fucking told you about that job, Audrey.”

  “I know, and I didn’t meant to hurt you, it’s just that—”

  “I can’t believe you’re even trying to justify this. That is some underhanded shit. I can’t even believe you were going to fuck me after this. What, fucking me over wasn’t enough?”

  Her eyes teared up, and she opened her mouth, but nothing came out. I stepped back with my hands up, making it clear I wanted nothing to do with her. So she climbed into the cab, and I stomped off to get well and truly blitzed.

  Todd clears his throat. I launch into the upstairs features, guide him up to the top room, and then follow him back to the ground floor. He looks around, and his bland face with its dusting of strawberry gold beard scrunches thoughtfully.

  “You know, let me get back to you,” he says. “I’m gonna talk it over with my feng shui consultant and go over a bagua map, and then we’ll see where we are.”

  “Sure thing.” I hand him a card, even though he knows who I am.

  “I’ll be in touch,” he says, and I wave him out the door.

  “Yeah, right,” I say to the empty room. There’s no doubt I fumbled this one. This dude was ripe for a high status sales pitch. I should have picked up on the feng shui vibe and come up with some bullshit to placate him. Should have…whatever. It’s clear that I’m going to need to clear the air with Audrey or I’ll screw up this whole “slam dunk” deal. Fuck that, I’m not going to let her sabotage my career again. I toss my jacket on the sofa and stalk toward the double doors with the intention of finding her down at the lake. I don’t ask myself whether that would be a good idea.

  4