“I’m fine. Just...” I gesture vaguely at the manuscript on my screen. “Really into this… werewolf romance?”
She raises an eyebrow. “The tax law handbook we’re publishing next month?”
Fuck my life.
“Right. That’s what I meant.” I force a smile until she backs away, clearly unconvinced.
The moment she’s gone, I drop my head onto my desk. This is pathetic. I’m pathetic. I’ve got my dream job running an entire publishing division, and I can’t focus because my brain keeps replaying Hunter’s hands on me, his voice in my ear, the way he said he wanted to?—
Nope. Not going there. Not at work. Not ever.
I open my email, determined to be productive. Three sentences into a response about cover design options, and I’m back to remembering how he pinned me against that wall, how his breath felt against my neck, how?—
“STOP IT,” I say out loud, slapping my cheeks.
The intern walking past my office freezes like a startled rabbit.
“Not you!” I call after her retreating form. “Just talking to myself because I’m totally normal and professional!”
I glance at my phone, where Olivia’s text from this morning still sits unanswered.
Wedding venue ideas? Thinking of the botanical gardens?
My stomach twists. My sister is planning her wedding to the man who told me in explicit detail how he wants to bend me over and?—
I slam my laptop closed so hard the remaining coffee jumps from my mug onto my white blouse.
“Spectacular,” I mutter, dabbing at the stain. “Truly spectacular performance today, Aurora.”
My phone buzzes against my desk. I wipe my hands on a tissue and check the notification.
Unknown number:Thinking about all those things I wanted to do to you?
The coffee mug I’m holding nearly slips from my fingers. My pulse skyrockets.
Me:Who is this?
Unknown number:You know exactly who this is, Aurora.
Fuck. Hunter. How did he even get my number?
Me:What do you want?
Hunter:I already told you that. In vivid detail, if I recall. Against a wall at Elixir.
Heat floods my face. I glance around my office; suddenly paranoid someone could see my screen.
Me:I’m working. Please leave me alone.
Hunter:Are you? Because from where I’m sitting, you’ve been staring into space for the last twenty minutes. Spilled coffee twice.
My blood turns to ice. I snap my head up, scanning the windows of my office.
Me:How the fuck do you know that?
Hunter:Look out your window, Aurora. The building across from you.
I stand up so quickly my chair rolls back and hits the wall. I stride to my corner office windows and look up.
