“Your life is a living hell,” she said around the sarcasm and juices dripping from her mouth. Her tongue swept out to catch the latter.
He sighed and yanked his mind from the filthiest of gutters. “As I was saying, I get that they want me to be happy, and I love them for that, but I’m not ready to settle down. If they think I’m dating someone, they’ll back off.”
“But why a fake date?” She waved an onion ring toward the girl behind the counter, and then at him. “You clearly have no trouble attracting women. Why not find someone who actually wants you?”
“Implying you don’t.” Something he was counting on.
She shook her head, her nose wrinkling and her lips curling as if she’d just bitten into a sour pickle rather than a juicy burger.
“You seem to be pretty immune to me. With the exception of that almost kiss in the van.”
“That wasn’t an almost kiss. I was about to ram your balls into your throat.”
“Which makes you perfect.” He tucked his tie between two buttons in the placket of his shirt, wrapped the paper around his burger, and held it with both hands. “Anyone else is looking for a fairy tale.”
That got him a tongue click and another eyeroll. “Like you’re a real Prince Charming.”
A sly grin tugged at one corner of his mouth as he met her gaze. “No, baby. I’m no prince. I’m the big bad wolf. And I’m hungry…all the time.”
****
Jo paused mid-chew as, dark eyes gleaming, Avery bit into his burger like an animal savoring the last bit of meat on a bone. Yeah, he was a wolf, all right. For a minute, she’d almost forgotten. Since she got here, he’d been so straightforward and professional.
But once again he’d restored her lack of faith in the male species by baring his wolfish teeth.
All the better to eat you with, my dear.
Her pussy contracted around the images exploding like bad porn across the screen in her mind. His head between her legs, gleaming eyes locked on hers. Her fingers in his black as sin hair. His breath on her inner thigh. And finally, the rasp of his tongue finding just the right spot.
“Mmm, tastes good,” he said with a wink.
Shifting her gaze to the window, she squeezed her thighs together for relief and tried to shut out the stray line from the fairy tale. The damn thing was stuck on repeat, each word matching the pulse in her clit.
Funny thing was, she’d never wanted Chase to go down on her. He’d never offered either, yet obviously, he liked it. Or maybe he just liked it with Chelsea. The memory of finding them together washed over her like the freezing rain pouring down outside again, better than any cold shower. Not that she’d ever needed one. Until two weeks ago.
Not good.
In the window’s reflection, she caught Avery studying her, his expression intent, the wolf gone. No, not gone. He was still in there, ready to pounce when she wasn’t looking.
“Beware the wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
Ha! Sorry, Grandma, there’s not a sheepish bone in Avery Preston’s hot as fuck body, and I’m hardly immune.
Jo inhaled a deep breath, slowly exhaled, and turned to look at him. “How do you see this working?”
Over half his hamburger gone, he pushed his plate away and wiped the buttery residue from his hands and mouth. “I only need you to accompany me to social events. Maybe a company thing at the end of the month. I’ll send you a list of dates.”
Still in the pocket of her coat on the seat next to her, her phone vibrated. She’d given up on the interview panning out, so she let it go. Probably another text from Walt. He hadn’t let up all morning. Of course, if she answered him, he’d probably stop.
Instead, she asked, “So we just show up as a couple and play it out?”
Something close to panic flashed in Avery’s eyes. “I wouldn’t say a couple.”
“Whatwouldyou say?” she asked, loving that she’d turned the tables on him. And having found a chink in his armor, she couldn’t resist prodding just a little more. “I mean, what will you tell people about us?”
“We don’t owe anyone an explanation. But if anyone asks, we’re dating. Just getting to know each other.” He tossed the wadded napkin aside, and light glinted off a ring on his finger.
A fraternity ring. She hadn’t noticed it before, hadn’t known where he went to university, what fraternity he was in, and it confirmed the fact that she knew very little about him.
