Page 101 of Playing Mr. Perfect

She looks at me with the sweetest smile. “Me too.”

I lean in to kiss her, then look out at the sun rising high in the sky. “The sunrise is almost as pretty as you,” I say as I stretch my injured shoulder, moving it in a circular motion.

“Is your arm hurting from all the activities we did yesterday?”

“Nah. It’s just tight from sleeping on the floor. I’m fine.”

“I brought ibuprofen. I was worried you’d be sore today.” She digs a bottle out of her bag and shakes a couple of pills into my hand.

How can something as small as two little pills make me fall even harder for her? “Thanks for thinking of me.” I take the medicine with my hot chocolate.

“You inserted yourself into every aspect of my life, making it impossible not to think of you.” A tease rises in her eyes. “Besides, we have a boatbuilding competition today, and I don’t want you to have any excuses when you lose. In fact, I’m going to rub your shoulders and neck, and then you’re going to lie here with the sun on your face while I rub your head and get those pressure points that helped the last time you had a migraine.” She moves behind me. “Maybe we can nip it in the bud and you won’t get a migraine.”

“I have a feeling my shoulder is going to be hurting every day from now on.”

She laughs softly and starts massaging my shoulders, working her magic in more ways than one.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Pepper

I’m on a dead run Monday morning, and everything seems to be going my way. Ravi and I hammer out most of the proposal we hope to pitch to MS Enterprises, and I schedule a meeting with their acquisitions team for next week, which gives me time to research their investment history. But first I dive into researching a new project.

I’m poring over drawings, working on designs midafternoon, when a text rolls in from Clay. Just seeing his name on my phone makes my pulse quicken. He only got a mild headache yesterday morning. We relaxed at home after watching the sunrise, and once his headache eased, we had a great time building our boats and racing them in the lake. The temperature dropped in the afternoon, but we didn’t let it ruin our fun. My boat won the race, and I gloated, doing a happy dance that put my previous night’s touchdown dance to shame.

Clay definitely brings out my inner child, and I don’t hate it. We called Seth later in the afternoon. I was worried that our text exchange from Saturday might make things awkward between us, but Seth and I hit it off right away. He’s a little serious, like me, but he’s funny, too. He and Clay heckled each other throughout the conversation, which reminded me of my siblings. Seth was incredibly helpful, and the three of us came up with a killer ad for the receptionist position. I placed it this morning, and I’m excited to see how well it works.

I’m also excited to see Clay tomorrow. After spending the weekend together, I wasn’t sure how much I’d miss him today. But that time together only made the ache of missing him stronger.

I open the text, and a picture pops up of Clay standing beneath harsh studio lights, wearing nothing but a wicked grin and skintight black Under Armour briefs. My stomach somersaults, but it’s the memory of our passionate night, and his voice whispering through my mind—I’m going to fuck you so thoroughly, you won’t be able to think about me without getting wet—that has me squeezing my thighs together. Once again, he’s proven himself right.

Another picture pops up. A perfect shot of his ass taken over his shoulder in the mirror.

Me: You’re making it hard for me to concentrate.

Clay: You make me hard, so it’s only fair.

Another thrill darts through me.

Me: You know what you do to me.

A squirt emoji pops up.

Me: Don’t you have to go smile for the camera or something?

Clay: Just didn’t want to slip your mind.

Me: Impossible.

I add a heart emoji and go back to my drawings.

“Hey,” Ravi says as he walks into my office. “I’m heading out to meet the guys. Are you okay? I haven’t seen you all afternoon.”

I look up from the drawings. “I’m great. Is it time to go already?”

“For normal people. I take it Clay isn’t coming back?”

“He’ll be back tomorrow. Can I get your opinion on this before you go?” I come around the desk and hand him the drawings.