Page 69 of The Overtime Persuasive

She thinks about what I said for approximately ten seconds before she fists my shirt and yanks me down to her.

The first touch of her mouth wipes every other thought from my head.

I move her backward, with one hand cradling the back of her head as I press her against the wall. Eva’s arms wind around my neck, bringing me in closer.

I’ve been thinking about this for days. Judging by the groan she gives as I kiss her, apparently so has she. There’s nothing hesitant in the way she kisses me. Her fingers slide into my hair, nails grazing my scalp as I deepen the kiss.

Heat hits me hard and fast. The closet is too small. The store is too public. Yet neither of those things seems important when Eva makes another deliciously soft sound that goes straight through me.

My hand tightens at her waist. She rises onto her toes, fitting herself to me, and the last of my restraint starts to crack.

I drag my mouth along her jaw.

“Liam,” she moans as I kiss the soft skin beneath her ear, and her fingers clench in my hair. The hushed way she says my name does something to me, driving me out of my mind.

A broom slips sideways and knocks the wall, and Eva laughs, the sound dissolving when I bring my mouth back to hers.

“This is ridiculous,” she whispers against my lips.

“Do you want me to stop?”

She pulls back to look at me, eyes wide. “No.”

Laughing, I kiss her again.

Her hand slides beneath the collar of my shirt, warm against the back of my neck. I pull her closer, forgetting the contest, the store, and every reason I should be thinking clearly.

The bell above the front door gives a strangled jingle, and I’m pretty sure we both stop moving at the same time.

Eva’s eyes fly open. “No. It can’t be.”

I glance toward the closed closet door. “Maybe they’ll leave.”

“If it’s a customer, I need to go out there. I own the store.”

Great. I need to make sure I thank this person when we reenter society in a moment.

Eva pushes my chest gently. “I have to go.”

I don’t move.

“Liam.”

“I need a second, I’m recovering.”

Her mouth twitches as she slips past me and pushes open the closet door. At the threshold, she smooths her hair before glancing back, cheeks flushed and lips thoroughly kissed.

It’s a look I’m quickly becoming partial to.

“Do I appear to be sane and normal?”

“Not remotely.” I lean in closer and place one small, soft kiss on her lips. “But you look beautiful.”

She narrows her eyes teasingly, then takes one steadying breath before she walks into the store saying, “Hi. Welcome to Side B.”

There’s a beat of silence.

Then, Eva speaks again.