I glowered down at his perfect face and stupid chest and sexy smile—and I prayed for all his teeth to fall out, except for one. Because then I could call him Toothclops—like a Cyclops of teeth!
Clearly, my blood sugar was dipping.
“Avery”—his eyes pleaded with me—“sit.”
“I’ll stand.”
“Fine.” He handed me a carton of pad Thai and a fork.
“Fine,” I repeated like a six-year-old.
He sighed.
We ate in silence.
I stood, moaned, made a few whimpering noises, and nearly licked the box. Lucas sat and watched me.
Normally, I would care about having food on my face.
But today wasn’t normal.
Nope, today was the day that a Friday came in on a Thursday and reminded me why sleeping with Lucas Thorn was a bad life choice.
“Nothing happened.”
“Not my business.”
“I broke it off with her.”
This, this intrigued me. “I’m sure you’ll find a replacement soon enough, you always do.”
“Funny, since I’ve met you, I’ve done nothing but lose girls.”
“I’m not interviewing potential whores for you, Thorn. I don’t give a rat’s ass that you kiss like a god. I will not be sucked in”—I fidgeted with my hands—“again.”
“Not even for a hamburger?”
“STOP BRIBING ME WITH FOOD!”
“STOP ACCUSING ME OF CHEATING!”
We were chest to chest. How did that happen? Again?
He grabbed my hand and tugged me into his office, slamming the door behind us and causing the blinds to slam against the windows—all before his mouth was on mine.
He tasted like peanut sauce.
So I licked.
Because that’s what starving women do when they’re placed in a situation like that!
Low blood sugar.
Bad choices.
Thai food.
And Lucas Thorn.
Nobody had a right to taste that good after having lunch—it wasn’t fair. I ran my hands over his cheeks, and currents of desire washed over me as his mesmerizing eyes searched mine. He sighed. “I didn’t kiss her.”
“She kissed you?” I hated how weak my voice sounded. “You know it doesn’t matter.”
“It matters.” He gave my body a little shake. “Believe me, it matters.”
Sighing, I tried to pull away, but he locked his arms around me, and I was powerless. “Today may be Thursday, but tomorrow’s Friday.”
“And I’m never seeing Nadia again.”
I tried to calm my racing pulse.
“And you don’t have a Saturday anymore either. Should we hold auditions at the homeless shelter?”
He slapped me on the ass. Hard. “Why do you have to be so difficult?”
“Me? Difficult? Why all you have to do is feed me, and I’m calm, cool, and collected—while also being sexy and downright aloof when I want to be.”
His eyes raked me over before he silenced me with another kiss and released me. “This isn’t over.”
“This?” I hid my shaking hands behind my back. “Thorn, there isn’t anything to be over. Remember—one day?”
“I owe you a burger tonight.”
“It’s just a meal, breaking bread—not sex, Thorn. Get your mind out of the gutter.”
“If you wouldn’t wear such a tight skirt, my brain wouldn’t be functioning at such a dirty level, Avery Bug.”
I hated that his comment had me smiling all the way to my desk, until I looked at his calendar again.
He was bored.
He wanted sex.
I was available.
And convenient.
Nothing more.
Chapter Thirty-Five
LUCAS
“Right. There.” I moaned and then broke out in a cold sweat. “Wait, just a little to the left. No, right! Left!”
“Did you FAIL when you were taught direction in first grade?” Avery asked. “Just tell me where it is.”
“You were just there. Damn it!”
“Right or left!”
“RIGHT!” I pointed to the nightstand, not that she could see.
Avery made a triumphant noise, clearly forgetting she was under the table and giving me the show of a lifetime. She bumped her head while attempting to jump to her feet, no doubt to celebrate her ability to locate the penny she’d dropped.
“Ouch.” Avery rubbed her head and then thrust the penny against my chest. “Heads we go with the death scenario, or tails we power through, man up, and make them think that we are together for real. We eat the food, we talk to the people, we wave, we kiss for pictures, and”—her eyes widened—“Uh-oh. I don’t have a ring.”
“We haven’t even flipped the coin yet.” My hands moved to her hips in a vain attempt to pull her against my body.
“Stop that”—she swatted my hands—“I’m off-limits, remember?”
“I keep forgetting.”
“How convenient for your penis.”
“This is a bad idea.”
“Thank you!” She threw her hands in the air. “Finally, you get it. Sex? Always a bad idea.”
I reached for her again, only to be shoved back.
“Not the sex, the sex is always a solid plan—I mean, going home for the so-called engagement party.”
Hurt clouded her eyes. “Which is why we decided to flip the coin.”