Page 137 of Give In

I forwarded myself the email and deleted the evidence before my conscience had time to go all Jiminy Cricket on my hypocritical ass.

I’m the worst.

Even as I thought it, excitement at the prospect of a paid internship bubbled through me. It wasn’t as though I wasn’t qualified for it. I was smart. I had great grades. I’d been working shit jobs foryears.

I deserved a break, dammit.

Spinning around in the chair, I pressed play on my show.

I didn’t even realize Damien had returned a few minutes later until he asked, “Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”

Jumping, I nearly toppled the chair.

Holy shit, he knows.

He always knows everything.

Shaking his head, he handed me a bowl. “I was hoping we’d actually try to bake this.”

I looked down to see a few scoops of cookie dough.

Cookie dough that’d come from a package I’d already sampled a piece or two or half from.

“Oops?” I tried as I stood.

“Uh-huh.” He sat, and I straddled him. “Let me guess… She’s a professional balloon animal walker and he tests wind chimes, and their budget is nine hundred thousand.”

It took me a minute to realize he was talking about the TV show. I’d been so wrapped up in my guilt and excitement, I hadn’t even realizedHouse Hunterswas on.

“Close,” I said. “She’s a professional snuggler and he paints erotic clown portraits, and their budget is one-point-five million.”

“I’d laugh, but I’m not sure you’re joking.” Kissing my head, he spun the chair so I was looking over his shoulder at the TV and he was facing his desk.

This is it.

He’s going to notice the missing email.

My heart hammered so crazily in my chest, I wondered if he could feel it. After a few minutes of tense silence, I leaned back to sneak a peek at him.

He didn’t look suspicious or angry or confused.

He looked… fine.

No, that wasn’t true.

He looked happy.

And, sure, I was a shitty person who was going to hell, but I was insanely happy, too.

Relaxing, I whispered, “Thanks for the snack.”

I wasn’t sure what Damien saw in my expression, but he took one look at me and slammed his laptop shut. “Thankswho?”

My lips parted, my just slowing heart kicking into overdrive again. “Thanks for the snack, Professor Caine.”

“Turn off the TV, angel.”

A full-body tremble went through me as I did what he said.