Page 85 of Bite Me

“Because I should have talked to you first before I spoke to Anthony.”

“Obviously.”

“What would you have said?”

I huffed, staring at my shoes. The tip of the left one was a little scuffed. “That you shouldn’t do it.”

Russel put a hand on my cheek, lifting my face. He gave me a warm kiss on the corner of my lips. “How do you feel, sweetheart?”

Blinking, I fought against the pressure behind my eyes. “I’m selfish.”

He arched one eyebrow. “Really?”

“Because I’m happy. I’m so fucking relieved and happy.”

He smiled, and my stomach swooped in a way I couldn’t blame on the elevator moving. “That’s all that matters.”

* * *

I lay submerged in bubbles and resting against Russel’s chest, playing with his fingers, when my phone began ringing on the bathroom counter.

“Leave it,” Russel said.

I had no intention of picking up. I burrowed into his embrace, the water churning.

The shrill tone stopped, but started again, bouncing off the tiles.

With a groan, I wiped my hand on a towel and reached for the annoying device.

When I saw Sheri’s name, I swore.

“What?”

“I forgot to tell Sheri I won’t be home.”

I climbed out and wrapped myself in a bathrobe. Leaning on the counter, I called Sheri back. Russel gazed at me from the tub, relaxed and sexy as sin.

“I’ll be right back,” I mouthed, and he smirked.

“Eddie! Where the fuck are you?”

“I’m at Russel’s.”

“Again? If you go on like this, it’ll blow up in your face.”

“Everybody knows.”

“Huh?”

“Russel told Anthony, and Cat saw Russel and me leaving together, so by Monday, it’ll be all over the office.”

“Shiiit! Are you alright?”

I eyed my man in the tub, his powerful arms resting over the edges, his wet hair curling above his forehead, the stubble… “Never better.”

“Explain, for fuck’s sake!” Sheri demanded.

“Russel gave his notice this morning. Anthony wants to keep me. Russel and I are…” What were we doing? “Dating.”