Page 25 of In Case You Didn't Know

I shrug, but the fury’s simmering. Nathan might’ve coasted through the business, but people liked him. Trusted him. And now one of them is feeding him intel.

The idea of a traitor on the inside makes my blood boil.

If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s a liar.

Before I can tell him I’m too busy to talk anymore, Parker walks in with three glasses of whiskey. He passes one to West, then holds one out to me.

“Hudson check in yet?” he asks. Hudson left for the mainland with Ayda this morning.

“Nope.” I shake my head.

“So I guess he hasn’t mentioned the security upgrade?”

I let out a breath. “The system’s a year old. It’s solid.”

“Tell that to Hudson,” Parker says, lifting a brow.

“I will when I get a minute.” My voice is sharper than I intend, and Parker exchanges a look with West.

“He’s pissed because the asshole he tried to pay off wants more,” West explains.

“He didn’t sign?” Parker asks, frowning.

“Nope.” I take a sip of the whiskey. “He’s heard someone big is sniffing around the software and suddenly wants back in.”

Parker takes the seat across from me, eyes narrowing. “And you’re going to tell him to fuck off, right?”

“That’s the plan.”

From somewhere down the hall, music starts playing with a low beat and a steady pulse. It matches the one in my skull, the headache I’ve had since this morning.

Or since last night, really. Since Francie showed up in that goddamn dress.

I don’t have a thing for Disney Princesses, but fuck, my body didn’t seem to get the memo.

West offered to drive her home, thank goodness. I didn’t trust myself to be alone with her. And yeah, maybe that makes me a coward, but I’m trying to keep this all together.

Then she asked me about my work and… something shifted. I still wanted her, but I also wanted her to get me. Understand me.

And that way lies madness.

But the thing that’s been looping in my head since she left is what she said…

I like sex. Very much. It would also be nice if every man I know wasn’t desperately trying to stop me from having any.

Twenty hours later, I’m still stuck on it. The flush in her cheeks. The way her lashes dipped. Those lips I can’t decide whether I want on my mouth or my cock.

I tried to shake it off. Touched myself to the memory of her.Twice. The way she looked at me, full of heat and defiance. The sway of her hips as she walked away.

All it did was make me want more.

I wanted to pin her to the wall, slide my hand between her thighs, and show her exactly how much I like sex too.

I could make her come in seconds. I know that.

But it would ruin me. I know that, too.

West walks over to Hudson’s perfectly ordered bookshelf, pulling out a copy ofThe Art of Warby Sun Tzu. He holds it up to show Parker, who smirks.