Page 23 of Intense (Beneath The Blaze #3)

STEPHANIE

Song- You’re Gorgeous, Babybird.

W e stumble from bar to bar, and for the first time in a long time. I forget everything. I am just enjoying myself.

And with the most unlikely companion.

My rival.

My rich boy boss.

“Suits you,” I tease him.

He holds up his cocktail in a coconut with a little pink umbrella.

“I think so too. Fuck. I could use a vacation.”

He stretches his arm above his head.

“You’re a busy man, Dr. Quinn.”

I take a sip of my own sweet liquor. We needed a quick break from the shots before both of us vomited.

“You have no idea. Gotta keep busy to keep distracted.” He taps the side of his head.

The more he drinks, the more he’s losing his calm and collected exterior.

He’s becoming… a yapper.

“Lot going on up there?” I ask.

I’m intrigued to see how his brain works. It really is a mystery.

But I’m so damn drunk, I’m struggling to keep up.

“All the things, Stephanie. All the damn things,” he sighs, and then drinks the cocktail in one go.

“Go on, your turn. Shot. It.”

His bloodshot eyes meet mine, and they don’t falter as I do the same.

He leans in and wipes a drip from my lips off with his thumb and sucks it clean.

“If my brothers could see me now, I’d never fucking live this down.”

He leans back in his chair, the first time I’ve ever seen him relaxed.

While I almost combust from the heat of his movements. His touch.

“Shall we take a picture?”

He pouts and sits up, resting his elbows on the table.

“So you can blackmail me?”

I blush. He thinks so highly of me.

“Yes.”

He shrugs. Wrapping a strong arm around my shoulders, dragging me next to him, I bring up my camera and take a selfie.

“Wow. We look so drunk,” I giggle.

He chuckles beside me, his arm still heavy on my shoulders.

His finger brushes over me in the picture.

“You look cute when you’re drunk, Stephanie.”

“So do you. Aw. Look at us being all sweet.”

I’m not sure how I feel about it. But I have to keep my victory in mind.

“Next place?” I ask him, sliding my phone back in my purse.

“Yep. You gotta lose soon.”

He helps me out of the booth, and I smile.

An actual real smile at Dr. Quinn.