Page 89 of Palm South University: Season 3

“I don’t care what people call me.”

“But you do care if people respect you,” he counters, and my chest deflates at the truth of it. “You’re a hard worker, one of the most impressive interns we’ve ever had. Don’t throw that away.”

My eyes trace the stitching on his dress shirt again, fingers playing at the holes between the buttons. “So, what does this mean?”

He sighs, pulling me into him and pressing his lips against mine. “It means I’m going to call you on Monday and offer to extend your internship. And if you take it, then this…wecan’t happen again.”

“What do you want me to say when you call?”

He thumbs my cheek, a soft smile on his lips. “I want you to do what you would if I was just the CEO at a company you interned at for a semester, calling to offer you an opportunity not handed out lightly. And nothing more.” He motions between us. “This isn’t a factor to consider, Ashlei. You can’t let it be.”

My heart breaks at his words, for selfish reasons I’m not even ashamed to admit. I want the internship, I want to keep moving forward in my career, but I want him, too.

And I hate that I can’t have both.

“Now, come here,” he whispers, pulling my lips to his again. With a gentle rock of his hips, I feel him harden between my legs. “If this is the last time I get to touch you, I’m far from finished.”