Page 22 of Ride the Lightning

“Well, I can see our little time-out wasn’t long enough,” Avery said from the open doorway. Jonah snapped his head up and found his intern scowling at him. God, he was so fucking cute when he was mad.

“I wasn’t calling you an idiot, Avery. Get in here and shut the door so I can grovel in private.”

“What if I want the entire office to witness you on your knees?”

Heat uncoiled low in his belly and spread upward as very tantalizing images flooded his brain. Jonah raised a brow.

Realizing what he said and how it could be interpreted, Avery started to sputter. “I…um didn’t mean I wanted you on your knees forthat. I meant begging for it.” He gasped and choked. “No. Begging me.” He shook his head. “I meant you should be on your knees, begging for my forgiveness. Christ. Iaman idiot. You’re right.”

“You’re adorable,” is what Jonah wanted to say. Instead, he smiled and said, “Maybe we should start over.”

“We can try, but it’s not likely either of us will forget this disastrous morning,” Avery quipped.

“Maybe it’s for the best. Let’s aim for learning from it instead.”

“Deal,” Avery said with a firm nod. “Let me grab my tea, and we’ll start over.”

Jonah scrunched up his face. “Gross.”

“Don’t you start with me,” Avery tossed over his shoulder as he ducked out of Jonah’s office. He returned with a cup of something that didn’t resemble his usual sweat-sock stew. It smelled like cinnamon and cloves and other things he couldn’t name. Black licorice? “Good morning, Jonah,” Avery said, plastering a huge smile on his face. “Did you have a fun night?”

Jonah’s expression must have given away his confusion.

“I said I wanted to start over, and you agreed,” Avery said.

“I scoffed at your choice of beverage, and you consider it agreeing to your plan?” Jonah questioned.

“You didn’t say no,” Avery countered.

Jonah shook his head. “I didn’t say yes, either.”

“Quit splitting hairs and tell me about your night,” Avery said.

“My roommate and I ate too much Chinese food and drank too much bourbon. What about you?”

“My night wasn’t nearly as exciting,” Avery said. “I ate a frozen dinner and drank pink lemonade.”

“Those dinners taste better if you heat them up.”

Avery gasped. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

“What’s in your tea?” Jonah asked.

Avery puckered his lips and blew his steaming brew before taking a sip. Jonah’s tie started to feel like a noose. “It’s called chai.”

“Okay, what’s in your chai tea?” Jonah tried again.

Avery laughed. “Chai means tea, so when people say chai tea, they’re saying tea tea. This is a chai latte.”

Jonah blew out a frustrated breath. “Avery, this redo isn’t going much better than the first time around. What’s in yourchai latte?”

“Unlike English teas, it contains cardamom, cinnamon, black peppercorns, star of anise, cloves, and a few other spices. It’s full of flavor and good for you. Would you like to try it?”

“Maybe later,” Jonah said noncommittally, making Avery smile.

“So, you were telling me why you got hammered on a Tuesday night,” Avery prodded, distracting Jonah by blowing on his steaming mug again.

“No, I wasn’t,” Jonah said.