Page 62 of The Merger

“We sort of had a little argument, I think,” I say, wrinkling my forehead in thought. “And then I basically propositioned him.”

She falls back dramatically into the cushions. “You are my hero.”

“Don’t get too excited because it didn’t happen. But I did straddle him, I think.”

“So did he just turn you down? Because I can’t imagine that happening. Especially if you were wearing that and grinding against him. The man isn’t dead.”

I remember how hard his cock was as I slid back and forth over it.Damn.

“He said I had been drinking, so he couldn’t do it.” I roll my eyes. “Of all the nights the asshole decides to be a gentleman, he chose last night.”

Courtney grins. “You know, that’s hot, too. Like I know you would’ve loved getting nailed by him, but it’s kind of sexy that he refrained.”

He refrained.

Her words echo through my head. He refrained. He said no. He rejected me, even when I begged.

My face heats. How am I going to face him again? I’m not sorry about how I acted because I would’ve said it sober. Heck, I practically said the same thing in the maintenance room. But I can’t recall every minutia of last night, and he can.

And he refrained.

Courtney leans forward and opens the top of the Tapo’s box that I forgot was there.

“This looks amazing,” she says.

I stare at the dish and slowly melt.

“Two potato and egg fritters with smoked salmon, please. Double crème fraiche.”

“What did you do? Order delivery?” she asks.

“I just woke up when you got here.”

She looks at me, her perfectly manicured brows pulling together. “What does he drive? A Mercedes? Completely blacked out?”

I nod.

“I passed him leaving your neighborhood as I was coming in,” she says, grinning.

“Do you think he came back this morning?”

“That or he stayed last night.”

I look around the room. “Surely, he didn’t. Why would he …?”

My attention lands on the loveseat by the fireplace. A blanket is folded on the armrest, but not the way I do it. And the cushions are slightly askew as if someone had lain on them recently.

He did stay here. At least for a while.Did he stay all night and order breakfast to be delivered? Or did he bring it back for me this morning?

The heat from my cheeks flows down my neck and into my chest.

Either way, it’s sweet as hell.

“This is why you need a doorbell camera like the rest of the world,” she says. “I’m getting you one for Christmas. This is ridiculous.”

I grab my matcha and try to still the butterflies in my stomach.

“I need to take a bath so I can think,” I say. “You’re welcome to hang out and talk to me, or you can go. Either way, thanks for the coffee.”