Page 28 of One More Night
She smacks me hard in the arm with her free hand, and then jerks free. “God, you’re intolerable.”
“Not what you were saying while we made your adult film debut.”
“This isn’t funny, Jordan.” She storms ahead, blonde locks flowing behind her as she throws over her shoulder, “I lost my goddamn job.”
What? Come on, Ted. “Lost your job?”
“That’s what I said.” Her heels click into the kitchen where I find her perusing the fridge. “Tell me you have wine.”
“I have plenty in the wine fridge.”
Her face is hard as she slams the door and turns her attention on me. “Not everyone has a wine fridge, you jerk. God.” She groans. “You’re so full of yourself.”
She’s perfect. All fire and ice: beautiful despite her risk.
“Did you come here for anything other than to accuse me of being an egotistical liar while drinking me dry?” I rest a hip against the counter. “Because I know a few things that could cheer you up.”
She swallows, the acceptance in her eyes. She wants it. She wants me.
As she should.
“I don’t know why I’m here.” Her butt hits the counter opposite mine. “I guess … I suppose I felt you owed me an explanation after what happened today.”
“What needs explaining?” I take a step toward her, intrigued by the lack of response. She doesn’t flinch, doesn’t try to get away. “I thought things between us were clear now.”
Corinne laughs bitterly as she turns her face away. “How?”
“What’s unclear then?”
Stormy eyes find mine. She lays a hand against my chest, pressing her fingertips one by one into my pec hard as she lists the issues. “You’re a vague acquaintance of my brother, your work is IT related, and you’re loaded beyond belief. That’s all I know about you. Jordan. It’s not much, is it?”
“I guess not.” She flinches when I trap her hand beneath mine. “Is that a problem?”
“Are you serious?” An eyebrow lifts. “Hardly enough to take you home to meet the parents on.”
“As if we’re at that stage anyway,” I dismiss. I step away, frustrated by how she manages to turn my games around on me. “What do you want?”
“Honesty.” She sighs. “You ruined my life. You at least owe me the honest reason why.”
“Maybe it wasn’t intentional?”
“Maybe,” she murmurs, clearly unconvinced. “Still.”
“Why did you lose your job?” I cross to where the wine fridge is concealed beneath the counter. “Red, or white?”
“White.” She folds her arms, watching as I pour her a glass. “Apparently it wouldn’t have been gross misconduct if you were a colleague.”
“Understandable, yet somewhat a double standard.”
“I know, right?” She accepts the drink, immediately taking a sip. “God, that’s better.”
“What did you say when Ted told you?”
She scoffs. “Not much. I didn’t really know what to say. I mean, I couldn’t deny it, and really, there’s no justification for what we did.”
“Yes there is.” I stand beside her, arms folded as I lean my hip into the counter. “We’re human, Corinne. You want me. I want you. It’s the basic law of attraction.”
She flattens her lips on a sigh. “Maybe. But normal people don’t act on carnal desire at work, let alone on the damn break room table.”