LOGINBethMy phone buzzes on the kitchen counter just as I’m twisting my hair into a clip. I expect it to be Rachel, possibly trying to convince me again to hit Masquerade for another round of bad decisions and glitter cocktails.But no.Tommy.I swipe to answer, smiling despite myself.“Hey you.”“Hey, beautiful.” His voice is all confident swagger. “I’ve got a rare Saturday night off from sports agent duties. So here’s what we’re gonna do: be ready at eight. Dress sexy. I’m taking you to dinner.”My eyebrows shoot up.Oh.Well then.“Okay, then go off,” I say, laughing softly. “Take control.”It actually turns me on a little—how sure he sounds. Like he’s been thinking about this all day and already made the reservations. Like he knows exactly what he wants.And what he wants is me.
Dr. ColeI’m halfway through closing up for the day, reviewing a few of the shots Beth and Rachel flagged on the laptop, when the front door creaks open.I freeze.Beth glances toward the hallway. “Did you forget to lock the door?”“No. I locked it.”Footsteps. Confident, unhurried.Madison.She appears in the doorway a moment later, all glossy lips and long lashes, holding a packet of updated literature against her chest like she’s delivering it out of the goodness of her heart.“I was just going to drop this in the mail slot,” she says, eyes sweeping over the room—lingering far too long on Beth—“but the door was open. I figured someone was still here, so I let myself in.”You figured wrong.I manage a polite nod. “Madison. What can I help you with?”She smiles, all saccharine sweetness. “Just thought I’d hand these off personally. Saturday hours, huh? Very professional.”“Photoshoot,” I say, gesturing toward the setup. “Marketing for the practice.”Beth steps up beside me, and I shi
BethSaturday morning is crisp and golden, the kind of autumn light that makes everything feel a little cinematic. Which is perfect, considering what we’re doing today.I pull into the medical plaza with a car full of camera gear, branded props, and a best friend who has already finished her second energy drink and is humming the Magic Mike soundtrack under her breath.“Please behave,” I warn her, shutting the car door with my hip as I balance the tripod bag and my laptop case.Rachel grins like she’s been asked to do the opposite. “I always behave. Just not necessarily well.”God help me.Dr. Cole’s office is closed to patients today, but he offered to open up for our on-location shoot to grab some organic photos of him and the staff in their natural habitat. Real smiles. Real moments. The kind of thing that elevates a brand beyond generic stock photography.The front door clicks open before we even knock.“Good morning, Miss Monroe,” he says, perfectly pressed as always in tailored
BethThe movie’s still playing, but I couldn’t tell you what it’s about. Something with car chases. Or spies. Or both. I’m not really paying attention.Not with Tommy’s hand between my thighs under the blanket, slow and possessive like he owns the real estate. I shift against the cushions, trying to play it cool, but his palm flattens and slides, dragging over my inner thigh with maddening precision.“You’re squirming,” he murmurs, voice low in my ear. “That mean you’re ready for more?”I bite my lip.He shifts beside me and lifts the blanket slightly. “Why don’t you come get on top of me and ride this cock like you want to.”Heat floods every part of me. I glance toward the open blinds. “Right here?”His mouth curves into that cocky half-smile. “You weren’t so concerned about the windows the other day when I fully raised the blinds and fucked you against the window.” He draws a breath and continues, “Here on the couch with the slats of the blinds open is hardly a comparison.”I hesita
BethThe office was quiet in that end-of-day way—soft clacks of keyboards slowing, phones ringing less frequently, the hum of fluorescent lights louder than usual.I shut down my laptop and slid it into my bag, still riding the afterglow of a successful meeting. The contract was locked. The campaign was greenlit. And I somehow managed to get through lunch with Dr. Cole without jumping him across the conference table.Barely.“Hey, rockstar.”I glanced up as Brian leaned against my office doorframe, holding a half-empty coffee cup and wearing his usual late-day smirk.“Oh God, please don’t call me that,” I said, laughing as I zipped my bag. “You’ll jinx it.”He stepped inside, sipping his drink. “Just wanted to say congrats again. That contract’s no joke—it’s not a one-and-done campaign. That’s a long-term deal, full retainer. You basically just guaranteed us six months of monthly checks.”I paused, my hands stilling on the edge of the desk. “Wait—seriously?”Brian nodded. “Dr. Cole si
BethI hit save on the proposal draft and lean back in my chair, eyes bleary from staring at the screen too long. The layout is clean. The campaign strategy is airtight. The slide deck even has a fucking animated intro.In short: I nailed it.I chew the edge of my thumb for a second, then grab my phone and scroll through my recent calls.His name is still just listed as Dr. Cole.My thumb hovers for a beat too long before I hit call.It only rings once.“Dr. Cole.”“Hi—hi. It’s Beth Monroe,” I say quickly. “I just wanted to confirm a time for you to review the proposal?”A pause. I can hear him shifting on the other end of the line.“I’ve got my lunch hour free,” he says, calm as ever. “And the hour after lunch just opened up. Will two hours be enough?”“Plenty,” I reply, trying to sound breezy. “That’s more than enough time.”“I’ll come to your office then. No need for you to pack everything up.”“Oh—okay. Yeah. Great.”We hang up, and I immediately get up to straighten my desk like







