Cupid for Hire
Page 22
I feel my eyes widen, momentarily distracted from our imminent deaths in spite of myself. “No!”
“Oh yeah,” Justin says, grinning beneath two days’ worth of scruff—which is definitely a look that works for him, not that I noticed. “And I’m thirteen, and so excited about the fact that I’m actually making out with a real-life girl that it takes me a good thirty seconds to figure out what’s going on. Once I do I jump up and start yelling for help, the lights come on, the movie stops, the usher comes running down the aisle to try and give her the Heimlich—”
“Oh my gosh,” I say, unable to keep from laughing. “Was she OK?”
“She was fine,” Justin says with a grin. “She blocked me on AIM after that, though.”
“I mean, sure, on account of the attempted murder.”
Justin’s mouth drops open in mock dismay. “Involuntary manslaughter at the most!” he counters. “The real culprit was my orthodontist, if you ask me. If we’re talking about liability.”
“Oh, I see how it is.” I grin at him, charmed in spite of myself. As far as elevator malfunctions go, I’ve definitely had worse. “Are you a lawyer?”
Justin snorts. “Do I look like a lawyer?” he asks, gesturing down at his sneakers.
“You look like a tech bro,” I counter.
“Ouch,” Justin says with a laugh. “You’re not wrong, I guess. My dad keeps telling me I need to stop dressing like I’m in college and put a damn suit on like an actual adult.”
“Nah,” I counter, surprised by the flirtation in my own voice. “I didn’t say it was a bad look, did I?”
“Oh no?” Justin smiles. He’s taken a step toward me, I can’t help but notice. He smells like soap and a faint, expensive cologne.
“Nope,” I say. “Wouldn’t you know it: tech bro couture is actually a weakness of mine.”
Justin nods slowly, like he’s considering that. “Lucky me,” he says, gaze flicking down to my mouth, then back up again. I feel a surge of electricity . . . and take a half-step towards him, too.
I’m playing it cool, but inside, I’m freaked out by my own boldness. And seriously impressed. Holy shit, am I really about to make out—with a total stranger?
“So . . .” I murmur, my mind racing. Because we’re alone, and stuck, and suddenly, there’s only one thing on my mind.
His mouth.
I swallow hard even as he closes the rest of the distance between us, heat radiating off him in the tight, enclosed space. “This is really, really not the kind of thing I do normally,” I manage to say, even as I’m tilting my face up in blatant invitation.
Justin tilts his head to the side. “What’s that, exactly?” he asks with an irresistible smile.
And then he kisses me.
Holy shit.
All at once I’m hit with the sensation of the ground giving way beneath me, even though the elevator remains steadfastly stuck. But seriously, wow. Justin is an amazing kisser, all rough tongue and soft lips and just the faintest nip of his straight white teeth. I can’t get enough. My dry spell is officially over, and I wind my arms around his neck, hungry for more.
Justin dips his head, kissing at the sensitive spot between my neck and my jaw, and I just about melt. We’re pressed together from chest to hip, and I run my hands through the short hair at the back of his neck, his skin burning hot against my palm.
What exactly is happening here? I’m still not sure, but all I know is, I want more.
Luckily, Justin seems happy to oblige. He kisses me again, backing me up against the wall of the elevator. He’s hard against me, and feels delicious. I can’t help but slide my hands up underneath his button-down, running my hands over the taut muscle of his stomach and chest as the memory of every bad makeout I’ve ever endured is well and truly wiped clean from my mind, Eternal Sunshine-style.
I meant it when I said this isn’t the kind of thing I do normally, but the last thing I want to do is stop. The press of Justin’s warm body against mine feels incredible, and the truth is that left undisturbed I’d probably climb him like a tree right here, but just as I’m wondering if maybe he’d be more comfortable without that shirt—and, say, it would be helpful of me to take it off for him—the elevator grinds back to life.
Damn.
We’re moving again, ascending as smoothly as if none of this had ever happened. We break apart reluctantly, panting for air. My entire body feels like it’s on fire, aching and unsatisfied and humming with pleasure.
“Well!” I manage to gasp, trying to keep my voice even as I tuck my mussed hair behind my ears. “Guess this isn’t how we die after all.”
“Guess not,” Justin says, smoothing his wrinkled button down and clearing his throat. His mouth is slightly swollen, I notice. I’m pretty sure mine is, too.
The elevator reaches my floor with a DING!
“This is me,” I say, awkward. Now that I’ve had my tongue stuck down his throat, I’m finding it harder to look him in the eye. iHis “Umm, nice being stuck in an elevator with you, Justin.”
“You too,” Justin replies, looking amused.
The elevator doors open onto the floor that houses the Gazette’s sprawling offices. Even through my post-makeout fog I remember the thrill of showing up here on my first day of work, fresh-faced and ready to change the world by speaking truth to power. Even after almost a year, the sight of the logo over the reception desk still sets off a flurry of butterflies in my stomach.
Or I guess those could be Justin’s fault.
“See you around sometime, maybe.” Ask for my number, I silently beg.
But Justin doesn’t seem to be wondering when and how he’s going to see me again: “Uh,” he says, looking out at the lobby, then back at me. “This is my floor, too. I must have gotten the numbers mixed up.”
My heart drops faster than an elevator plummeting fifty stories. “Wait,” I say slowly, “you’re working here?”
“Um, something like that,” Justin admits with a sheepish smile. All around us the newsroom is humming, the smell of coffee and toner and adrenaline as everyone rushes to file stories and hit deadlines. Julie, the Gazette’s business reporter and my beloved work wife, waves distractedly from her cube, her phone pressed to her ear as she types frantically away at her computer. Then she catches sight of Justin, and I watch her face darken into a frown.
“There you are!” calls a deep voice before I can react. When I turn around I spot my editor, Carl, wearing his usual hangdog expression. He’s in his fifties, and is the only person besides my own dad allowed to call me “kiddo” without it being somehow condescending. He’s dressed up today in anticipation of the big meeting, trading his usual rumpled, mustard-stained shirts for . . . a slightly less rumpled, coffee stained shirt. He’s even donned a tie printed with tiny typewriters and combed his thinning hair for the occasion.
This must be bad.
“It’s good to see you,” he continues, and I realize all at once that he’s talking to Justin, not to me. “I’m glad you could make it, and see the place for yourself. It’s a great team here. Committed to making this new arrangement work.”
I look back and forth between them, my lust-addled journalistic instincts beginning to come back online, and it only takes a moment before my creeping suspicion curdles into full-on horror.
Because my very important meeting today?
It’s supposed to be with—
Oh God.
Before I have time to react, Carl holds his hand out to Justin: “Mr. Rockford,” he says as they shake. “It’s good to finally meet you in person.” That’s when he finally turns to me. “Natalie,” he says brightly, his smile the tiniest bit frayed around the edges. “I see you’ve met our new boss.”
TO BE CONTINUED…
What happens next? Natalie and Justin’s sizzling rom-com is just getting started! WHAT’S YOUR SIGN? is available now
**CLICK HERE to order from your retailer of choice **
Is love written in the stars
? Find out in the hot and hilarious stand-alone romantic comedy from USA Today bestselling author, Lila Monroe!
I’ve never been the superstitious type. Black cats are made for snuggling, and broken mirrors just mean I can’t see today’s epic zit, but getting stuck in an elevator and accidentally making out with my handsome boss on his first day? I don’t have to read the tea leaves to know, this spells disaster for my dream journalism job. With the future of the newspaper in jeopardy, I’m next on the chopping block for sure… until I figure out our new CEO’s one weakness.
And it’s written in the stars.
Turns out, Justin is a major fan of the Gazette’s astrology column. And since our resident mystic has gone AWOL, guess who’s left secretly writing the forecasts? Me!
Soon, I’m using his star sign to nudge him in the right direction - and away from the pink slips. But as Justin and I grow closer, the chemistry between us is sizzling… and my little white lie turns into a galaxy-sized problem. I’m seeing stars - and not just when he kisses me.
Can I find a way out of this celestial mix-up? Or will my forecast spell heartbreak for the both of us? Find out in the new romance from Lila Monroe!
**CLICK HERE to order from your retailer of choice **
About the Author
Combining her love of writing, sex and well-fitted suits, Lila Monroe weaves sex, humor and romance into tales about hard-headed men and the strong and sassy women who try to tame-slash-love-slash-tame them. Her books are extensions of her own fantasy life and take readers from the boardroom to the Berkshire Mountains, with keen character development, unique plot lines, and fanciful romance.
* * *
***
Want more sexy romantic comedy reads?
Sign up for my mailing list and receive a FREE copy of my novel RUGGED BILLIONAIRE.
CLICK HERE to claim your book.
***
* * *
Follow me on BookBub:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lila-monroe
www.lilamonroebooks.com
lila@lilamonroebooks.com
Also by Lila:
Cupids Series:
1. Cupid for Hire
2. What’s Your Sign?
3. The Romeo Effect
4. The Break-Up Artist
5. The Romance Plan
* * *
Billionaire Bachelors Series:
1. Very Irresistible Playboy
2. Hot Stuff
3. Wild Card
4. Man Candy
5. Mr Casanova
6. Best Man
* * *
The Billionaire Series:
1. The Billionaire Bargain
2. The Billionaire Secret
3. The Billionaire Game
4. The Billionaire Prize
5. Billionaire with a Twist
6. Billionaire on the Rocks
* * *
The Lucky in Love Series:
1. Get Lucky
2. Bet Me
3. Lovestruck
4. Mr Right Now
5. Perfect Match
6. Christmas with the Billionaire
* * *
The Chick Flick Club Series:
1. How to Choose a Guy in 10 Days
2. You’ve Got Male
3. Frisky Business
* * *
Head Over High Heels
Snowed in with the Billionaire (holiday novella)