I happily follow her into the kitchen. Margot is my ride or die. Since we met our freshman year of college, and beautiful, talented Margot’s life has always gone swimmingly. She’s got an excellent GPA, a killer internship, and she’s about to start her last year of law school.
Meanwhile, I finished my MBA thirteen months ago and am still floundering to find my footing. Margot’s always supported every odd idea I’ve had, until each of those plans failed out. I’ve feel like I’ve been jumping from one job opportunity to the next, but it’s hard to stand still when bills and debt make the world feel like it could crumble out from under you at any moment. The only thing I can seem to commit to is helping animals find people who love them.
Too bad toe beans can’t be used to pay rent.
I need to make this job last. I’m not going to fuck up and get fired, I’m not going to run away at the first sign of trouble, and I am not going to sleep with Sacha Kwatch.
8
HOT PASTRAMI
Sacha
It’s almost 9 PM, and I’m sitting in my office, staring at a pile of documents, again. The dry recycled air from the AC rattles in my chest. I loosen my tie.
“Just take it off,” Ness grumbles. “There’s no one left in the office to see you in mild disarray.”
I scowl in his general direction. He doesn’t take his eyes off of his laptop screen.
“We wouldn’t be here if I’d just worked last Saturday,” I mutter, but then I wouldn’t have seen Bailey’s home, met her cat, or her roommate, or learned anything about her life.
Ness and I have been hashing out the final details of this presentation for far too long. The office has been empty for hours, it’s only filled with the colorful rays of the sunset through the wide windows, when an unexpected knock comes from my office door.
“Who is it?” I snap, irritated at being disrupted.
“Sorry for the interruption,” Bay says. “It’s only me, sir.”
Dammit. I love it when she calls me sir.
“Ms. Thorn, you shouldn’t be here this time of day. I thought you went home hours ago.” I glance to the door, she’s cast in the golden rays of the setting sun. How does she always look so beautiful?
Ness finally looks up from his computer, stretches his arms, and leans back against his seat to get a better view of the scene.
“Midnight oil, sir. If you are staying late, I thought I could catch up on some work, and be here if you needed anything.” Bailey steps into the office with a small smile on her lips. She’s painted them bright red today.
“I’m sure I could think of something Sacha needs.” Ness curves his long neck to watch me. I could kill him.
“That was thoughtful, Ms. Thorn, but we don’t need anything.” I manage not to say that I need her to scream my name while I’m inside her.
“Well, I thought you might need dinner?” Bay holds up a brown paper bag that smells like heaven.
“Food?” I grumble at the same time that my stomach does.
“Just a bagel, with cream cheese and lox.”
I sniff the air. “Toasted?” I don’t know which smells better, the food or her.
“Of course. You always get it toasted.” She smiles lightly.
She remembers my order. I could kiss her.
I really want to kiss her.
“What did you bring for me?” Ness asks with a smirk.
Bay turns to him in surprise, seeming to realize he is there.
“Sorry, I didn’t think…Can I get you something, Mr. Loch?”
