a statement so much as a swallow getting tangled up with a moan.
“And this is exactly why we’re not going to do this in person,” he said softly.
“Gah,” I croaked again.
His lips, that firm, mean line of them, lifted just a little, and I felt an explosion of dairy hormones in my core.
“Fine. Email then,” I squeaked.
“On personal time from personal email accounts,” he said.
The guy had given this a lot of thought.
“That’s fair.”
“Be honest. Brutally honest,” Dominic said. “So we can get this—whatever it is—out of our systems.”
I wanted to be offended by the idea that getting to know me would be a major turnoff to him. However, I was damn certain the more I knew about Dominic Russo, the less my lady parts would lust after him. What could possibly go wrong?
“Agreed.”
He lifted a hand away from the table, and we both watched as it slowly moved toward my face, my hair.
Goddesses of secret lusty meetings, please let Dominic Russo fuck me on this conference table right now.
“Grab me a water, would you?” someone called outside the door. We jumped apart.
I shoved Dominic—and his magnificent fuck stick—into the chair I’d recently occupied before my sexual spiritual awakening and took a guilty step back.
The door opened.
“I don’t care what you say. The Game of Thrones final season was not what fans were expecting,” I announced emphatically.
He looked at me like I’d lost my damn mind.
“Oh, wow. I gotta agree with Ally, Mr. Russo,” Shelly, a graphic designer with a penchant for facial piercings, agreed emphatically.
As the rest of the team filed in, a ten-minute discussion of the show and final season ensued while Dominic and I both tried to get our hormones under control.
24
Dominic & Ally
Maleficent,
Now that I know your feelings regarding Game of Thrones, let’s move on. Why are you working so many jobs? Is the pay here really that bad?
Charming
Charming,
I wouldn’t know. I’m still a week out from my first paycheck. What did you want to be when you grew up? Or are you living your dreams as a vest-wearing fashion mogul?
Maleficent
Maleficent,
This was not my dream. In the spirit of honesty, this is closer to a nightmare. When I was nine, I wanted to be a math teacher. How many jobs do you have?
Charming
Prince of Nightmares,
I am the current holder downer of four jobs. Five if you count freelance graphic design, which is feast or famine—mostly famine. Bar shifts, a sporadic catering gig, dance instructor, and my illustrious career as a jill of all trades at Label.
I need to know more about this math teacher dream job.
For now, let’s put the “why I need 700 jobs” in the Don’t Talk About Column.
Former Princess of Pizzas
Pizza Princess,
The mystery of why Ally Morales needs 700 jobs is annoying me.
I had a nice math teacher. His name was Mr. Meloy. He helped me with my homework after school sometimes. He loved math, and he loved teaching kids to love math. I thought being a math teacher would be cool.
What did you want to be when you grew up? I’m guessing pizza server wasn’t high on the list.
Nerd Unveiled
Dear Nerd,
This isn’t working. I’m imagining cute little Dominic looking up to his teacher with those baby blues asking for help.
Tell me the top five things you hate STAT. (This is the secret to finding out just how bad a person is in case you need it for interviewing future wives or human sacrifices.)
I wanted to be a dancer from the time I was three on. I realized early on that I didn’t want a ballet career (hello, carbs and alcohol and sleeping in), but I also loved design and art. So I decided to do all of it.
Now hurry up and disgust me.
Rapidly Thawing Iceberg
P.S. Why was Mr. Meloy helping you with your homework and not your parents?
Dearest Climate Change,
So you’re saying you knew what you wanted to do since you were a kid, and then you went out and did it? That’s… unusual. Are you always so tenacious? Did you ever consider other lines of work?
If we can’t talk about why you need 700 jobs, we will also not be discussing my parents.
Things I Hate:
1. People who litter
2. The rumor mill
3. Getting shit on by birds
4. Not being able to stop thinking about you
5. My father
I’m not asking you what you hate because you’re annoyingly hate-less.
Hateful Boss
Boss,
Well, hell. That list wasn’t hateful. Not even a little. And this experiment is not working. You’re supposed to hate things like puppies and children