Lip Lock by Susanna Carr Read Free Book Online Page A

the unusual experience of doing it in the back of a stuffed, do-it-yourself moving truck.
    Yeah, home sweet home. Molly cricked her neck, easing the tension. All the stuff she couldn’t sell at her impromptu yard sale was now in her temporary living quarters. At least it kept the rain and wind at bay. Too bad it was still cold and had no bathroom.
    Which was why she’d been visiting the fitness room at the crack of dawn all this week. Not so much in the interest of good health as much as a good excuse to take advantage of the hot, pulsing shower.
    Fortunately, she’d be able to kick her newly acquired health kick very soon. She couldn’t wait to get a place with heating. A window. A bathroom.
    Of course, Molly remembered as she heard the elevator bell ding, there was something to be said about picking up and leaving if she didn’t like the neighborhood. And the daily low fee…
    The elevator slid open and Sara burst out into the reception area, urgency pulsing around her.
    “Hi, Sara.” Molly greeted her boss with a smile.
    “Did plaza+tag get back to you?” Sara asked breathlessly.
    “No, but I’ll follow up on that right away.”
    Sara stuffed her hands in her wild red hair. “I can’t believe how insane today is.”
    Hmm, that didn’t bode well for her. Dread settled in her stomach.
    “I don’t think I’m going to make the deadline,” her boss confided.
    Which deadline? It didn’t matter. “I can help.”
    “Oh, you can’t.” Sara sadly shook her head. “You don’t have the security clearance.”
    “Okay.” How could she broach the subject without looking desperate? Inconsiderate? She got nothing. “Would you like to do my review after five?”
    Sara frowned, the lines on her forehead deepening. “Huh?”
    “I can rearrange my schedule so I can stay.” Not like she was chomping at the bit to get to her truck, but she didn’t want to appear too eager.
    “Shit!” Sara smacked her palm against her forehead. “I forgot about your review.”
    Molly felt her smile slip. Good thing she said something. “So, after work? I’ll run over to the cafeteria and get us some lattes.” Her budget could take the hit. She’d think of it as an early celebration.
    “I can’t do the review today,” her boss confessed. “We’re going to need to reschedule it.”
    What? Molly tried not to freak. Or grab Sara by her shirt collar and demand the review right here and now. Today was Friday. She’d waited long enough. She was not going to live in the truck any longer than necessary!
    “Well, you can just tell me how I did,” Molly said as the dread twisted inside her. “No need to go through all the legalese.”
    “I wish I could, but I’m not allowed. Human resources would kill me.”
    Molly leaned forward. “I won’t tell if you won’t,” she whispered.
    “I’m sorry, Molly, I can’t do that. Why don’t we reschedule it for next Friday?”
    Molly didn’t think she would survive that long. “Human resources won’t yell at you for the delay?” Because she sure would like to .
    “No,” Sara said. “As long as you get the review before your next paycheck, we’re fine.”
    What’s your definition of fine?
    “So next Friday at three o’clock?” her boss asked as she headed for the glass door.
    Like I have a choice . “Sure, next Friday.” But she might get that latte now and drown her sorrows.
     
    Kyle looked out of his office window and watched the sun set behind a snow-streaked Cascade mountain range. Pink and lavender smeared across the darkening sky and the colors reminded him of Molly.
    Why didn’t Molly take him up on his offer? She didn’t even want him touching her. Was it the whole employee/employer thing? He could understand that.
    “Kyle?”
    But was it more than that? Maybe she didn’t like him. Or men. Or computer geeks. These things happened. But he could have sworn he saw the interest gleaming from her eyes. The want. The need.
    Or was that his want and need