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later’ giggle.
    “I think it would uncomplicated both our lives, actually. Deal.” I tossed the booklet aside and stuck out my hand for a stiff-arm shake. Matt obliged. “The kiss might have complicated things, but regret isn’t a word I’d tag onto it.” I smirked at Matt.
    “Yeah. I know where you’re coming from. Next time we’ll skip the wine after our ice cream binge.” Matt winked. I chuckled as his firm ass teased me on the way to the laundry room.
    “Just leave the sweatpants on the dryer, Matt. I’ll take care of them later.” I yelled. Dressed, Matt gave a simple wave as he exited out of the apartment. No more words, no more heated kisses. When the door shut, I stimulated fellatio with a rather large imaginary object. My nipples perked up as bawdy thoughts popped in my head. Matt draping me over the kitchen counters, shimmying on the washer, and just throwing the towel on the floor.
    “Down girls,” I murmured as I tiptoed into the laundry room. I know I shouldn’t be creeping in my place. Matt wasn’t going to spring up from behind the dryer and catch me in my moment of weakness. Picking up the sweatpants, I took in that special man odor.
    “That’s the spot.” I headed for the shower, intending to get down and out right nasty. Period or not, the shower washed away it all, and I wanted to do the silicone tango until the hot water ran out.
     
     

Chapter Seven
     
    My period came and went, along with the raging hormones. Avoiding Casa Favolosa helped on the latter. I finished off my latest contract work, a menu design for an upscale restaurant on the east side. They were an old client of mine when I worked at my last job. When they found out I’d been let go, they contacted me personally.
    Go me.
    I’m sure my ex-boss had to be fuming over that one. Maybe he should rethink not giving out corporate cell phones or firing me on the spot because I refused to give him a peek at my glorious globes. Pervert.
    My client, a big account, trusted me in every facet of their design. Since I worked out of my apartment, my overhead was next to nothing. I paid a printing service, since I couldn’t fit the equipment in my apartment, and I still had a bigger wad of cash than my old commission rate.
    Tonight I planned to celebrate my big payday with Julie. A new romance novel arrived in the mail. After a good meal, we’d page through the book.
    Winter’s Kiss had a feisty-looking red head on the cover holding a laser with some dark brooding male in the background. Joy.
    Heart’s Desire left a bad taste in my mouth. Even if I burned the book and made s’mores in the ashes, my mouth would feel like I licked a piece of felt soaked in vinegar for all my waking hours. Nothing would improve my outlook on reading romance novels. I lamented when the characters had sex and growled at the happily ever after part. I couldn’t bring myself to start a new one.
    Julie wanted to go to the Casa Favolosa for dinner, but I feigned having a bad bout of flatulence. Gassing the whole restaurant and causing a health hazard wasn’t in my line of work, I told her. Two weeks had passed since the awful night with Matt. Well, not completely awful. Since then I’d tried the club scene. I managed to have a guy dance-hump my leg. So not a turn on but being desperate for a little action, I thought I’d test the waters. He wasn’t give-a-fake-name ugly by any means. When he opened his mouth after I allowed some mutual feeling up, it was a deal breaker. The guy had written the book on cheesy lines and read them chapter-by-chapter. I pretended to get another drink and slipped out the front door.
    I scratched the place off my list to search for potential suitors.
    I had to face the facts. I couldn’t have Matt, which made him all the more desirable. My body reacted like a hormone-infused teenager around him. I pushed him from my thoughts and prepared for Julie’s arrival.
    I plunked down the dinnerware on the countertop between the