Business Casual (Lovelight, #4)

by B.K. Borison

“Do you need your headphones?” she asks in a low whisper. He shakes his head and tightens his grip on her. “Told you,” he mutters as I try not to listen. “S’quiet when I’m around you.”

If there was ever a man to be more my opposite, it would be him.

Flirting has always been easy for me, but flirting with Nova is a goddamn delight. Her whole body comes alive under the attention, like a flower tilting toward the sun. I’m greedy for her reactions. For the way pink lights up her cheeks.

Conversations with Nova usually feel like a battlefield where she’s armed with the infinity stones and I’m wearing a bunny suit.

I’m wheezing. Am I wheezing? What is that ringing noise? Am I having a stroke? I might be having a stroke.

I have no right to ask anything of her, I know, but the idea of her asking someone else what she just asked me has me borderline murderous.

Little Miss Grump put all her cards on the table when she asked me to take her home.

“And at least you’ll be thinking of me.” “In your dreams,” she breathes. “With alarming frequency and incredible detail,” I answer back.

I’m embarrassed. And immensely, incredibly grateful that Charlie lives four hours and twenty-three minutes up the coast.

“You deserve the whole cake, Charlie.” I blink at her. “Okay?” “You deserve the whole cake and I’m worried you’re settling for your…snacks.”

Charlie is still here. In Inglewild. Why is Charlie still here? He’s supposed to be back in New York, doing whatever it is he does in those fancy suits.

“Because if that’s something you want, that’s what I need to hear from you. I’m not laughing at you. I’m not making fun of you. I need you to be sure.

Did I tell you how beautiful you looked in that silver dress? I can’t remember.

Ready when you are, Nova girl.

I like losing myself, but sometimes— Sometimes I think I miss being known.

She’s temptation wrapped in ink and a cozy-looking sweater, her socked feet swinging back and forth.

Kissing Charlie has taken all the cluttered thoughts in my brain and tossed them to the wind.

It’s Nova. She’s already seen me moonwalk in a reindeer costume at the tree farm during the holiday season. I’m not trying to impress her.

“I’ve already told you. I’ll give you anything you want.”

“How to accept things without wondering what you’ve done to deserve them.”

I’m a people pleaser, through and through, and it doesn’t matter that the person I’m trying to please is an asshole.

I take up too much space, I want to tell her. I’m loud and sometimes I don’t know how to stop talking. I’m a lot and I know that. I can’t figure out how to make myself fit, but I’m trying. I promise I’m trying.

I might be safe with him, but I’m starting to think I’m not so safe from him.

I wanted him to kiss me in his kitchen, and I want him to kiss me now. And it’s making me a grump.

I’m not the one busting my ass to launch a tattoo studio. All I did was believe in you. You were the one who was brave enough to try.”

Maybe I made a mistake when I told Nova I could keep it casual. Because not a single thing I’m feeling right now is casual.

I like him jealous. I like him greedy. I like the wild, unrestrained version of him I got in the back office. It feels like he’s finally possessed with the same sort of mindlessness I’ve been carrying around this entire time. I like him honest. I think I just like him. More than like him, actually.

Forget-me-nots were always my favorite, and—well. You’re kind of my favorite too.”

“I’ve never been anyone’s favorite,” he whispers. “Well,” I say, feeling defensive. “You’re mine.”

“Nova,” he whispers, somewhere against my mouth. “I don’t think my feelings are business casual.” I sigh into him. I hold on to him wherever I can reach. “I don’t think mine are either.”

“I never felt like I was missing anything before,” she says quietly, thumbs tracing the sides of my jaw, holding me close. “I never wanted to try with anyone, but I want to try with you.”

“What did it feel like? When you fell in love with Luka?” Stella smiles at me and this time she’s definitely crying. A tear falls from her lashes and lands on top of my neatly organized manila folders. “Like the most fun I’ve ever had.”

“Take everything,” she says with a smile. My favorite one. “It’s already yours.”