As Emma slid one toward me, she said, “Okay, spill, and I don’t mean the whiskey.”

  I pursed my lips before we took the shot. Setting the glass back down, I met her eyes, which reflected my own green, but with flecks of brown—our Dad’s eyes. “I would argue about why you think something is going on, but . . .”

  “It’d be a waste of breath. I know you, Kat. Something happened today to rock your world. Now, what was it?”

  I snorted. “Literally had my world rocked.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “What? You slept with the professor? Lord, how old is he, like 60?”

  “Shut up! More like 40.”

  “Oh, that’s not old at all. So what’s the matter? He was good, it sounds like?”

  “Holy hell. You have no idea.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “Okay, so what’s wrong then?”

  I rolled my eyes. “I was supposed to be there interviewing him, learning more about him, and—”

  “Sounds like you did.”

  “But sleeping with my subjects isn’t the point of the assignment,” I grumbled.

  Emma poured us another round of shots. “First of all, it wasn’t subjects, unless you’re leaving out that you had a threesome, and second, still better than banging your editor.”

  I glared at her.

  “What? You know I’m right.” Emma threw back her shot. “So, why did you sleep with him?”

  I thought over my answer as I tossed back my shot. “I . . . liked him immediately. He was fascinating and fucking hot and he seemed just as captivated with me. The chemistry was practically combustible. I’ve never felt anything that intense before.”

  She hummed. “Dreamy. And he’s an archaeology nerd, just like you! Sounds like a match made in heaven.”

  “Did I screw up?”

  “By screwing him?”

  I shook my head. “Not that part. I kind of . . . booked it out of there pretty quickly right after.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “You banged and ran? Kat!”

  I motioned toward my empty shot glass, and Emma sighed but poured me another. “Yeah. I mean, all I could think about was—”

  “This is not like that. Jamie is your editor. And even so, you guys are still working okay together, right?”

  I cleared my throat. “Yes, but this is my subject—”

  “For one article! You’re going to lose out on what sounds like a great guy because you need to talk to him for work once? That’s not the same thing and you know it.” She paused, pouring herself another shot before her eyes settled on me. “You’re scared. Why?”

  My stomach swirled with whiskey and uncertainty as she stared at me, waiting for an answer. “Because . . .” Different answers spun in my brain, but the only one that made sense was the distance, and even that wouldn’t satisfy Emma.

  “Look, he sounds like a guy worth knowing.” She leaned toward me. “So, what are you going to do about it?”

  “We have a call scheduled in the morning to finish the interview, and . . . we’ll see.”

  Emma grabbed my hand. “See it through, Kat. Trust me. You deserve to be happy. Just give him a chance. If he’s really as great as you think he is, it’s worth pursuing.”

  I grinned, thinking about Harrison’s smart mouth and irresistible dimples. “Okay, Em. I will.”

  “Good. Now, let’s get our Vegas on!”

  Chapter 8

  Harrison

  After tossing and turning most of the night, I came up with a plan to impress Kat when she called this morning. I would answer her questions first this time, and make sure she got what she needed for her article. Then we could talk about other matters— us. I’d found a show in Milwaukee this weekend by an Elvis impersonator who was supposed to be pretty good, some guy named Ashton Olsson, so I’d grabbed tickets in the middle of the night.

  As I sipped my coffee, my mind was preoccupied with my phone, both for the time and for any messages from Kat. When my phone vibrated, I jumped and grabbed for it.

  JJ: How was the interview?

  I frowned at the message from my cousin. He’d been trying to get me back out there for months.

  Me: Interesting.

  JJ: Was she hot at least?

  I rolled my eyes and didn’t answer him. I wasn’t interested in talking about Kat to him, not yet anyway.

  JJ: Come on. I’m at the coffee shop down the street from you - The Frothy Mug.

  I sighed, realized I had an hour to wait still, and decided to go meet him. As I pushed open the door, I was greeted with the deep aroma of roasted coffee beans. Scanning the crowd, I spotted JJ at a table in the corner.

  He looked me over as I sat down. JJ had an annoying habit of being able to read me too well. “You got laid.”

  I groaned. “How do you fucking do that?”

  Shrugging, he took a sip of his drink. “It’s a gift, along with my magical powers.”

  “So all illusion?”

  He scoffed. “It’s an art.”

  “It’s a lie,” I said, the familiar fight a welcome reprieve from talking about Kat.

  “It’s art,” JJ said, taking a sip of his coffee. “So, how was it? I’m going to assume you banged the reporter, so you don’t even need to say it. After all that difficulty, though, you went and had a one-night stand anyway?”

  I scoffed. “It was more than that.”

  “Sex with a stranger’s rarely anything else.”

  “You’re such a cynic.”

  JJ raised an eyebrow. “And you’re looking for something serious after being married for so long? Didn’t that mess you up enough? Don’t you want a break?”

  I sighed. JJ didn’t get it, and I wasn’t sure he ever would. “She’s different. She’s actually into archaeology.”

  He hummed. “Well, that is a huge point in her favor.”

  “Except that she ran right after we . . .”

  He chuckled. “Aww, you were that bad, hey?”

  “Oh, shut up,” I said, frowning, but I was soon laughing with him. Taking a deep breath, I checked my phone. “Well, as stimulating as this conversation was, I have to go.”

  “The girl?” JJ said as I pushed up from the table.

  I nodded. “We have a time to finish the interview this morning, and then I have a surprise for her that hopefully makes a difference in things.”

  “Good luck, man,” he said, saluting me with his mug, and I nodded, then headed out back into the warm weather and to my apartment. Turning my sound on, I waited for Kat to call, but as nine o’clock turned into 9:20, I had doubts about whether I’d hear from her at all, and I had to be at the university by half past ten.

  Chapter 9

  Kat

  With my head throbbing, I blinked my eyes open to sunlight streaming through the window. Covering my eyes, I recalled the night before, with my sister, shots, and Elvis. It had turned into a multi-movie marathon complete with too much whiskey. Groaning, I flipped away from the window and closed my eyes as Emma burst into my bedroom.

  “Damn it, Em. Don’t you ever knock? My head is killing me.”

  “Good morning to you too, sunshine. I thought you might like to know you’re late for your call. I just woke up,” Emma said, plopping down onto the bed next to me.

  I cringed as it bounced. “Please don’t shake me.” Her words took a moment to register. “Oh, shit!” I said, grabbing my phone off my nightstand. Ten o’clock?

  Me: I’m so sorry, Harrison. Elvis marathon with my sister got a little crazy last night. Can you still talk?

  I got up and made a beeline for the kitchen with Emma hot on my heels, and she rounded the kitchen island to start coffee. As it brewed, its gurgling was the only sound to fill the room. “Nothing?” she asked, breaking the silence.

  Shaking my head, which only pissed it off worse, I sat down on one of the stools. “No, but he has his class in a little bit.”

  Emma hummed, pouring me some coffee as my phone vibrated on the island. I grabbed it.

  Jamie: I need your story in my email by noon.

  My mouth dropped open, and I typed my reply.

  Me: It’s not ready yet. I have follow-up questions I need to ask him first.

  “Shit. Jamie wants the story now,” I mumbled before taking a sip of my coffee.

  Emma raised an eyebrow. “Why? It’s not like archaeology has breaking news or anything.”

  “Breaking news, that’s it! Harrison said he’s going on a special dig this summer after not being in the field for so long.”

  “And that’s a big deal?” she said, taking a sip of her coffee.

  “It’s a huge deal!” I grabbed my phone to see another message.

  Jamie: No time. We need to go to print.

  Me: There’s a huge announcement he wants to make, but I need more time.

  Jamie: And you already have the details of this?

  I hesitated, my phone in my hand.

  Me: Not yet, but I’ll have them shortly.

  Jamie: Hurry it up.

  There was still nothing from Harrison. I shouldn’t have run. Or I should have conducted a real interview. Or hell, just woken up on time. The longer it went without him answering, the more nervous I became, but that was silly. He was obviously teaching.

  After Emma left, my phone finally vibrated again. Please not Jamie, please not Jamie, I begged the universe.

  Harrison: I had to read your text to the entire class because it got delayed. I forgot to put it on silent and was in the middle of my lecture when my phone went off.

  I snorted, picturing how much the kids must have loved that.

  Me: I’m so sorry, but why would your phone be on? You know the consequences as well as anyone.

  Harrison: Feeling sassy this morning, are we? Even after standing me up?

  I pursed my lips, then pushed the call button so I could hear that sexy voice of his.

  “You are in so much trouble,” came the velvety voice that shot straight to my core.

  “What will my punishment consist of, Professor?”

  The low rumble of him humming was almost too much to stand. “You’ll have to wait, which is punishment in itself. I promised I’d give you the information you need first this time. And then I’ll give you something else.”

  Holy hell. He was back. I grinned. “Yes, that is the more responsible thing to do. So, tell me more about this dig.”

  “Well, I’m off to Egypt again, as I mentioned, and it’s to revisit our old dig site. A few of the original dig team are going also, so I couldn’t pass it up.”

  Grabbing a notebook from the counter, I quickly jotted down the information. “That’s amazing. Do you keep in touch with any of them?”

  “A couple, but nothing like this. I’m really excited about the whole thing.”

  “Is there something specific you’re hoping to find?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe a hidden room. Wouldn’t that be something?”

  “It really would,” I said, my professional-reporter hat firmly in place now, only slipping when I thought about how he intended to punish me when we were done with the interview. Just the thought made me wet, but I kept it at bay as I asked the questions, wanting nothing more than to be done with this and finger myself to the sound of his voice.

  “Yeah, so the guys and I are hoping for more treasure, but we won’t know until we get back in there.”

  “Is that dangerous, going back in?”

  “We’ll have plenty of crew with us. It should be fine.”

  “That’s great to hear. Do you think you’ll go back to teaching in the fall, even after this adventure?”

  “Yes. Adventures are nice, but they don’t pay the bills. I plan to keep teaching, but I’m also eager to take other opportunities. I’m now in a position to do so, and I’m going to do all the things I love.”

  The way he said “do” and “love” sent more heat pooling between my legs. Did the man know what his voice could do?

  “That sounds great . . .” I cleared my throat. “Like it’ll be a great balance for you.”

  “That’s my hope,” he said. “So, is there anything else you need for your article?”

  My mind went blank as soon as he asked. Blinking quickly, I looked over my notes. “How did you get started, anyway?” I asked the question almost as much for my article as I did to satisfy my own curiosity, wanting to unravel the layers of this man while I had the perfect forum to do so.

  He hummed, and my breath shuddered. He really needed to stop doing that. “Early civilizations always fascinated me. How could you not be intrigued and somewhat creeped out by mummies? They are different, and the grand scale that they were given for a send-off into the afterlife is fascinating. I soaked up all I could and then did whatever it took to secure a spot to go to Egypt that first time. I worked my ass off to get on that dig, and the fact that I was so young but so qualified is what gained the attention and the spot.”

  I grinned, his passion for all of it coming through in his voice. “You must be so excited to go back.”

  “Oh, Kat. I’ve been dreaming of this for years. If I could have, I’d have returned long before now, but as I mentioned, my ex didn’t understand how much I need this as part of my life.”

  “More than her,” I let slip out. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”

  “It’s okay. It’s like what you said about people keeping you from the things you love. Archaeology is a huge part of who I am. Although I’ve been teaching it, it’s nowhere near the same as that thrill of discovering something new—something old, really—that people today have never seen before.”

  A lump formed in my throat just listening to his passion for the field we both loved. “I was fascinated by mummies too. They started it all for me also. I couldn’t get enough information about the whole area.”

  “Have you ever been to Egypt?”

  “Never. It’s on my bucket list though. I’d love to go.”

  He cleared his throat. “While I may not be able to offer that at the moment, I do have something that relates to your other passion.”

  I hummed. “And what might that be?”

  “Well, it occurred to me that I’d like to take you on a proper date. Not that my apartment wasn’t amazing, nor would I turn down a repeat, but there’s this Elvis impersonator coming to Milwaukee this weekend who is supposed to be quite good, and I would love to take you.”

  My mouth dropped open, knowing exactly who he was talking about. “You’re taking me to see Ashton Olsson? Shit, Emma is going to be so jealous.”

  “Your sister?”

  “Yeah!” I laughed, impressed that he went to the trouble and was offering to come up here for a date. “So . . . it wasn’t just a one-night—or afternoon, as the case might be—stand?”

  “Not for me, Kat. Is that all you want it to be?”

  I took a shuddering breath, the moment of truth staring me in the face as I hesitated. I wanted more, but was he really prepared to give that to me? His divorce was pretty fresh, after all. But he was making an effort, and Emma would be jealous, but she’d never forgive me if I passed on giving Harrison a chance. “No, Harrison, I don’t. I want to see where this goes.”

  “Good. Me too. How about we grab dinner before the show on Saturday?”

  “Sounds great.” I grinned, unable to help myself. When was the last time I’d been on an actual date? Too fucking long.

  “Great. So, what did you tell your sister about me?”

  I laughed. “What makes you think I told her about you at all?”

  “Ouch, you wound me.”

  I tsked, then said, “Okay, I did.”

  “So? Was it how charismatic and handsome I am, or the fact that I gave you multiple orgasms?”

  Chapter 10

  Harrison

  Kat choked slightly at my bluntness, and I got a flash in my mind of her taking my cock with her mouth. I shook my head. How was I this horny? It had been years since I’d been insatiable, but then again, maybe the resentment affected my ex’s desirability. Kat was nothing but encouraging and seemed legitimately happy for me to return to Egypt. Hell, she even had the same dream.

  “I’m not a lady who kisses and tells.”

  I hummed. “I seem to recall you being a bad girl.” Shifting, I realized I was getting hard when an idea struck me. “Kat,” I said, my voice husky with desire.

  “Yes?” she whispered breathily.

  Fuck. She wanted release as badly as I did. “Are you alone?”

  “Yes.”

  “Go to your bedroom and lie on your bed, will you?” I asked, taking quick strides to the couch, where I’d fucked her less than twenty-four hours earlier. The phone shuffled, and I soon heard a door close and bed springs shift.

  “Now what, Professor?” she asked, her voice lowering as I unzipped my pants.

  “Tell me about your panties. What color are they today, love?” I asked, running my hand down my cock, pretending it was hers.

  “Black.”

  I took a shuddering breath. “Of course they are, my bad girl. Dive your hand down inside your panties.”

  Her breath hitched, and I imagined her doing as I said.

  “Now slip your fingers between your folds and find your clit.”

  She whimpered, and I groaned.

  “Circle those fingers and pretend it’s me.”

  She moaned, and I nearly came just from her added sounds as I stroked up and down, my cock threatening to explode. I groaned again. “Do you hear that, baby? I’m rubbing my cock. It’s so hard for you. Shit, I wish you were here.”

  “Me too,” she moaned, barely able to get it out. “Oh, god.”

 

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