Temptation [h.s.] ✔

Chapter 42.

        I open my eyes and stare straight at a mug of coffee with a backdrop of abs. Well, that's one way to start a day.

        I stare longingly, undecided if it's the abs or the coffee making me sigh happily, and drag my gaze upward to smirking lips. My eyes find the dark-green ones of my dirty British boy, and this time, my sigh is definitely for him.

        "Good morning." Amusement filters through his words.

        "Morning." I smile lazily and sit up. "Is that for me?"

        "The abs or the coffee?"

        "Hilarious." I reach out and grab the mug.

        He laughs and perches on the edge of the bed. "What are you doing today?"

        "I'm meeting Day at the new bar. We're coming up with the final cocktail menu so I can order everything from the supplier this afternoon." I sip my coffee. "The fridges and stuff were installed yesterday, and since it opens in, like, two weeks, we really need to get moving."

        "You could have told Aaron he's expecting too much, you realize?"

        I stop my lips from twitching. "One of the builders tried that. It didn't go well."

        "Good point." Harry leans back and gazes up at me. "Interviewing any hot cocktail-shaker guys yet?"

        "Not yet," I say nonchalantly into my mug. "I was going to set up interviews this weekend. Do you know I required pictures with the applications?"

        "Liv," he says firmly but through hidden laughter. "Hiring someone on looks is shallow."

        I put the mug down and give him my best unimpressed face. "I'm sorry. Remind me what it is you do for a living again?"

        He laughs and pulls me over with him. "I take photos of children in pretty dresses, sunsets over Elliott Bay, and loved-up couples who put a ring on it."

        "And half-dressed women." I tap his nose and look down at him.

        "But the only half-dressed woman I particularly like taking photos of is you." He grins and bats my hair from his face. "In fact, I more than like it. I bloody love it."

        "I was about to be offended, but I think you saved yourself." I drop a kiss onto his lips and get up. "I need to get ready. If I'm late, I'm likely to get a Louboutin up my ass."

        Harry's laugh follows me through to the bathroom—probably because he knows I'm not exaggerating.

        I jump into the shower, wash off, and walk out into Harry's arms. He wraps a towel around my body, grinning, and kisses my forehead.

        "Towels. So overrated."

        I laugh and step back, tucking the end of the towel in at the top so it stays in place. I grab the second from him and wrap my hair up. "Overrated but necessary," I respond, shoving my toothbrush in my mouth.

        "Depends on your definition of the word necessary." He grabs a second toothbrush from the holder.

        I pause, stare at it, then point my own brush at it. "What is that?" I ask through a mouthful of froth.

        "It's a toothbrush, baby girl. What else would it be?"

        "Cocky prick." I spit out the stuff in my mouth. "Why is it here?"