Read Online That First Kiss by J. C. Valentine - Free Book Online Page A

prowess. Once wasn’t enough, not with the way his body seemed to call to hers, but it would have to be. “No. That’s not going to happen.” Backing away, Piper put a safe distance between them, then grabbed a chair and seated herself at the table.
    “You’re wearing pants again,” he commented. “I like you in skirts better. Easy access.”
    “Well , I like pants.” Pulling out her phone, she called up the week’s calendar. “You have an interview today with Nancy Meyers…” As she went over his schedule, Piper couldn’t help noticing the self-satisfied smirk Tate wore as he leaned over her shoulder to grab his coffee. The movement happened to cause the noticeable budge in his pants to rub up against her arm. Piper swallowed thickly and forced herself to focus on her work. Cocky bastard.
     
     
    *****
     
    It had been an exceedingly long day, so Piper decided to treat herself to a manicure. Seated in the corner of the couch with her knee tucked into her chest, she dragged the brush in long, even strokes across her toenails. The brilliant shade of yellow reminded her of the suns she used to draw in the corner of her pictures as a child. It radiated warmth, vibrancy and cheer, and she imagined them lending her the same effect as the paint dried and adhered to the tiny nails.
                  Just as she finished putting on the last of the second coat, the phone rang. Capping the bottle, Piper waddled across the room to answer it.
                  “Hello?”
                  “I need you to come over,” Tate said matter of fact.
                  Piper scowled. “Didn’t anyone ever teach you proper etiquette? A please would be nice.”
                  There was a long pause, in which Piper could almost picture Tate grinding his teeth in irritation. Good, she hoped he broke them all in the process. “ Please ,” he muttered finally.
                  “Sorry, can’t. I’m busy,” she said with a smile.
                  “Then get un-busy.”
                  “It’s almost eleven, Tate. I’m off the clock. Whatever it is, I’m sure it can wait until morning,” she said, beginning to lose her patience. Tate seemed determined to make her job her life, and that just wasn’t going to happen.
                  “It can’t wait,” he insisted, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “Stop being a pain and just come over, alright?”
                  Piper closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. “Explain to me what is so important that you need me to come all the way over there at this time of night and then maybe I’ll consider it.”
                  “Explain to me what you’re so busy doing that you have to consider it.”
                  “Tate,” Piper said in warning.
                  “I just need you to come over, now. I’ll explain when you get here.”
                  “Tate. Tate?” Piper held the phone away from her face and looked at it. A few seconds later, she heard dial tone. The jerk had hung up on her. “Damn you,” she grumbled. Slamming the phone down, Piper went back to the couch and planted herself in the cushions. She would not bend. In this, Tate would not win.
                  Propping her feet on the table, Piper stared at her yellow toes and tried unsuccessfully to divert her thoughts from the phone call. Why did Tate need her to come by? What could he possibly need? He probably wanted something stupid, like a cup of coffee, and was too lazy to get up and get it himself.
                  She should let him sit there and rot. Just sit there and wonder where she was all night long. Just waiting for her to walk through the door.
                  Curiosity getting the better of her, Piper cursed and jumped up from the couch. Well, if Tate insisted she