Three days. Well, technically three nights. I’d tried my best to wake up Harper every night for the last three nights, but no dice. The woman was out cold. We were talking too tired to move a muscle. She just lay there, dead to the world no matter what I did to her.

Needless to say, I was a bit frustrated and in need of release. After last night’s failure to launch, I decided to whisk her away at lunch. If I’d had a free second all morning, I would have taken the time to let her know. But everyone needed a piece of me. As usual.

When I was just outside her office, I texted her.

Me: What do you have up for lunch?

Harper: Um, nothing?

Me: Well, I have something up for lunch…

Harper: Anything good?

Me: Depends who you ask, but yeah, it’s something really good.

Harper: Do I get to see what’s up?

Me: You bet, gorgeous, up close and personal.

Harper: Okay, stop. You’re getting me all hot at work. See you and what’s up tonight.

Me: You’ll see it in about one minute. Come out, I’m in the parking lot. Taking you for

lunch. Get that sexy ass out here. Hurry.

Approximately ninety-three seconds later, Harper came running out. I got out of my car with the biggest smile on my face and strode up to her. Saying I attacked her would be an exaggeration. Sort of. My mouth was on hers as soon as she was close enough. Fuck, she tasted good, all minty and fresh. Her mouth opened right away and let me in to play a little tonsil hockey.

“Let’s go. We don’t have much time,” I whispered into her ear, then grabbed her hand and hustled her to the car.

After we got in, Harper asked, “What’s going on?” She looked around, out of breath from our make out session. Her face was beautifully flushed and her lips were swollen.

“I’m taking you for lunch.” I grinned at her while I started the car and sped away. We talked about random shit on the way, but honestly, I couldn’t tell you one word I said. My mind was on one thing. And that was her.

“Where are we going? I thought you were taking me for lunch?” she asked quizzically, justifiably confused about what was going on as we pulled into her parking lot at home.

“Pay attention. I’m taking you for lunch,” I said after I parked my car in the nearest spot. My fingers threaded into her hair and pulled her head toward me for another deep, passionate kiss. Her hair felt like silk on my fingers, and I reached over with my other hand to touch it, too.

“Jack,” she whispered against my lips, and I was a goner. If we didn’t get out of this vehicle soon…

I let her go and bolted out the door to open hers. Her tiny hand fit in mine perfectly, and we raced up the stairs to her apartment. I fumbled with the locks, my brain going quicker than my hands. Once we got in, I slammed the door shut and pushed her up against it.

“You have no clue how bad I need you right now. I feel like I’m going to burst,” I said before I crushed my mouth against hers. She moaned the sweetest sound as my tongue tangled with hers. It was a battle that she wasn’t going to win. I was hanging by a thread, and I had to have her. “Bedroom. Let’s go,” I managed to say while I dragged her behind me.

“Wait, Jack, hang on. I can’t go back to work with sex hair,” she said, and I laughed like I never had before.

“Then you can be on top. That’s not exactly a problem,” I told her, squinting my eyes. Fuck me, I nearly came just thinking about her riding my cock, tits bouncing, body swaying.

“But…” She started and looked around. “It’s a work day, and it’s lunch,” she whispered like it was forbidden to fuck at any time other than midnight.

“Is this going to be a problem?” I let go of her hand and put my hands on my hips. “You don’t want to make love with me or what? I miss you, and I need to be inside you before I explode in my pants. Can you help me with that?”

She swallowed loudly, her eyes opened wide. “Turn around,” I said and moved us toward the couch. “Hold on here,” I instructed and placed her hands on the hard wooden edge. I kissed up and down her sensual neck, making her shiver.

Next, I slowly lifted her skirt until it was around her waist, showing off a heart-shaped ass that men would kill for. I bent down and licked and kissed her backside cheeks, which were perfectly on display for me in her red thong.

She sucked in her breath as I licked her pussy from behind. “Spread more, baby,” I commanded so I could get a better angle. Of course, she complied willingly, and I slowly divested her of the damp underwear. She tasted amazing, and the gasps she let out told me how well I did.

After a while, I straightened up and undid my belt and zipper. Harper’s beautiful eyes stared at me over her shoulder, and I sighed. This woman completely undid me. I grabbed her hips and lined up my cock at her entrance, her very wet core. Playing for a minute before the real show, I swirled the head around, teasing her.

“Jack, please,” she begged, backing up against me. That was all I could take. I slid in, and we both groaned loudly. It had only been a few days, but it felt like forever. Her hands white-knuckled against the couch, holding on for dear life while I rammed into her, all control out the window.

“Your ass. I cannot believe I get to stare at this beautiful ass while I take you,” I said, pulling her hips toward me while I fucked her from behind. She didn’t say anything, but from the way she flexed her hips, she was having a good time.

Knowing the signs, I could tell she was close, but required a little help. And that was gladly something I could do. Leaning forward, I covered her back with my body and reached around to touch that hot bundle of nerves. My fingers dipped into her to slick them up first, then I started making small, delicious circles with the tips.

She tossed her head back, and I licked her neck, building her up. “Oh,” she said, her body stiffening against mine. I put both arms around her in case her knees buckled, then rubbed her a little faster. That was enough to send her right over the edge. “Oh God, I’m coming,” she gasped, and that was my cue to let go. Finally. Right inside of her.

Christ, she felt good and tight while she convulsed around me, over and over again. Our lungs struggled for air as we came down. My hand slapped her ass, and I said, “Okay, go clean up and I’ll meet you in the bedroom.”

She stood up and glared at me. “When exactly were you going to feed me? I have to go back to work soon.”

I chuckled. “I’ll make you an omelet to eat in the car on the way back.” That seemed to satisfy her requirements, and she pulled her skirt down before teetering down the hall.

Having sex made me hungry. Being kidnapped at the beginning of lunch didn’t exactly help. Jack followed through and made me an omelet like he said he would. However, he did not follow through on his sex promises. I was going back to work with sex hair. Don’t ask how that happened. It just did.

I’d also be going back to work with a huge satisfied grin on my face, so it was worth it. Jack gave me a kiss when he dropped me off, and I hurried in, still carrying my half-full plate.

“Well, lookie who decided to show up,” Audrey said, sitting in my chair with her feet crossed on my desk.

“Somebody’s busted,” Vivienne said and giggled. These women.

“Yeah, yeah, I need to finish this quick. Move your fine behind,” I said, motioning Audrey to remove her butt from my chair.

“Finish your lunch? I thought lover boy took you out to eat?” she asked, eyebrow raised in suspicion.

“I think maybe Harper was on the menu.” Vivienne giggled and high-fived Audrey who doubled over laughing.

“Very funny,” I mumbled through bites of omelet and fruit. Sheesh, I was famished.

“A nooner? Good for you, girl,” Audrey shouted, still laughing.

Murray looked out his door and frowned. “Audrey, quiet. This is a place of business.”

“Only business going on here right now is you in mine. Now back off and go make me some money.” Audrey clucked. Murray promptly shook his head and closed the door.

“I came all the way down here, but you were gone. The twins are on a playdate with Meredith. Their first and last playdate with Meredith,” Audrey added.

“Why last?” I asked, still shoveling food into my mouth.

“Every playdate is their first and last with whoever invites them over. Those two are crazy. You can’t blame me. I always suggest that people have them over one at a time. But do they listen? No sirree.” She inspected her cuticles. “They think they can handle them.”

I shrugged and said, “They are a handful, but maybe this time it’ll be different.” She stared at me like I was insane.

“Let’s get back to Hot Chef stealing you away for a lunchtime tryst,” she said, changing the subject back to me.

“One second she was here, then a text came through and the woman ran the hell out of here like she was on fire,” Vivienne said, eyes wide peering at Audrey over her cup of coffee.

“Oh, I bet parts of her were on fire,” Audrey countered, and they both fell into fits again.

“He’s been working even crazier hours lately, and I’ve been watching Ava and keeping his mom company. I don’t mind helping out, but it’s tiring. We don’t exactly get much time together,” I told them, and maybe for the first time voicing my concerns. It actually felt good to say it out loud instead of on a constant loop in my head.

“You need to talk to that man and tell him he needs to take care of business,” Audrey said and took a seat beside Vivienne.

Vivienne nodded her head. “He’s a busy guy, but he can’t keep relying on you to hold up his family obligations. Discuss everything before it gets worse and you end up resenting him,” she suggested and placed her cup on the edge of my desk.

I sighed. “He’s always working. Like always. I love him. I really do. But his schedule is insane, and the hours he keeps are worse.” My eyes teared up, because until then, I didn’t understand how much it was bugging me.

“Oh, honey, you’ll figure it out. It’s worse right now because he’s under a lot of pressure to open the new restaurant. I’m sure it’ll get better.” Vivienne reached her hand across the desk and patted mine.

“I don’t know, you guys. It’s a lot to take. Sometimes I’m not sure if I’m the one he needs.” A weight settled on my heart that caused my spirits to plummet. My throat tightened, ending lunch hour for me. The clang of the fork on the plate made Audrey jump.

“Of course, he needs you, but you have to tell him you have limits,” Vivienne said. “And babysitting his dad every lunch hour without him knowing is not something you should keep doing behind his back.” She snapped her finger and aimed it at me. Busted.

“You’re having lunch with Jack’s dad? The one who threw him out of the house?” Audrey said and jolted upright. “Oh, girlfriend, this is not going to end well. Come clean with your man before that blows up in your face.”

She was right, and I knew it. The only problem was, I couldn’t stop my lunches with John, and I couldn’t tell Jack about them.