12

Chloe Johnson spent the entire afternoon at the bookstore, purchasing several books on how to "restore normal male sexuality." The shopkeeper helpfully recommended some steamy romance novels as reference material.

Thanking the kind owner, Chloe lugged her stack of books home.

Finding the house empty, she curled up on her bed and began researching how to help Ryan Carter "return to normal."

What? Seduction? Wasn't that something only married couples did?

Whatever. She was willing to try any method necessary.

For Ryan's sake, she'd go all out!

But just imagining such passionate scenarios with Ryan Carter made Chloe's face burn. Soon she was lost in fantasy...

The next morning, Chloe stuffed one of the novels into her backpack and headed to The Apexion Tower for "work."

Though her real purpose was keeping tabs on Ryan Carter.

She reached Ryan's office without incident, finding him on a phone call.

Ryan gestured to the chair opposite his desk, inviting her to sit.

Chloe settled in, studying the man on the phone.

How could such a perfect specimen be gay? What cosmic injustice! If word got out about his sexuality, not only would his reputation suffer, but countless women's hearts would shatter.

"Your desk." Ryan Carter pointed to a desk near the filing cabinet—one he had prepared specifically for her.

"Ryan, what can I do?" Chloe Johnson asked. She couldn't just sit there like a supervisor, staring at him all day, could she?

"Do whatever you like." Ryan replied without looking up, already buried in the towering stack of documents piled higher than him on his desk.

Chloe Johnson decided not to disturb him further and pulled out her novel to read.

Occasionally, Ryan glanced up at Chloe, seeing her engrossed in her book, and returned his full focus to his work.

He had assumed she had some ulterior motive for coming to "help" him, but now that she was quietly reading, he relaxed.

This should work, right? Chloe had studied this scene in movies for a long time and decided to test it out in real life—see if it actually had any effect.

Watching Ryan, completely absorbed in his work, she stealthily undid two buttons of her blouse, tugged it down to reveal a pale shoulder, mussed her hair for a wilder look, and then sauntered over.

"Ryan—" She called softly, deliberately drawing out the syllable. Was that sweet enough?

"What is it?" Oblivious to the brewing danger, Ryan didn't even look up, still scrutinizing a billion-dollar partnership deal.

Chloe rolled her eyes skyward. Why was this man so uncooperative?

No matter—Chloe Johnson thrived on challenges!

Leaning forward, she grabbed Ryan's tie and yanked him toward her.

Ryan Carter looked up passively—then froze, his pulse spiking at the sight before him.

What the hell was she doing? She'd just blindsided him with this!

"Ryan, do you want to sleep with me?" Chloe Johnson purred, pleased that he'd finally noticed her efforts. She even threw in a sultry glance.

Ryan's mind raced. Should he play the gentleman and button up this reckless girl's blouse—or just yank it open and take in the view? "You—"

Why was this man so dense? Nothing like the textbook male lead, who'd have swept her into his arms and carried her off to the bedroom, fast-forwarding to sunrise.

Oh, right—she'd almost forgotten. He was gay. Of course he wouldn't react like some romance-novel hero.

"Do you want to sleep with me?" Chloe repeated, unfazed, doubling down on her teasing.

This time, the words fully registered. Heat surged through Ryan's body, his face burning.

"What's wrong? You're all red!" Alarmed, Chloe dashed to the break room, returning with a damp towel.

Ryan tilted his head back against his chair, letting her press the cool cloth to his forehead as if it could douse the fire inside him.

From this angle, he had a perfect view of Chloe's delicate jawline, the graceful curve of her neck, and lower—Damn it. His gaze snagged on the exposed skin at her chest, and the heat roared back.

Christ. At this rate, he might actually suffocate from sheer restraint.

"Do you need to go to the hospital?" Chloe Johnson asked worriedly, studying his flushed, uncomfortable expression.

"No, I'm fine."

He had no idea what had gotten into her—since when did she pull these kinds of bold, seductive stunts? Or was she just messing around for fun?

Sigh. She really has no sense of boundaries. Maybe he'd been too lenient with her…

Even with his eyes closed, he could feel Chloe's anxious energy. She did care about him, didn't she? But when would she—oblivious as she was—finally realize hisfeelings?

Every little thing she did showed how much she relied on him. If he took this chance to confess, to tell her he loved her… what would her reaction be?

Would she think he'd lost his mind? Assume it was a joke? Believe he was teasing her? Given her cluelessness about romance, she'd probably spend six months overanalyzing it.

The coolness on his forehead vanished. He opened his eyes just as Chloe headed back to the break room with the towel. Seizing the moment, he stood and walked over to her desk—what kind of book had inspired this little performance?

He picked up the novel she'd been reading. The open page? A steamy love scene.

Since when did his sweet, innocent Chloe read stuff like this? Did it mean she was finally starting to notice… the opposite sex?

Chloe stepped out just in time to see Ryan Carter flipping through her scandalous novel.

If he liked it, she'd bring him a whole stack to read—until he finally got the hint. Then she wouldn't have to work so damn hard.

"Since when do you read this kind of novel?" Ryan snapped the book shut, his tone scolding.

Truthfully, he didn't actually mind. She was an adult, after all, and maybe it'd even help her figure out some things about relationships. But if she planned to test what she'd read on him? Hell no.

"Newsflash—I'm a grown woman." It was just a steamy novel. Why was he acting like she'd committed a felony? He could cozy up to men all he wanted, but she couldn't even read a little romance without judgment?

Ryan glanced back at the indignant Chloe Johnson.

Lately, she'd been… different. Quick to anger, a little combative. Wasn't she usually all about carefree happiness?

Noticing his stare, Chloe instinctively straightened her posture, as if to emphasize her adulthood.

Ryan's gaze flickered to the exposed curve of her chest—then he jerked his head away, gritting his teeth against the heat pooling low in his gut.

Chloe looked down at herself. Was it really that bad? He couldn't even stand to look?

Whatever. With a shrug, she buttoned her blouse. If that's how it was, fine. She could accept reality.

Desperate to focus, Ryan herded Chloe toward the door. "Go upstairs and take a break."

"My novel—!" she protested as he shut her out.

"Confiscated," came his flat reply before the lock clicked.

Chloe Johnson kicked the door hard, venting her frustration. Ever since she'd found out Ryan Carter was gay, she'd been irritable and quick to anger—she didn't even know why.

"Did the door do something to you?" Jake Thompson chuckled as he walked up, amused by her childish outburst. Damn Ryan Carter. Not only had he made her stub her toe, but now Jake had witnessed it too. So embarrassing.

"Is it too early for afternoon tea at the cafeteria?" Jake mused aloud, heading toward the elevators.

Mention anything about food, and Chloe's ears would perk up instantly. She hurried after him, finding Jake holding the elevator door open with that infuriating smirk of his.

"You're paying," Chloe growled in his ear, glaring at his smug expression.

That know-it-all look of his was so annoying.

They settled into the empty cafeteria—deserted during work hours. Jake ordered a coffee, while Chloe went for the largest chocolate sundae on the menu.

"So?"

"So what?" Chloe Johnson paused mid-bite, her long spoon buried in the ice cream, caught off guard by Jake Thompson's question.

"How's the whole 'helping Ryan' thing going?" Jake rolled his eyes skyward. She couldn't have forgotten already, could she? That'd ruin all his fun.

"I've got time. No rush." Chloe waved a dismissive hand, determined to focus on her sundae—but Ryan Carter kept creeping into her thoughts.

Damn it! Why did Jake have to bring him up? Now her mood had tanked completely.

"You'd better speed things up, or he'll just sink deeper." (Truthfully, Jake was just itching to see the drama unfold.)

"Yeah, yeah. Quit nagging." Chloe shot him the world's most exaggerated eye-roll.