Curve Effect (A BBW Box Set of Contemporary, Science Fiction and Paranormal Romances) Read Online Free PDF Page A

feature."
    "Oh." I smiled, not about the confirmation but the realization that Craig had dismissed Dalton's statement because he wanted to tell me himself. Dropping my voice a little lower, I slid to the edge of my seat. "Thank you for letting me know and for making it possible."
    "About that." His eyes drifted open, heat simmering in their green depths. "Tonight--"
    Halting, he glared past my shoulder. I followed the direction of his gaze.
    Smiling, Dalton rapped on the door at the same time he opened it. With just his head and one shoulder inside the room, he grinned at me while he ignored Craig. "Trish confirmed national."
    I nodded. "Can't wait until its up live. I'm sure I'll spend the night hitting refresh."
    Craig cleared his throat and another thrill ran through me. Did that small click and swallow indicate he had something else in mind for the night?
    "After happy hour at Chief's," Dalton corrected. "You have to help me rally the troops."
    "I…" Fumbling, I looked toward Craig as he seemed to forcefully smother the impulse to stand up and rip Dalton's head from his shoulders. "Chief's isn't--"
    "Tell her, boss." Dalton pushed the rest of the way into Craig's office. "It's absolutely mandatory when national pops someone's cherry."
    "You'll have HR breathing down my neck if you keep saying that," Craig growled. Flicking his hand at Dalton, he looked at me. "He's right, cub. You have to buy a round. Can't do that if you're not there."
    "Oh, okay." I chewed at my bottom lip, disappointed that Dalton had just thrown a bucket of ice water on any chance I had of spending the evening with Craig. Assuming Craig had been ready to ask me out before Dalton interrupted. That assumption was almost as big as my butt.
    "Cheer up, cub. I'm a cheap drink." Craig's gaze met mine for a second, his meaning sinking in before his professional mask slid back into place. "Now you both need to leave."
    "Sure," Dalton answered, his hand dropping to pinch my sleeve and give a little tug.
    As much as I felt like it, I managed to exit Craig's office and return to my computer without skipping. It helped that Dalton followed directly behind me, bypassing his desk to escort me to mine. He spent another two minutes discussing my new assignment before Craig barked across the news floor for Dalton to attend the ad meeting.
    "Damn," Dalton grinned, throwing me a wink. "Guess Craig finally realized I'm ready to move up."
    Thinking Craig might just have a completely different motivation, I smiled and gave Dalton a thumbs up. "It was only a matter of time."
    I watched both men enter the elevator. Without realizing what the other was doing, each turned his gaze in my direction. Craig doing so sent another warm flush across my skin. Then I noticed Dalton's eyes on me and felt like someone had just shoved a cold hand up my skirt.
    I smiled at them, promising myself that I would not let Dalton keep me at Chief's too long. One round and I would be out of there.
    And straight into Craig's bed if I had my way.
    ********************
    My back to the wall at Chief's as Dalton smiled across the table at me, I checked my cell phone for the fourth time since I arrived a quarter hour before. I had left work after a text from Craig telling me it was time to leave. My hope that he would already be at the bar or arrive shortly thereafter quickly fizzled.
    "You make any progress on South Bay?" Reaching out, Dalton tapped a finger against my wrist.
    Nodding, I took a drink of my Club Soda and pried my attention from the front door. "Meeting tomorrow at two."
    "I knew you would finesse a meeting." Dalton clinked his beer bottle against my soda.
    "What meeting?" Managing to sneak up behind me, Craig slid into the seat on my left.
    A waitress appeared immediately, her breasts all but spilling out of her top as she offered to serve him. I forced a smile in Dalton's direction as Craig purred his drink order down the woman's blouse.
    "Put that on cub's tab," he finished, slapping