Going the Distance (No Excuses Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

him and hope for the best,” Clare cut into her thoughts.
    “My boss?” Sam asked outraged.
    “No, dummy, the boxer.”
    “That’s a terrible idea,” she replied, but had to admit that the thought had run through her head as well. Sleeping with him, despite everything they’d been through, didn’t sound as bad as she had made it seem. Seeing him shirtless outside of his gym had messed with her emotions. The guy was hot, there was no way around that.
    Solid, strong muscles everywhere, a fuzz on his chest that went down to his happy trail, the tattoos which had been hard to make out in the pictures she’d seen online, and the sweat which had glistened on him as though he’d just finished making a girl scream his name. She was sure her mouth had dropped open at the beautiful sight. And then he’d touched her, here, there, with his fingertip, then his hand, and finally his whole body as his erection had pressed against her. She’d been that close to ripping her clothes off and letting him have his way with her. Thank God she’d been able to control herself.
    Despite his ripped body and full lips she wanted to devour, he had a filthy mouth that was infuriating. Even if they were the only two people left on earth, she’d turn him down simply for the principle of it. He treated women like crap and that’s something she couldn’t stand. A man like that needed to be taught a lesson, but her mission wasn’t to do that. She had to focus on her interview.
    “Why is that a terrible idea?” Clare asked, popping a cheese cube into her mouth.
    “Because I’m sure that’s some kind of conflict of interest. I can’t have sex with the person I’m supposed to write about. I’m supposed to do my job, not him,” Sam said.
    “Can’t you do both?”
    She had to chuckle. “Always so efficient, aren’t you?”
    “Just saying.”
    Trent’s sweaty muscles popped into Sam’s mind and she wondered just how efficient she could be. If it came down to it, would she give in and have sex simply to get answers from him? She gulped uncomfortably. The realization that she was lusting over this guy who talked like a dirt bag, and acted like one, for that matter, was disturbing. And even more disturbing was the fact that she was even considering having sex in order to secure her job. Granted she wasn’t thinking about sleeping with her boss, but still. This was way below her standards. She shook her head, ashamed of herself.
    “There’s no helping you,” Clare said, finishing her wine. She grabbed the remote and flipped channels.
    Sam tried to pay attention to the programs on TV, but it was impossible. When some competitive reality show came on, she spaced out again.
    What else could she do to convince him to talk to her? He was right about having everything under the sun. And she didn’t have a single penny she could spare to lavish him with bribes. The measly money she was making went to rent, bills and savings, which she didn’t touch.
    She tapped her empty wine glass with her thumb, thinking.
    He was used to lavish, expensive things and apparently could get any girl he wanted. What in heaven’s name could Sam offer that would interest him?
    The impossibility of her situation was starting to gnaw a hole in her stomach and she was getting angrier by the second. Why had she opened her big mouth and come up with this stupid idea?
    She refilled her glass and finished the contents in one gulp.
    Clare gave her an amused look. “Thirsty, are you?”
    Sam merely grunted and leaned her head back against the edge of the couch. “I’m screwed.”
    “Don’t give up hope yet, Sam. I’ve not known you to fail at anything you put your mind to.”
    A peppy message that Sam wanted to take to heart, but couldn’t. For once, she felt like she’d be taking on the impossible.
     
    ***
     
    It had been a week since Trent had spoken to the reporter, and he hadn’t heard from her since. He was both surprised and disappointed that she’d