In the Fast Lane (Fast Series Book 1) by Evie Anderson

annoyed Jessi. This was bad.
    He gave her a sardonic grin that made her cringe and replied, “Does that mean I can hope that it will be like that later?”
    Oh, that was so gross. In comparison to Dalton, every cocky thing that came out of this man’s mouth was just...creepy. “No. We’re done with that, Claudel,” she said firmly, trying to regain some control on her reeling thoughts. “You know that. Right now, I’ve got to focus on swimming.” Not sexy coaches she had no business thinking about. “I’m more than happy to work with you on this exposé, but that’s all we are doing right now. As for later, we agreed the last time was the last time. Besides, that one was just...stupid.”
    “Hmmm. We were certainly drunk and maybe a little stupid, yes. But I seem to remember it being pretty hot and wet.” Claudel grinned at her with a flirty expression. “I also seem to remember that I agreed to nothing and you always seem to come back for more. Face it, Jessi, you can’t get enough of me.”
    If she had ever had any warm and fuzzy memories of their relationship, they’d just been dashed. She did not need this right now. What she needed was someone to throw her a bone. Here she was, doing her best to get Dalton McKinney out of her head, and the powers that be had thrown her a sad excuse for a man who just highlighted all the things she really, really liked about Dalton.
    Jessi tilted her head and glared at Claudel. “You do realize how egotistical you sound, don’t you? Does that actually work for you?” She could not comprehend why grown women found him so irresistible. Her excuse was that she’d been young when they’d dated and it had always been about having fun.
    “Yes, Jessi, my dear, I do. And yes, as you know, it does. But fine, we won’t talk about sex right now. I’ll keep things professional while we are shooting this exposé. However, make no mistake, when we are done, it is game on. We are far from finished.”
    It was always a little humorous to hear Claudel say things like “it is game on” when he was trying to be tough. “Claudel, I am not talking with you about this right now. If you want this exposé, you better start focusing your interview on that. Otherwise, I’m pulling the plug.”
    Claudel huffed a bit, but at the end of the day, his ego took over and the inner player within rose up. He affected nonchalance at her rebuff. They started talking about the outline of the project and the way the network wanted it to go. The whole thing would be a nostalgic recap of her career. Jessi Pruitt: Then and Now.
    “All right, Claudel. I’m good with the layout. I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.”
    Claudel rose with her as she stood to leave. “I look forward to it, my dear.” He kissed both of her cheeks in what should have been a customary goodbye gesture. Claudel, of course, made it creepy.
    Resisting the urge to wipe off her face, she hustled away from the crazy little man and toward her upcoming viewing session with Dalton. Why, in dear God’s name, did she have to be so excited for the latter?
    So far, said sessions had proven to be exercises of hours in frustration, sexual and otherwise. Yet, here she was, gladly taking those hours over and above even a few minutes alone with Claudel. The fact that she was looking forward to seeing Dalton bothered her to no end. She wanted him. There was no other explanation.
    As usual, Dalton was waiting for her. Currently manning the control panel with a serious frown, he was rewinding and reviewing the same twenty-five meters of her butterfly over and over again. Taking a moment to enjoy the view, she watched as he leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms over his broad chest, and tilted his head. Then he squinted as if that would make the answer somehow appear to him. He looked so damn cute, all serious and brooding. Despite herself, she burst out laughing.
    Dalton snapped his gaze over to her. “Something funny, Pruitt?”
    “Nope,