Page 10 of Tell Me Something

I already had my parents’ belongings in storage. I only had my clothes and some other odds and ends to worry about.

“Give me your phone,” he requested.

I pulled it out, handed it over, and then watched him deftly type his number into my contacts.

“Text or call me with any more questions. I’m at the Four Seasons and will expect you either way on Sunday morning for breakfast at nine o’clock.”

I was surprised that he wanted to meet, no matter what my decision, and had to test him. “What if I say no?”

His answer was thoughtful. “I’ll be disappointed, but you would continue your current position with Warren if that’s what you want. I like to think I’m giving you a choice as I’m not a man who usually has to resort to ultimatums.”

My mouth went dry as I thought there weren’t many women who’d tell Josh Singer no. Ugh, I needed to get my mind out of the gutter. I also needed some space away from this magnetic man if I was to make a clear, professional decision. “All right, I’ll think about it. Here, let me take the trash. Don’t want to ruin the new car smell.” I gathered up the fast food bags and got out.

“Thanks for dinner, Haylee. And I mean it: text or call with any questions. I don’t care what time it is.” He had rolled down the window.

“Okay, and you’re welcome.” I stepped away from the car and felt his eyes on me as I turned and walked toward my three-story, Spanish style apartment building and up the two flights to my door.

CHAPTER THREE

M y roommate’s name was Angela, and I’d been lucky to find her on Craigslist for a six-month sublet while her usual roommate was in Spain on a temporary work assignment. Angela was a CPA and worked for a prestigious accounting firm. At the moment, however, she was getting completely decked out to hit the town. As I glanced at her short skirt and sparkly top, I found it hard to imagine her a tax genius by day.

“Hey, lady, long day for you. Whoa, love the hair. Very sexy,” she pointed out, greeting me at the door. I put my purse down and followed her into the hall bathroom where she started putting on her makeup.

“Yeah, it was a crazy day for sure. Where you off to?”

“We, meaning the both of us, are going out. It’s been a long, boring, number-crunching kind of week, and there’s a hot new club where one of my clients put our names on the VIP list.”

The last thing I wanted to do was go out. I had a ton to think about, but the thought of spending the night fretting and overanalyzing it all seemed depressing. Plus this could potentially be my last night out in LA with Angela.

“Okay, you know what? I’m in, but I need to change and do something with this.” I gestured toward my face, wishing I’d left on my makeup from the shoot.

“Please, you’re gorgeous. I’d kill for your curves, and the hair is seriously hot. Just put on some makeup and throw on something skimpy.”

Laughing, I hurried into my room, slipping on a short mini and an off-the-shoulder club-worthy shirt. I doubted very much this ensemble would cut it in New York. Then again, it didn’t sound like I’d have a lot of time for a social life there. In fact, the way Josh had presented it made me think about all of the time I’d be spending with him instead.

How did one travel all over the world with a hot boss and not completely make a fool of oneself?

And why me? No matter what else he had explained, he hadn’t clarified why he would ask me when he could easily hire someone local. A secret hope he might have felt the same spark I had sent a shiver through me. But then what? He was the owner of the company.

Damn. What I needed was to drink and dance and then come home and slug it tomorrow with a hangover. It wasn’t my most mature idea, but it was the plan of the moment.

I met my roommate in the hall after doing up my eyes the way Trisha had, grabbed my ID and some cash.

Angela whistled. “Wow, the smoky eye looks amazing on you.”

I smiled and returned the compliment by remarking how great she looked in her outfit.

As we called a cab and headed out, I brought her up to speed with all the events of the day.

“Holy shit. You filled in for Katrina Tross? What did the pictures look like? Have you seen them?”

I realized I had no idea how they’d turned out. I thought it had gone well, but what the hell did I know? Shrugging the question off, I supplied the subsequent details of Josh coming to the office and his job offer instead, but I left out the fast-food dinner as it seemed too bizarre to explain.

“Wait. You were offered a free move to New York, a furnished apartment, and the opportunity to travel the world for a year? Plus he’s paying off your sublet here. Uh, yeah, tough decision, my friend. I’m sorry we won’t be able to get that three bedroom we talked about once Susan is back from Spain, but clearly this is a much better opportunity.”

I sighed, thinking she was right. It was a terrific opportunity.

“So what’s the problem? Is the guy creepy, or what?”