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“You don’t mince words, do you, Jenkins?”
“What would be the point of that? Say what you mean and mean what you say. It’s sort of a motto I live by.” It was shockingly easy to talk to Skylar. I didn’t know her, only had traded a handful of words the few times our paths had crossed in social situations. But her dry sense of humor and obvious intelligence intrigued me.
Skylar became serious. “That’s a motto I appreciate. There are too many people in the world who talk out of both sides of their mouths. I don’t have time for duplicitousness.”
I felt uncomfortable at her words, but she was now focused on the computer screen. I found myself watching her as she worked. The way she furrowed her brow when she concentrated or how she would pick at her lip when she became frustrated. I had always been good at picking up people’s tells but for the first time, I found that I was doing it for no other reason than because I liked looking at her.
“Okay, talk me through this font choice. Because under normal circumstances, I would be questioning the brain capacity of anyone using Comic Sans. So, tell me, Robbie, you seem like a smart guy, what possessed you to choose it?” She smirked in a sexy what that I almost forgot her use of a nickname I wished to never hear again.
I moved closer again and this time she didn’t lean away. If anything, she moved toward me, our arms brushing against one another.
“Well, tell me, queen of the fonts, which one would you recommend?” I teased.
**
“I heard they broke ground on that new development outside of town. Looks like it’s going to be a pretty big complex,” Skylar was saying, and I had to refocus on where the conversation had gone.
“Yeah, there’s plans for a strip mall, including a movie theater and three restaurants, and a brand new subdivision of houses. It looks like it will bring a lot of new business to the area, which is needed,” Jeremy explained.
Skylar’s eyes widened. “Wow. That’s incredible.”
“Could mean a lot of new work for you, Murphy,” Adam added. “Jer—maybe you could speak to the property owner, maybe throw her Skylar’s name—”
“That’s not a good idea,” I interrupted before I could stop myself. I wasn’t one prone to spontaneous outbursts, so my partners looked at me as if I had grown three heads.
“Well, maybe Jenkins could put in a word seeing as he knows Ms. Hardwell personally.” I wanted to choke Jeremy. I could imagine how wonderful it would feel to wrap my hands around his throat.
“You do? How?” Skylar asked, clearly forgetting her decision to ignore me completely.
“I don’t,” I lied. I usually had no trouble lacing dishonesty with the truth. But with Skylar, it felt wrong. It had always felt wrong with her. “I just don’t want you to seem pushy.”
I realized how shitty that sounded as soon as the words left my mouth.
“I’m not pushy,” Skylar snapped.
Adam frowned, looking between us, trying to get a read on this quickly devolving situation. “I don’t think he meant that—”
“It doesn’t matter what he meant, he said it.” Skylar knocked back the rest of her beer and brought the bottle down on the table with a clang. “As fun as this has been, I think I’d better get home.”
“I just ordered us more drinks,” Jeremy complained as Adam slid out of the booth so Skylar could stand to leave.
“I’m sure you won’t have any trouble drinking mine,” she said a lot kindlier than she would have to me.
“You don’t need to hurry off,” Adam said.
Skylar looked at me, her expression hard. “Actually, I think I do. Tell Meg I’ll call her tomorrow about our shopping trip.” She patted Adam’s shoulder and without another word, turned and left.
Jeremy looked at me in confusion. “What the fuck was that all about? Skylar has the personality of a feral cat under the best of circumstances, but she was worse. Is it you, Jenkins, and your magical way with the ladies?” He raised an eyebrow.
I didn’t bother answering and thankfully Adam didn’t pick up where our friend stopped. But the rest of the evening was less enjoyable after that.
Mostly because I couldn’t get the image of Skylar Murphy’s obvious disdain out of my mind.
Chapter Three
Skylar
The phone was ringing before I had even opened my eyes. Groaning, I rolled over and looked at the screen. And debated whether to answer it.
But I knew if I didn’t, it would just keep ringing. And ringing. So, wanting to get this over with, I put the phone to my ear.
“Hi, Mom.” I couldn’t sound less thrilled if I tried.
“I’ve been calling you all morning. Are you still in bed? What’s wrong with you? Don’t you have working hours you need to keep?” My mother’s shrill voice was enough to wake me up fully. I looked at my alarm clock. It was only a little after eight.
