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“Do you want to hear about my week before we go play ball? I gotta warn you, it’s a bit of a doozy.”
Raider woofed softly in response and Rylie took that as a yes.
Chapter 11
On Monday morning, Rylie was organizing her folder for the Rolland/Marconi wedding when Wendy Harrington knocked on her doorframe. Wendy had been hired as Kelly’s assistant this summer, and seemed to be working out. Something Borrowed had a high turnover. Kelly usually hired women home for the summer from college, women who were just looking for something temporary until they found something in their field of study. Rylie knew that Wendy had a degree in business and was saving up money to go back to school for her masters.
“Hey, Kelly wants to see you when you get a second.”
“Sure.” Rylie stood up and came around the desk.
“Oh, I love that skirt!”
Rylie looked down at her black lace pencil skirt with a nude underskirt. It was one of her favorites, but she hardly wore it, afraid of snagging it.
“Thanks. I love your dress.” Wendy was wearing a yellow dress with a square neck and a full skirt that hit just below her knees. The style was 1950s and adorable on her slight frame. Her red curls were pinned back from her face and her freckles darkened as she blushed. Rylie thought she was sweet, if sometimes a bit too forward.
“Thank you.” Wendy danced from foot to foot for a few moments and Rylie could tell there was something else she wanted.
“What’s up? You seem nervous.”
“I was just wondering… I know it’s none of my business, but I heard that you were staying at Dustin Kent’s place.”
Rylie figured that people were going to find out eventually, but she hadn’t told anyone… So how had Wendy known?
The movers.
No one could keep a secret in this town.
“Yeah, I am. Temporarily.”
Wendy’s eyes widened. “Really? I didn’t think he did that sort of thing.”
This conversation was slowly crossing from curiosity to nosiness.
“We’re just friends, and I’m only staying in his pool house until I find a place of my own.”
“Oh. Sorry, I didn’t mean to pry,” Wendy said, sheepishly.
Sure you didn’t.
Apparently, she wasn’t done because Wendy gushed, “It’s just… He’s just so hot, but I didn’t want to step on any toes if I asked him out.”
Rylie still managed to smile, even as her jaw tightened. “Nope, my toes are good. Go for it.” The sudden need to get away from the perky redhead overcame Rylie and she added, “I better go before Kelly gets antsy.”
“Okay, thanks. See you later.”
Wendy walked out ahead of her, turning into Dustin’s office.
Wow, she didn’t waste any time.
Rylie headed down to Kelly’s office. When she passed by Dustin’s, he was focused on Wendy, who was leaning over his desk. He didn’t notice Rylie, and she hated the flirtatious smile he was bestowing on the other woman.
She had no reason to be irritated, though. Rylie had been avoiding him since he walked her to the pool house door on Saturday night. Partly because she’d been embarrassed for the way she’d behaved. She almost never drank, especially not to the point of puking.
Then there had been the way he’d told her he was staying away from attached women, as if he cared what she thought of him. It had caused butterflies to erupt in her stomach, getting caught in her chest until she’d had trouble breathing past all the flutters. The last thing she needed was another reason to like him.
Of course, she’d panicked at her reaction to him. If there was ever a guy who had heartbreak written all over him, it was Dustin.
