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Rylie’s whole face felt like her skin was burning off. God, she hadn’t meant for it to come out quite like that.
“Kelly, I’m so sorry—”
Her boss held up her hand and Rylie shut her mouth, waiting for Kelly to tell her she blew it. The click of the door behind her was her only sign that Dustin had left; she was too terrified to look away from Kelly, waiting for her to tell her she was fired.
Instead, Kelly’s expression was kind and concerned. “I didn’t assign Dustin to this account because I thought you couldn’t handle it alone. I know you can take on all of this and it would be spectacular.”
Rylie waited for the but that was sure to follow that glowing speech.
“But as both the bride and groom have no siblings, they have made their closest friends bridesmaids and groomsmen. Their friends are not as well off, and so Tonya and Blake are paying for everything, but still, they can’t take a lot of time off work to plan. This is why they asked for professionals to handle the position of Best Man and Maid of Honor. Do you understand?”
And she did. Everyone at Something Borrowed had wondered why Kelly had hired a man after all these years of only employing women. Now it was clear she’d been anticipating a request like this.
It still didn’t explain why she’d chosen Dustin Kent. Even if he hadn’t sold an app he’d designed in college and made millions on his own, his parents owned one of the biggest vineyards in the area, and half the town of Sweetheart. The guy should be sleeping his way across the U.S. and Europe, not playing at being a professional groomsman.
“Yes. I’m sorry if I was rude,” Rylie said.
Kelly shot her an amused look. “Please. That is the first time you’ve ever questioned a decision I’ve made in what, four years? I think you’ve earned one or two.”
The tension Rylie hadn’t known was there leaked out of her chest as she released a heavy breath. Kelly passed her a red folder, and held on to it until Rylie met her gaze. “I also want you to keep an eye on Dustin.”
Rylie blinked at her a few times. “You mean spy on him?”
“No, not spy. I just want you to make sure that he’s doing his fair share of the work. I know how he likes to get one over on the other women here, but thankfully, you seem to be immune to him.”
Rylie wasn’t sure immune was the right word. When Dustin had first been hired, of course, she’d noticed he was good looking, maybe even enjoyed his flirtation a little bit… Until she realized he was a dog who flirted with every woman he met.
And she would never cross that line.
“I have a boyfriend,” Rylie said.
Kelly’s lips thinned for a half a second until she forced a smile. Rylie wasn’t surprised. She knew no one liked her boyfriend, Asher Reid. Some were just politer about letting their feelings be known.
“Yes, I know.” Kelly said. “Will you send Dustin back in when you leave? I’d like to finish telling him what I expect and then I’ll send him back to you.”
&nbs
p; Rylie took the folder and left the room, making her way down the hallway to Dustin’s office. He was sitting behind his desk, glasses slipped over that perfect nose, making him look like Clark Kent. For a second, she watched him, thinking she was due for a Smallville marathon.
Rylie shook her head. Dustin was nothing like Tom Welling, except for being insanely good looking, but beauty was only skin deep. Vipers were gorgeous too until they bit you.
She knocked on the doorframe and he looked up at her from his laptop.
“Kelly wants to finish talking to you,” she said.
Dustin shut the laptop and stood up, stretching his arms over his head. Which, of course, lifted his button-up shirt and suit jacket. She had to fight not to look down and see if any skin was exposed.
God, I’m a terrible person.
“So, you didn’t manage to get me kicked off the account then?” he asked.
Rylie glared at him. “It wasn’t about you. It was about me wanting to handle this on my own.” Plus, the commission alone would have changed everything for me.
Dustin walked around the desk and chucked her under the chin. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I promise that you’re going to love working with me.”
Rylie ignored the little flutter in her stomach and scoffed. “Just don’t screw this up for me.”
She left his office, her cheeks burning as his deep chuckle followed her down the hall.
