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Her alluring mix of innocence and beauty requires one thing: I have to go cold turkey. From here on out, this will have to be our last and final contact. Otherwise, she might not stay a virgin very long.
“What conversation?” I wink at her, and she turns a pretty shade of pink.
I unfurl my fingers, and she removes her light touch. “Tell me about yourself.”
When she beams up at me all dewy-eyed and eager, a part of me already misses seeing her smile. I scan her face, capturing the moment and labeling her as the one who got away or I let go before it started. It’s for the best, though. I feel like a panting wolf wanting to devour a trusting lamb.
“Okay.” She perks up in her seat. Her bright eyes are aglow with my fixed attention. “I grew up in Monroeville, Alabama. I’m sure you’ve never heard of it.”
“I’d have to trade in my publishing credentials if I didn’t know the hometown of Truman Capote and Harper Lee. Besides, my mother was raised in Birmingham.”
“It practically makes us family friends,” she laughs, and it sounds so youthful and sweet, reminding me again of our age difference. Then her laughter fades, along with her smile. “I’m curious. Why did you lie to Don about us?”
“I have no clue.” I run a hand over my face, trying to make the awkward moment disappear. I opt for changing the subject. “By the way, everything’s okay with him now. I want to thank you for your help.”
“That’s great. The tart worked then?”
“I’d say it was more you giving it to him. He was quite impressed with your review of his book. So was I. You know you never really told me what you’re doing in New York City.”
“I just graduated college and …” She hesitates before continuing, twisting a lock of hair. She bites down on her bottom lip, like she’s trying not to say something. “And … well, I’m here for a few days looking for a job.”
“Bright lights, big city,” I answer, and she nods.
My first thought is: do we have a job for her at Hammond Press? Then I realize how impossible it would be having her working there. She’d be too close and tempting.
“Exactly. I’ve always wanted to live here, so does my best friend. If I find a position, she’s moving here too.” Her brow wrinkles slightly, her eyes expressing concern. “Well, I can’t let her down.”
“Good luck. I’m sure you’ll find something,” I say.
My words contain very little enthusiasm, and I feel like a complete asshole. All I’d have to do is call my HR head, and she’d wave a magic wand for Tessa, finding her a suitable job at the company. She does seem to love books. And we all need to start somewhere. My fingers itch to grab my phone, but I keep them resting at my side.
“I have six more days to figure it out. That’s plenty of time, right?” She worries her lip, and I feel even shittier for doing nothing to help this sweet young woman. Dammit. I have to do something.
“Give me your phone.” I hold out my open palm. She places her cell phone in my hand without a single question. Her trust should make me feel better, but it has the opposite effect, since I don’t deserve it.
I click her phone to light up the screen, and it displays a tall handsome man with his arm around her. “Boyfriend?”
“It’s my older brother. There’s no boyfriend,” she utters, and I try to contain a smile while entering my phone number into her cell and texting myself.
The guys in Alabama are complete idiots. Then again, if she had a boyfriend, my worries would be over, because I’d have the best reason to stay away from her. She could never be mine. What’s troubling, though, is I’m way too happy to find out she’s single.
I hand the phone back to her and pick up mine. “Text me your email. I’ll forward the names of a couple people looking for interns at their companies. You can drop my name, tell them I gave you their information, if you’d like.”
I don’t know enough about her to really be a good reference, but I’ll take a gamble and consider it payback for helping me out with Don today.
“I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this,” she gushes, moving closer to me, then gently squeezes my hand. “Thanks so much.”
She needs to quit touching me. I’m reaching the threshold of my control here.
“You’re welcome, though I can’t guarantee anything.” I remove my hand before I wrap it around her small one.
Needing a distraction from everything Tessa, I check my phone to see who needs something from me, because there’s always someone wanting my assistance or an answer. I can’t remember the last time I fell off the office grid like this during a workday.
