AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She shook her head, not moving her hand away. “I don’t want to be late for my dad’s dinner. Can you just give me a ride? I could call for a Lyft if you’re busy, but I thought I’d ask.”
I inhaled again, trying to place the scent RJ had left in the air, annoyed I cared, because her one-eighty from working with me to going off on me had left me unsteady, a feeling I wasn’t fond of. I glanced at my watch and realized Megan was right—time was running short. “Sure,” I said, remembering I was representing Penny. I slung my messenger bag higher on my shoulder and stepped back, motioning for her to lead the way.
Megan’s arm brushed against mine a few times as we walked, and it was a few too many times to be completely accidental.
“Excited for tomorrow?” I held the door for her as we walked into the parking lot.
“Definitely! Veronica is a peach and Dad is really happy.”
She was cute and perky, with a great smile. She and her sisters had stayed close to me all night. They were nice, funny, and there were worse people to be surrounded by at work. “It will be a good day,” I said, holding the door for her again once we reached my SUV.
She flashed me another smile before I could close the door and walk to the driver’s side. “I know it will. You seem to have such a good handle on everything.”
Right? I handled all of that. RJ doesn’t know what she’s talking about. She just doesn’t like me.
“I overheard that woman laying into you, which was totally out of line, if you ask me.” When I closed my own door, she angled her body toward me, crossing her legs and flashing a lot of smooth, tan thigh. “You were great.”
“Thank you,” I said, pulling out of the parking lot, unease creeping through me as I thought through what RJ had said. “I appreciate you saying that.” I eased into traffic and turned left. The route to the restaurant location in this older part of town came back to me like I’d never left, even though the rest of the town had grown and changed. My uncle Harold and aunt Bette had taken us to that restaurant all the time, saying their mashed potatoes were worth the drive.
“You really took charge,” she said, angling even farther toward me, resting a hand over mine on the gearshift. “I appreciate a man who’s comfortable taking charge.”
My gaze shot to her as I hit the brakes at a red light. She looked up at me through heavily coated eyelashes.
She had big blue eyes with blond hair that fell around her shoulders. She was attractive, and her soft hand on mine made me realize how long it had been since someone had touched me.
I swallowed and pulled my hand from the gearshift, pointing to the restaurant in the distance. “Here?”
She nodded, dragging a manicured finger across her collarbone. “I’m serious, too. That woman was out of line. She was so uptight, and I don’t remember you talking over her once.”
“I appreciate it, but RJ is great.” That was a lie—I had no idea how she was, but I wanted to shut this down, and something about her judging RJ rankled me. “We’re new to working together, so just figuring out the kinks. I’m sure I talked over her a few times.”
I pulled toward the restaurant, pleading with whoever was in charge of such things that the three stoplights ahead would stay green.
“Are you free later?” She returned her hand to mine, grazing her fingertips over my forearm. “You’re attractive and there’s no sense not being direct. Carpe diem.”
Direct.RJ’s face popped into my head, making me angry at the memory of our interactions, annoyed that she was on my mind, and curious about where she’d gone when she left the library.
I might kick myself for it later, but I wasn’t tempted, despite Megan being sexy and clearly interested. Looking at her pretty face and impressive cleavage in her low-cut dress, I could imagine kissing her, going to bed with her, but I couldn’t stop there—my mind fast-forwarded to lies, betrayal, and pain. “Normally, I woulddefinitely want your number.” She looked a little like Sarah, similar hair color and height, and I glanced back at the parking lot, scanning the rows of cars.Nope. Nope. Nope.“It’s not really professional, though. I’m sure your dad would not appreciate it, and he’s my client.”
She pouted, pushing out her lower lip, which—upside—made her look less like Sarah, but also like a teenager. “It’s not like I was going to brief him. He doesn’t have to know.”
I laughed uneasily, both hands resting on the steering wheel. “I’d know, but thank you for the offer.”
“I get it.” She winked and reached for the door handle and got out. “But...” She pulled a business card from her bag and scribbled on the back, all the while standing next to my open car door. “If you change your mind, I’m in town another few days.”
I nodded and took the card from her. “I’ll see you at the ceremony tomorrow. Good night.”
She smiled over her shoulder and sauntered away, and I tossed the card on the passenger seat, waiting a respectable amount of time before getting the hell out of that parking lot. The night had been weird and awkward at every turn.Not every turn. Just the ones involving women.
As if summoned by my innermost thoughts, my phone buzzed, and I tapped the Bluetooth icon on the screen to answer. “Stop checking up on me.”
“Then stop insisting you’re fine all the time,” Caitlin huffed into the phone, the background noise echoing around her.
“Are you in that parking garage?” It was connected to the hospital and there was security, but I’d never liked her walking there alone.
“Calm down. It’s not even dark here.” She called out something, holding the phone away, and I rolled my eyes. She was always in work mode. “How’d your first night as the new Penny go?”
“It was f—”
