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“What made you realize I wanted more on Friday?” Oh god, Kara. You wanted more? Choose your words better.
If Jonathan had any clue about my crush, he didn’t let it show. “It wasn’t what you said. It was how you said it.”
Curious, I wrinkled my forehead.
“When you spoke about your dad and why you chose a career in marketing”—his eyes bore into mine—“you were very passionate.”
His steady look made me anxious. I couldn’t decide if it was because I was having this conversation with my boss. Or because I was having this conversation with the man I wanted to screw senseless?
“Yes, I am passionate.”
God, you have no idea how passionate.
As far as I could tell from re-reading my handbook this weekend, there wasn’t a “no fraternization policy” here. However, a “relationship with the company owner” section was nowhere in the two-hundred-page document.
“I’ve been at”—he waved his hands around his office—“this long enough to realize that enthusiasm, like yours, doesn’t last forever if it isn’t cultivated. Sometimes it withers away slowly as the day-to-day monotony sets in. But more often than not, someone with talent and drive, like you, if you’re not challenged, you’ll move on. And the last thing I would want would be to lose you.”
I beamed. “Good. Because I don’t want to go anywhere else. Thanks. I should let you get back to work.”
“Hey, Kara,” he said as I reached the doorway. I turned around slowly to face him. He was smiling. “It was very nice bumping into you the other night. You mentioned you meet your sister often, right?”
“No, I said—”
“You meet her most Friday nights, isn’t that correct?” His eyes twinkled mischievously.
“Oh, yes.” Sure, I’ll play along with whatever you have on your mind, Mr. Cuttinham. “I’m meeting her for drinks at Stella’s in Soho.”
Chapter Seven
“So where is the fake me meeting the real you tonight?” Mia asked.
For the last month, in conversation, Jonathan somehow found a way to ask when and where I was meeting my sister. And without fail, he’d either be there waiting or arrive soon after I did. Then we’d hang out together for a few hours, waiting for my sister, who never showed. I was starting to get that hopeful feeling about us…because except for the one time with his ex he never seemed to have plans with other women, no one at work ever talked about him going on dates…he never mentioned anyone… But hope was a dangerous thing.
It was the beginning of May, and I had stopped at my apartment after work to change into a pale pink sundress, which I thought was the perfect combination of sexy and fun. Since I had about a half-hour to kill before I had to make my way to my destination, I called my sister.
I sat on my terrace, sipping a glass of sparking grapefruit water and watching the traffic below. “Trader Jax’s in the Village.”
“Nice. Much better than having to go to a Forest River PTA penny auction, where, unfortunately, the real me will be. Sure, the items up for bid are always amazing, but the thought of listening to another speech by the mom boss makes me twitchy. I’d so much rather be hanging out in the city with you tonight.”
Not me.
“You know,” she continued, “since you started playing this little game of yours, we haven’t gotten together once. I’m missing you, sis.”
I laughed. “I know. Same. But I’ll be in the burbs on Sunday night for Melissa’s birthday dinner.”
“Oh, yeah! I almost forgot about the adult shindig. I’m so stressed with planning the birthday party for Melissa’s friends. Life was simpler when we were little—an ice cream cake, some streamers, and a couple of basic games. Now, every celebration has to be an extravaganza of gigantic proportions lasting a full weekend. I now know what the Queen must have felt when Kate and William tied the knot.”
I snorted because while she complained, I knew my sister loved to try to one-up the other mothers, especially the head of the PTA.
“You need to come to the house early, Kara, because we need time to have a proper conversation.”
“What now?” I groaned, feeling a scolding coming on.
“Do I have to spell it out for you?”
You will, regardless of how I reply.
“You are making a fool of yourself.”
