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She gives me a sassy look that goes straight to my groin. “I’d say thank you, but I’m already thinking this will be a giant mistake.” I love the way her big brown eyes twinkle despite her stern words.
“Hush. Put your number in my phone.” I dig my device out of my pocket, unlock it and thrust it to her, smirking the whole time as she punches her digits in.
Yes! About fucking time, dammit!!
I’m trying to not do a happy dance. I have to deliberately restrain my hips from wiggling around.
When she’s done, she sets my device into my outstretched hand. “I’m gonna get going. See you later, Harry.”
I shout after her as she stalks off in the opposite direction. “For the record, I’m telling the kids thatyouasked me out.”
“Oh god. I have a headache already,” she grumbles.
My grin is bigger than a cruise ship as I watch her retreating down the hall. I know this will be the best night ofmylife.
Now I just have to make sure it’s hers, too.
11
NADIA
“Was I wrong to ask Harry to pretend to be my boyfriend at the charity gala?” I ask my therapist with a crinkled forehead and a scrunched up stomach.
I think I’m having second thoughts about this whole thing. Maybe I acted too hastily in trying to secure a hot fake date for this event.
I’m at the tail end of my regular therapy session today, and I’m hoping for some helpful answers to my latest mess. I settle into the cold leather couch and cross my legs at the knees.
Regina shrugs. “Doyouthink it was wrong?”
Dammit. I hate when she does that.
I groan out loud, uncrossing and re-crossing my legs. “I don’t know! I need some outside input.”
Regina sits quietly in thoughtful contemplation for a long while, not seeming to care that I’m on pins and needles waiting for her response. Then she sighs and leans forward in her seat with a very serious look on her face. “Nadia, I want you to consider the possibility that you might like this guy. Are you attracted to him?”
My eyes fall from hers and I feel my heart start to pound. Fuck.
“I…I…” I smooth my sweaty palms down the front of my pencil skirt. My head snaps up and I feel myself grow defensive. “Whether or not I’m attracted to him is irrelevant, Regina. What matters is that this is inappropriate.”
“Says who?” She challenges with a smart half-smile. There’s amusement jumping around in her eyes. “As far as you just told me, your boss practically tossed you into Harry’s big, strong, football-catching arms.”
“I don’t pay you to mock me,” I grumble.
She slowly wags her head. “You’re afraid of your feelings, Nadia. You view them as your enemy. As your weakness. I’d suggest that you begin questioning that stance.”
I get flashbacks to my relationship with Luke. I loved him and that clouded my judgment. When we were together, I put up with way more bullshit than I would have had I kept a level head during that relationship. I also let my feelings run amuck with Riggs. And that ended badly, too.
I fold my legs under me, settling into the leather couch, ready to be here for the long haul. I drop my face into my hands and groan. “Everything’s going to shit.”
All my carefully laid plans are being uprooted by that charming, persistent, too-damn-young-for-me footballer.
“Well, from my perspective, you need to learn to go with the flow sometimes, Nadia. This fake date could finally bring some fun into your life.” Her eyebrows dance as she does a weird little shimmy in her leather armchair.
“That doesn't sound like very therapist-y advice,” I inform her.
“Good,” Regina retorts with a laugh. “I’d rather keep it real with you than give you some canned, expected, bullshit advice.” She reaches out and lays a calming hand on my bouncing knee. “I want to see you thrive, Nadia. We both know you have the potential for a great love. You just need to give yourself permission to let your walls down.”
I breathe tremulously, letting her words sink in. I can’t do it. I can’t let my walls down, I can’t let Harry in. I have too much to lose. Can’t she see that?!
