Page 27 of Sincerely Not Yours

“You feisty little thing.” Gigi’s voice came out strained and a little too bright.

“Jealous cause we weren’t paying attention to you?” Harris asked the kitten, and Gigi forced a smile. She was thankful he’d stepped back because of cat claws, not because of her. Still, there was a palpable awkwardness now hanging in the air.

What had just happened? Would Harris have kissed her if Rudy hadn’t innocently interrupted? Or was she misreading him?

Regardless, the spell was broken. The moment lost. The warmth of Harris’s touch faded as quickly as it had come.

Wanting to erase the awkwardness, Gigi turned and went back to chopping the celery. “Almost done here.” She sang her words. “What’s the status on the broth?”

Harris cleared his throat and stepped over to the stove. “It’s simmering,” he replied, like they hadn’t just devoured each other with their eyes. Gigi took that as a cue.

“Perfect timing,” she said, referring to the broth, not the rampant feelings brewing inside her. Picking up the cutting board, she carried it to the pot and swiped in all the veggies.Then she added a dash of salt, put on the lid, and took a hefty sip of her wine.

“Can you point me to your bathroom?” She needed a few minutes to pull herself together.

“Just down the hall. First door on the right,” Harris replied, and Gigi retreated. Once she was behind a closed door, she yanked her phone from her pocket and immediately tapped out an SOS to her friends.

Gigi: I almost just kissed my boss.

In a matter of seconds, Paige and Alice came to her rescue.

Paige: I have so many questions. How did you ALMOST kiss your boss?

Alice: We need to FaceTime you...now!

Gigi: I can’t! I’m in his bathroom...

Paige: Again...SO MANY QUESTIONS!

Alice: In his bathroom? Like at his house??

Gigi: I couldn’t get an Uber. His place was a few blocks from the event. Now I’m snowed in at my boss’s house and we’re making Nonna’s Italian Penicillin.

Alice: OMG! You’re cooking together and watching the snow fall? No wonder you almost kissed!

Paige: Did you WANT him to kiss you??

Gigi’s fingers itched to respond with “yes!” immediately. She clenched them into a fist at the impulse.

Gigi: I think so. I don’t know. I mean . . . yes. But that’s crazy, right? He’s my boss. I can’t just go around kissing him! That’s such a bad idea . . . right? Someone tell me what to do!

Paige: Hmmm . . . I thought he was a grumpy grinch that was blowing up your life and didn’t understand women? If so, please don’t kiss him.

Gigi: I’ve gotten to know him better. He’s actually really sweet. And funny.

Plus, he’s dreamy, thoughtful, sexy, and has gotten his life together, Gigi thought, glancing around his guest bathroom. A fluffy hand towel was perfectly folded and hung. Charcoal-gray soap and lotion bottles complemented the accent tiles in the waterfall shower behind her. Reaching out, Gigi pulled open a sink drawer, searching for anything that would expose Harris’s downfalls. Instead, she found a tidy organization of miniature toiletries for guests.

Gigi froze, staring at the selection of toothpaste tubes and shampoos. Her last boyfriend’s bathroom had housed stinky towels and random, unmatched socks. Harris was a grown man with his life figured out.

Paige: Are you sure? The last few guys you dated were jerks. I don’t trust your man-radar. We need to meet him before you kiss him.

Alice: Kiss him . . . PLEASE! I want to hear all the details at Yappy Hour! You’re snowed in with Mr. Sea-Glass Eyes. Live your life! Somebody needs to! I’m watching reruns ofGolden Girlsand knitting a cat toy for Tux.

Gigi: You’re right.

Paige: Me or Alice?!

Alice: Get to kissing!!

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