Page 48 of Sincerely Not Yours

“I—” The twinkle returned to her sweet eyes. “If I’m going to be your date for the ball . . . I might need to go dress shopping tonight.”

Harris grinned. “I can coordinate that. Is that a yes?”

Gigi nodded, her head bobbing up and down excitedly. “Yes, I’d love that.”

A wave of adrenaline washed through him, and Harris couldn’t stop his impulse. His fingers gently lifted her chin, tilting her beautiful face up so he could dive straight into her eyes. He leaned in, the need to kiss her overpowering, but just as their lips were about to meet, a lurking figure behind Gigi caught his attention.

Glancing up, Harris froze when he discovered his father standing a few strides away, watching and judging.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Everything had been perfect—Harris’s reaction to the window display, his invitation to the Christmas ball, the fireworks that had exploded in her chest when he leaned in for a kiss. But just when she expected his lips to brush hers, he’d pulled away. His dreamy gaze vanished, replaced with a seriousness that stilled her.

Harris stepped back, clearing his throat. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. This is a work event.”

Gigi’s brain malfunctioned, glitching like a broken computer. It took a few seconds to process the change in Harris, but she ultimately managed a nod. “Yes, of course.” She forced a smile, despite the confusion swirling inside her.

Harris searched her gaze for a second longer, as if gauging her reaction. “The event’s about to start. We should head inside.”

“Don’t want to be late,” she replied, forcing robotic cheer.

As she mulled over what had just happened, Harris guided her through the crowd and into Macy’s. He kept his hand on her lower back, which confused her even more. She couldn’t deny he was right. They shouldn’t be kissing at a work event, but what had stopped him at the last moment? Did he regret asking her on a date? Had the reality of them together suddenly jumped up and slapped him in the face? Or was he simply trying to be responsible?

Inside, the store was full of last-minute shoppers. The buzz of chatter and Christmas music surrounded them. It was no place to instigate a serious conversation with Harris. Instead, she bit her tongue and followed him into an elevator. They ended up on opposite sides, packed in like sardines, but Gigi still had a direct line of sight to Harris. He looked like a statue—stoney and sullen. Was he even blinking? He avoided eye contact with her completely, and by the time they reached the seventh floor, Gigi was as tightly wound as spooled thread.

Once off the elevator, they moved past displays of candy and chocolates, stopping under the arched entrance to The Walnut Room, the department store’s historic restaurant, where the brunch would take place. Harris turned to her, and Gigi hoped he’d address the sudden change in his demeanor. Instead, he went straight to work talk.

“Do you need any help with the product display?” he asked.

She shook her head. The floor below her heels felt unsteady. “No, it’s all taken care of.”

“Okay, I’m going to head in for brunch then. I’ll see you afterwards, right?”

“Sure,” she replied, not sure what he truly meant. He’d see her later, after work, when he could go back to the man she was falling in love with?

Harris gave her a flat, unconvincing smile before walking away. As he disappeared into the restaurant, Gigi couldn’t helpacknowledging their stark differences. Harris wasn’t just her boss. He was a man from a world of wealth and privilege. He was joining his family, to mingle with board members and other business owners, likely to sip champagne and nibble appetizers. Meanwhile, she’d be working, representing his family’s company. The disparity between their lives seemed to widen with each step he took from her.

With a sigh, Gigi turned away. Could they honestly make a go of this? Was she out of her mind, thinking they could blossom into real life? Was she only entertaining Harris until he went back to New York?

Wanting to stop the tornado of doubt, Gigi headed into The Walnut Room, toward the retail area in the center, which was set up around the base of the restaurant’s towering, iconic Christmas tree. The forty-five-foot tree nearly touched the ceiling of the two-story space. White lights, glittering ornaments, and silky white-and-gold ribbon adorned it. The base was trimmed with life-size nutcrackers and shiny presents. Usually, it took Gigi’s breath away, but at the moment, she couldn’t appreciate its beauty.

Plastering on a smile, she weaved through product displays, finding the table she’d set up with SheTime’s Christmas Collection. She tidied it, angling every box just right. Then she chatted with the other vendors, trying to immerse herself in the festive spirit. But her mind kept deceiving her, drifting back to Harris. She couldn’t help glancing around the restaurant and into the crowd, unsuccessfully looking for Harris amongst the white linen tables and dark-wood paneling.

Was he thinking of her too?

Thankfully, shoppers quickly filed in, distracting Gigi. She got swept into greeting customers, helping them select products, and pointing them toward the registers. Minutes stretched into an hour, and when there was a slight lull, Gigi went to find aMacy’s associate. The gift sets were selling quickly, and she’d need more brought in, but as she wound her way to the front of the restaurant, a familiar voice caught her attention. She stopped in her tracks and quickly discovered the source. Just a stone’s throw away, Harris and his father were talking. They stood in the hallway off the main entrance. Harris’s back was to her. His tone was low, and Mr. Ryan’s expression could’ve peeled paint from the wall.

Startled, she took a step back, hiding behind a column. She was just about to backtrack when she caught a snippet of their exchange.

“. . . your proposal to dissolve SheTime,” Harris’s father said, his voice filled with determination and finality. “I agree with it. It’s the right answer. The numbers just don’t support keeping the division going.”

Gigi’s breath hitched. Her heart stopped. What were they talking about? Dissolving SheTime?

Numbly, Gigi stepped closer to the edge of the column, her ears straining to hear more.

“Did you read my entire proposal?” Harris replied, his tone tight. “I don’t think—”

“Yes, I read the entire thing,” his father interrupted. “We can’t keep sinking money into a failing venture. It’s better to cut our losses now.”

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