Page 41 of Ten Rules for Faking It
Everly laughed, pressing a hand to her stomach so it didn’t jostle around inside. Shewasa lightweight. “That’s gross.”
The buzzer to her apartment sounded, and she rolled to her side too quickly, which made her groan. “Forgot to say Chris is dropping by.”
Stacey bounced up. “Perfect. Any more than two and it’s the start of a party. Your favorite. I’ll get it. You get up and help me put this shit away.”
“Yes, Mom,” she called, throwing her arm over her face and not moving.
She wanted to have a little nap. Stacey and Chris could figure out what to do about Simon. She’d just follow their lead.God, wouldn’t it be great if I could actually release control like that? You don’t need to let go of the control—you need to take it.She sighed. Her mildly drunk self was right. She needed to be in charge of what came next. Other than putting her clothes away and figuring out something for dinner.
“Spring cleaning,” she heard Stacey say.
“It looks like spring threw up. I’ve never seen you in anything other than black and gray.”
That wasn’t entirely true. He’d seen her the other night after her date.
Everly slowly uncovered her eyes, her stomach rolling for an entirely different reason now. One she didn’t want to examine right this minute.
Chris’s voice was thick with amusement. “Who knew you had this much color in your wardrobe.”
“Hi.”
Chris stopped where Stacey had, in the doorway of her bedroom, surveying her space. His hair was windblown, and hewore a dark T-shirt and jeans. He looked good. He looked relaxed, but he must be here for a reason.Why are you not freaking out over what the reason could be?
“Hi.” Their eyes met and held. A shiver zipped through her body like lightning. There and gone in the blink of an eye. She didn’t blink. She just stared.
“Fascinating conversation, but I’m going to go make Two Drinks Max here some coffee.”
Chris chuckled, and Everly’s eyes moved down to his throat to watch the way it moved with his laughter. She liked the sound of it. Had she ever noticed that about a man before? She thought about Owen’s smile from the other night. He’d had a nice laugh, hadn’t he? Or had she been too nervous to realize?
“Wouldn’t have pegged you as a lightweight,” he said, moving farther into the room.
Like the earth jolted a little, Everly’s head spun, and it wasn’t the booze. There was something surreal, almost dreamlike, about Chris Jansen, Mr. Suit and Tie, who’d barely spoken to her over the last year, standing in her bedroom. More incredible? She wasn’t panicked. When had that happened? She continued to stare, waited for the bubbles of anxiety to hit the surface. All she felt, though, was disappointment that she probably looked like a bigger mess than her room. She realized too late that all her clothes were on display, and some of them were not ones she wanted to share with this man.
As if he’d read her mind and had a sixth sense, his eyes flitted about and landed on her Care Bears T-shirt. The one that readGRUMPY IN THE MORNING—LOVE-A-LOT AT NIGHT. The two respective bears sat with their backs to each other. Chris bit his lip, but it didn’t hide his smile.
She jackknifed, pulling herself up, and reached out to snag it from its pile.
His laughter did funnier things to her stomach than the vodka.Not unpleasant things.
“Cute,” he said, grinning at Everly.
Everly stood up, hoping her cheeks weren’t blazing pink. Itwasa cute shirt, and it was cozy. “What are you doing here?”
Chris frowned. “Could we have this conversation in your living room or kitchen?”
Everly nodded and then followed behind him, wondering why she’d never noticed how good he looked in jeans before.
He doesn’t wear jeans to work, and you generally resist staring at your boss’s ass.Not just because he was her boss either. Memories of the other night came back to her, and her cheeks felt like they caught fire. Good thing she’d capped her list at ten or she’d have to add: No lusting after off-limits men who make you feel off balance, especially when they are in charge of your career. Without a limit, it would have been a very long list.
Shewasa wimp. Two coolers and now she was all brain-fuzzy over Chris Jansen? Good thing she had another date coming up tomorrow.
Still holding her Care Bears shirt, Everly took a seat on her couch. Stacey was curled up on a chair. Chris walked to the window and looked out, his square jaw set tight.Did he hear Simon on the air? He must have. Was he mad? I didn’t do anything!
“Coffee is almost ready,” Stacey said.
Everly’s manners kicked in belatedly. “Chris, do you want a cup?”
He didn’t look at her when he declined. When he shared a look with Stacey, she felt like she’d taken a punch to the stomach. What were they communicating with unspoken words?
