Page 22 of Just for Her
Chapter Nine: Allison
Ibit my lip and appearedto consider it as I slid behind the wheel, but that was only to keep from appearing too eager.
“I’d pay you for your time, of course,” he said, as ifthatwere what was giving me pause.
Hell, I’d do it for free. I loved creating organization out of chaos. And bonus: I’d get to spend the day with Paul Cerasino.
“I suppose I could do that,” I said calmly, but inside, I was doing a series of fist pumps.
“Great. Will eight o’clock work for you?”
“Perfect. See you then.” I started the car, anticipation bubbling inside me. I took a moment to surreptitiously appreciate the view as he was walking away.
“I think someone likes you,” Miriam sang softly.
“It’s not like that.”
“Are you kidding? The air was practically cracking between you two.”
The possibility that those tingles I’d been feeling weren’t wholly one-sided was a thrilling one, but unlike my romance-loving sister, I lived in the real world.
Was Paul Cerasino a hot, successful, intelligent, golden-hearted Italian Stallion? Absolutely.
Was I—a healthy, young single woman who valued those qualities—attracted to him? One hundred percent.
Were we going to spend a few hours together, fall in love, and indulge in a torrid, steamy love affair? Hardly.
“Save it for your stories,” I said on an exhale, ignoring my body’s response to that last thought, which, unfortunately, was accompanied by images of hot office-desk sex. “He’s just in a bind—that’s all. His receptionist is out and he fired his assistant earlier today.”
We pulled up in front of Miriam’s apartment building. Despite the unseasonably warm evening, a chill ran up and down the length of my spine as we got out of the vehicle. I held back and looked around but saw nothing unusual as we entered the building.
“Why did he fire his assistant?” Miriam asked over her shoulder.
I didn’t want to go into detail about Stella’s territorial behavior, especially with Miriam waxing romantic notions about Paul and me. Besides, my theories were based primarily on supposition, not hard evidence.
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess she wasn’t doing a very good job.”
“And suddenly, you appear, just when he needs you most.” She grinned. “It’s fate.”
“Enough,” I said irritably.
I reminded her that I wasn’t going to be around long enough to think about starting anything, and that I was only taking him up on his offer because I liked keeping busy. She wisely said no more on the subject, but her eyes were twinkling when she wished me sweet dreams a short while later.
* * *
