Cover Girl. Nic Tatano
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“What expression?”
“The quivering lip, the little wobble in your voice that only I notice. You’re scared of her. Which means you like her. Luckily you had your ‘safe date’ on your arm or you would have been a shuddering lump of flesh. You’re smitten. And from the way she looked at you, I can tell the feeling is mutual.”
“You think so?”
“Yep. But the way she checked me out means you need to clear up something right away.”
“What’s that?”
“She thinks we’re a couple.”
“Why would she think that?”
“Duh-uh, you’re out to dinner with another woman. What the hell else is she supposed to think, especially with you putting your arm around me on the way back to the table?”
“Oh, shit. Why the hell did I do that?”
“Because, you clueless idiot, you love me like I love you and you’re an old-fashioned protective Boy Scout. But no big deal. Just make sure you let her know you’re unattached and we’re best buds. Or, if you want, I can time my trip to the ladies room when she goes. I can talk you up.”
He put up his hands. “Nah, then it sounds like a fix-up.”
“Don’t you want to be fixed up?”
“Yeah, but I don’t wanna scare her away. Besides, she might think there’s some sort of ‘conflict of interest’ thing since we’ll be working together.”
“Okay. But, seriously, when you get together tomorrow morning, make sure she knows I’m a platonic friend.”
“Suppose she doesn’t believe me?”
“Why wouldn’t she believe you, Alex?”
“Not too many guys have platonic friends who look like you.”
Juliette smiled and blushed a bit. “See, that’s the sweetness in you that women love. Trust me, she’ll trust you. And if not, I’ve got a backup plan I know will work.”
Keira looked up from her desk and saw Gretch’s disapproving expression. “What?”
“The first guy to ever work on a romance novel is coming in today, he’s got that ‘boy next door’ thing going you can’t resist, he was classy enough to send over a bottle of champagne last night, and that’s what you’re wearing?”
She looked down at her gray suit. “What’s wrong with it?”
Gretch sat on the edge of the desk. “What’s wrong with it is that you wear it here all the time. It screams corporate. Hell, it almost screams cat lady. All that’s missing is a pair of horn-rimmed glasses on a chain.” She tapped Keira on the head with a knuckle. “Earth to Keira! A man who you’re interested in will be here in an hour and a half—”
Keira pointed at Gretch’s ultra-conservative navy-blue dress, which was very out of character. “You’re not dressed to the nines. And I don’t think I’ve ever seen you with a hemline to the knee or something buttoned up to your neck. Did you go to an Amish festival?”
“Funny. Gretch is dressed in the dowdy collection because she is your loyal and trusted assistant who wants Alexander to notice you.”
“Where’d you get that thing? I know you didn’t buy it.”
“Borrowed it from a friend who works in a library. Highly unflattering, don’t you think? Anyway, my natural hotness doesn’t need to be a distraction, hence it remains under wraps.”
“I appreciate that, but c’mon, Gretch, he’s obviously off the market. What’s the point in getting all gussied up?”
“Because, McFly, as we discussed last night, the blonde might not be his girlfriend. Or even someone he dates.”
Keira shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. He’s out of my league.”
“Bullshit. I saw the way he looked at you, and you said you felt some chemistry at lunch yesterday.”
“Yeah, but—”
“Yeah but nothing.” Gretch got up, grabbed Keira’s arm and pulled her out of the chair. “Get your skinny ass home and put on that killer royal-blue dress you wore to the wedding last month.”
“That’s kinda fancy for work, don’t you think?”
“Have you seen how the rest of the office staff dressed today since they found out a man is coming by? It looks like the cattle call for the ‘Tits and Ass’ number in Chorus Line. Now, you live around the corner so you have no excuse for not going home and getting dolled up.” Gretch put her hand on Keira’s back and pushed her toward the door. “Go. Don’t come back until you look as hot as possible. Do something with your hair. And when he gets here I’m gonna clear up the mystery about the blonde first thing.”
“How are you gonna do that?”
“Trust me, boss. I know how to get information out of men.”
“Yeah, but we don’t have a bed in my office.”
“Very funny.” She pointed at the elevator. “Home. Now. Gussy up.”
Juliette ran her hands down the sleeves of his gray wool windowpane suit and patted Alex on the shoulders. “I pronounce you ready.” She looked up into his eyes. “However…”
“However…what?”
“You look nervous. You already got the check and can buy any midlife crisis convertible you want, so relax.”
He exhaled. “It’s not the book deal. It’s this whole deception thing. I just feel like it’s going to come back and bite me in the ass.”
“They bought your work, not your equipment. Trust me, when the publisher makes a fortune off the book they won’t care if you’re a cross-dressing hermaphrodite.”
“Still, it worries me. And…”
She nodded and smiled. “Ah, the redhead. I forgot how powerless you are around them. I do remember what you called them in college.”
“Kryptonite girls.”
“Well, relax, I could tell she likes you.”
“She looked at me more businesslike last night than she did at breakfast.”
“Because you had me on your arm. You tell her we’re platonic friends and the barrier will fall like the Iron Curtain.”
Keira watched the staff all snap to attention, smile and stand up straight like they were in Catholic school. The horde of short skirts, low-cut tops and stiletto heels parted like the Red Sea as a smiling Gretch led Alexander through the babe gauntlet to her office and left a dozen hanging jaws in their wake. Keira’s heart got caught on her tonsils as she stood to greet them. “Right on time,” she said. “We like people who respect deadlines.”
“When you work in TV, you can never be late,” he said, as he shook her hand.
“Can I get you anything?” asked Gretch. “We’ve got coffee, soda, and some killer cheese Danish this morning. Unless my boss ate them all.”
“Hey!”
He laughed. “I’m good.”
“Then I’ll leave you two to talk.” Gretch headed for the door, then stopped and turned back to face him. “Oh, Alexander, before I forget…”
“Yes?”
“This is probably a stupid question for a guy, but do you happen to know where your girlfriend got that dress?”
Keira’s eyes grew wide as her pulse spiked.