Boyfriend for Hire(22)

I realize I want Nic to know how I’m feeling. Usually, I’m too afraid to discuss my emotions with a guy I don’t know very well, but I’m trying to be brave, and it’s now or never. I take a deep breath.

“Look, I don’t know if you’re looking for anything serious right now, and it’s totally fine if you’re not, but I have fun when I’m with you.” I say it quickly, before I lose my nerve. I watch Nic, trying to gauge his reaction.

“I wasn’t expecting you,” he says, his eyes searching mine. “I don’t know what I’m looking for, but I agree, I like being with you. Should we see where it goes?” His expression is relaxed, happy, his mouth quirking up in a half smile as he says this.

My face breaks into a grin, and I feel like jumping in the air and cheering. Instead, I give him a tight nod.

As I drive home and then make myself an early dinner, I’m practically giddy. Once I’ve eaten and before I get to work, I decide to text Christine.

Tell me everything you know about Nic.

Since Nic and I didn’t have sex, I technically kept my promise to Christine from Saturday night. If she asks, I won’t even have to lie.

Besides, I need to know more about him before this goes any further, because after today, I’m determined to get Nic in bed to finish what we started.





Chapter Ten


Nic



My alarm blares, waking me from the most restless night’s sleep I’ve had in a long time. I roll over and glare at the clock. Six thirty. Time to get up, brush my teeth, hit the gym, shower, and head to work. Just a day like any other.

Except no part of me wants to do any of that. The idea of entertaining any woman who’s not Elle makes me want to hit something.

I sit up with a groan and stretch my limbs. My head is screaming like I pounded half a bottle of Scotch last night, and my entire body aches. I’m not normally a stressed-out person. But lately it feels like every muscle in my body is on edge, tense and ready for a fight that may or may not be coming.

My phone chimes again, reminding me it’s time to leave for the gym. If I don’t make it out the door on time, my schedule for the day will be totally thrown off. Case isn’t happy when I show up late for work, but if I’m being honest with myself? I don’t give a rat’s ass about how Case feels right now.

After stumbling into the kitchen, I make myself a cup of coffee, rubbing my temples to soothe the headache. I blend my usual protein shake, adding an extra handful of wheatgrass for good measure. I’m trying to gear myself up for work when it hits me—I should just cancel. There’s no way I’ll be useful to anyone if I feel this shitty.

I dial Case’s number and bring my phone to my face, wedging it between my shoulder and ear as I pour my smoothie into a glass.

“Hey, dude, this is an early call for you. What’s going on?”

At least Case sounds like he’s in a good mood. For now.

“Hey, I just wanted to let you know I can’t come in today,” I say, keeping my voice low and gravelly. “I think I caught a twenty-four-hour bug or something, and I don’t want to get anyone else sick.”

It’s not a complete lie. I do feel like shit. It just might be more psychosomatic than I’m letting on.

“What the fuck, Nic? I had you slated to meet with two different clients later, plus a pre-screening interview this morning. How the fuck am I supposed to get one of the guys to cover on such short notice?”

“If you want me to infect all those nice women, I can push through it. I’m sure Jay from legal will be thrilled to hear you made that call.”

Case swears under his breath, and I can practically hear him pacing around his office. Jay is a buddy of his, and also an attorney who’s gotten Case’s company out of a jam a time or two.

“I don’t know what’s going on with you, Nic, but you know I count on you. Please tell me this has nothing to do with that girl from the other night.”

Low blow.

“It’s nothing like that, I swear. I just need a day to make sure I’m not contagious.”

“Fine. But I’ll need you to pick up a few more clients this weekend. Maybe even a double shift.”

I sigh and pinch the bridge of my nose. This conversation really isn’t helping the feeling like my head is about to explode. “Sure, whatever you need. Listen, I have to go. I think I’m about to upchuck this smoothie.”

“Yeah, whatever, asshole. Thanks for royally screwing me over today.”

Thanks, dude. Hope you have a good day too.

I hang up and toss my phone on the couch with more force than necessary. I know I should feel worse about lying to my boss, but I have too many other things to worry about to let that weigh me down.

Well . . . one other thing.

Elle.

Our coffee date yesterday was incredible. Part of me was hoping that seeing her outside of work, during the day, would break the spell. That we would meet up and the spark would be gone, the magic of a wedding weekend faded.

But the moment I saw her sitting at that table, a smile spreading across her face as she saw me, I knew that would never happen. Our connection wasn’t about the circumstances, although I’m sure the fact that she thought I was an old friend of a friend helped. But despite all that, the meet-up went way better than I thought it would. And that just makes everything more complicated.