Faking Ms. Right (Dirty Martini Running Club, #1)(51)

Which meant I was a total mess today.

He’d been up for a conference call with someone in New York when I’d left this morning. When he’d come into the office, he’d said good morning as he walked by my desk. To anyone looking, nothing would have seemed different. But I’d noticed. He’d paused, just the slightest hesitation, and met my eyes. The corner of his mouth had turned up and one of his dimples had puckered.

Quick as it was, that look had made me blush furiously. I’d gathered up my notepad and a few files and followed him into his office, hoping no one had seen my crimson face.

By the way Steve kept looking at me across the aisle, I had a feeling he had.

The other thing on my mind was Annie. Regardless of whether Shepherd and I were just faking it with a side of hot sex, or something more, I couldn’t ask him to be her sperm donor. There was just no way. But I hated the idea of disappointing her.

I turned back to my computer, trying to put Shepherd—and sperm donations—out of my mind. But there he was, at the edge of my consciousness. That mouth. Those hands. That di—

“Everly,” Steve whispered.

I gasped, realizing he was standing next to my desk. “God, Steve, you scared me. Why are you whispering?”

He looked around cautiously, then leaned a little closer. “I just want you to know, your secret is safe with me.”

Oh no. “Um, what secret?”

“Your crush on Mr. Calloway.” His eyes flicked to Shepherd’s door. “You’re doing a pretty good job hiding it, but we’ve worked together long enough, I can tell.”

My crush? Well, he wasn’t wrong. I’d fallen head over heels for the man. But at least he didn’t seem to know the rest—especially that I was living with him, and that he’d fucked me senseless last night.

I figured the best thing to do was agree—fess up to crushing on my boss. Maybe that would satisfy Steve’s curiosity and keep him from asking too many awkward questions.

Putting a finger to my lips, I shushed him. “Quiet. It’s… complicated. And who could blame me? He’s spectacular.” Especially the way he gets all growly when he comes…

Focus, Everly.

Steve patted my shoulder. “It’s okay. It happens to most women here at some point. Frankly, I’m surprised you held out this long. Just don’t get yourself into trouble. I like you. I’d hate to see you go anywhere.”

“You don’t have to worry about me. It’s not a big deal at all.” Liar, liar, pants on fire.

He smiled and went back to his desk.

I took a deep breath. That had been the opposite of helpful. Now I really couldn’t concentrate. What had made Steve think I had a crush? Was I mooning over Shepherd when he walked by? Had it been the way I’d blushed earlier? Had he noticed me staring off into space, reliving the strange and wonderful evening I’d had last night?

Probably all of the above.

Thankfully I was meeting Nora and Hazel for lunch today. They’d help me get my head on straight.

After another mostly unproductive hour, Nora and Hazel came walking down the hallway toward my desk. Heads turned, my co-workers watching as they passed. Hazel, looking like a sexy librarian with her dark-rimmed glasses, blouse and pencil skirt. And Nora in a low-cut V-neck and high-waisted jeans that made her look like a vintage pinup model.

“You ready?” Nora asked when she got to my desk.

“Yes. Very.” I grabbed my purse. “What sounds good?”

Hazel opened her mouth to answer but stopped as Shepherd came out of his office.

He paused outside his door, his hand still on the handle. His gaze fell on me first, lingering there for a second longer than was strictly appropriate, given the intense heat in his eyes. Then he seemed to notice Nora and Hazel. His eyes swept over them before coming back to rest on me.

“Leaving for lunch?” he asked.

I cleared my throat and fumbled my purse, almost dropping it. “Um, yes. Lunch. With them. My friends.”

He nodded but didn’t walk by. He kept standing there, his eyebrows raised, as if he expected me to say something else.

Finally, he reached his hand out to Nora. “Shepherd Calloway.”

Nora shook his hand with a smile. “Nora Lakes. And this is Hazel Kiegen.”

I started sputtering as he shook Hazel’s hand. “Sorry. Right. Introductions. My girlfriends Nora and Hazel. But she said that already. So, yes, going to lunch with my friends. Who are these two, right here.”

“Nice to meet you both.” His gaze moved back to me, making my heart beat wildly in my chest. “Have a good time.”

“Thanks,” I managed to squeak out.

The corner of his mouth did that thing—the almost smile with the hint of dimple. With a brief nod to Nora and Hazel, he walked away.

It wasn’t until Nora cleared her throat that I realized I was watching his ass as he left.

“What?”

Nora crossed her arms. “Mm hmm.”

I glanced around, wondering who else had just witnessed me making a total fool of myself. Thankfully the only person nearby was Steve. He gave me an exaggerated wink.

Oh, lord. “Can we just go to lunch, please?”

Nora and Hazel shared a look. I knew that look. It meant I was about to face the inquisition.

We chose a restaurant a block from my building and went in. The hostess seated us and I hid behind my menu, hoping the fire in my cheeks would simmer down before the waitress came to take our orders.