Rascal (Rascals Book 1)(69)

“Since three-piece suits aren’t as popular in the States, we’re really going to need our marketing team to help sell our new line,” Justin was saying.

I was paying attention but I was also watching his mouth. Because what a mouth it was. The kind of mouth that looked like it could kiss you senseless.

Which is exactly what I needed.

It had been a really long time since I had been on a date, let alone been kissed. And I don’t even want to think about how long it’s been since I engaged in other, more naked activities.

Too damn long.

It wasn’t that I didn’t try. I did. Because I believe in Love, with a capital ‘L’. Like, the kind of love that gives you butterflies in your stomach and weak knees, and drives men with guitars to croon romantic ballads. An epic, world-shattering ‘love at first sight’ kind of love.

Unfortunately, that kind of love seemed to be a one-way street right about now. Because I had been head over heels crazy about Justin since the first moment I spotted him, I just couldn’t seem to hold his attention long enough for him to fall for me, too.

“Where are we on the publicity schedule?”

I blinked, discovering that Justin was staring at me. His eyes were so blue. Like the ocean – a stormy, tropical tide…

“Kelsey?” he asked and I realized that he had asked me a question.

And I was just staring. Hopefully not drooling.

I quickly wiped my chin – no drool, thankfully – and cleared my throat. “I’ll have a copy for you first thing in the morning,” I told him, smiling. “Just confirming with a few outlets before I send the schedule out to the team.”

He nodded, and his attention refocused elsewhere.

I let out a breath, my heart pounding. He had that effect on me. Even when I thought I was prepared – or accustomed – to that stare of his, I still found myself breathless whenever I was on the other end of it.

Not that he noticed. Once, I’d seen him looking at me all through a meeting on the fall men’s line, and my heart had beat right out of my chest. Finally! But it turned out, I just had some of my morning spinach smoothie stuck between my teeth. Not exactly romantic.

“Nice work everyone,” he said, ending the meeting. I had almost forgotten that there were other people in the room.

“God, he’s so cute,” my co-worker Trish commented after Justin left.

I nodded, gathering up my things, but doing it slowly because I knew that if there was any new gossip about Justin, Trish would be the one to have it. She was the best work-wife a gal could ask for.

“I heard he broke up with Lulu,” she said, and my head jerked up.

Bingo.

“Really?” I asked, hope rising in my chest.

Lulu was the latest model that had snagged Justin’s attention, and it had lasted four months, which was pretty decent for Justin. It wasn’t that he was a playboy or a manwhore, or anything, he was just busy. And a lot of women didn’t seem to understand that.

I understood it completely.

“That’s too bad,” I said blandly.

Trish laughed. “Yeah, you seem really upset about it.”

I shrugged, trying to hide my smile. “I just want him to be happy.”

“Mmhmm,” Trish gave me a knowing look. “And you think he would be happiest with you.”

I hit her on the arm. “Shhh,” I looked around, hoping that no one had overheard us.

Trish might know about my long-standing crush on Justin, but that didn’t mean I wanted the whole office to know. Because I certainly didn’t want Justin to find out. I couldn’t imagine anything more embarrassing.

“Oh, come on,” Trish put her hands on my shoulders. “When are you going to get off the sidelines and get into the game?”

“You know sports metaphors aren’t really my thing,” I reminded her.

She rolled her eyes. “Just ask him out,” she told me.

I stared at her. “You’re kidding, right?”

Trish sighed. “Ok, I know you’d never do it, but come on Kelsey! You can’t keep waiting around and hoping Justin will notice you. You need to make it happen. You need to make him pay attention.”

It wasn’t the first time Trish had given me a variation on this speech. But then again, Trish looked like one of the models that Justin preferred – she was tall and fair with a head of gorgeous red hair. She looked like Ariel from The Little Mermaid, while I could give the sea witch, Ursula, a run for her money. One of the many reasons I never wore purple.

“He’ll see me when he’s ready to see me,” I said, eliciting a groan from Trish.

“Might help if you wore something a little more attention-getting,” she commented.

I looked down at my outfit. I was wearing a cute print shirt-dress with buttons up the front, with a pink cardigan to guard against the icy office AC, And when I had left for work this morning, I had thought that I looked pretty good.

“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?” I asked.

“There’s nothing wrong with it,” Trish told me. She gave me a once over. “It’s just not exactly sexy.”

“You want me to wear a mini-skirt and crop top to the office?” I laughed.

“No, but you could wear stuff that hugs your figure more,” she said thoughtfully.