The Hookup Handbook(19)
Right on cue, Helen swings open the door of the back office, her purse slung over her shoulder. “Well, it seems like they took to you like moths to a flame,” she says with a smile.
I smile shyly, pulling bobby pins from my hair until my neat ballet bun tumbles down into a mess of blond waves. “I think it went pretty well.”
“Pretty well?” She steps back, her hands resting on her slender hips. “I’ve never seen those girls so well behaved. They were acting like they won the ballet-teacher lottery.”
I watch my cheeks turn pink in the mirrored walls. I’m the one who feels like she hit the jackpot with this job. I’m so glad Case pushed me to take this interview. Where would I be without him?
But I don’t say all this to Helen. Instead, I just smile and thank her for the opportunity.
“I’m the one who should be thanking you,” she says. “Really. Case knew what he was talking about when he said you were one in a million.”
If I wasn’t pink enough before, now I’m giving bubble gum a run for its money. Did Case really say that about me?
Before I can ask, Helen unclips a ring of keys from her waistband and holds them out to me. “Would you mind locking the place up? I’ve got to pick up my daughter from dance-team practice.”
I grab the keys from her, eager to take on any responsibility I can. “Absolutely. I can lock up every week, if you want.”
Helen smiles. “Add filing paperwork to that, and we can give you an extra stipend as a business manager.”
“I’m in. See you Thursday.”
The second the door clicks shut behind her, I twirl into a pirouette of joy. This job couldn’t possibly be any better.
I rush over to my phone and have my thumb hovering right over Case’s contact when I remember our little episode from earlier today. Was he actually pissed off, or had he just had enough of me teasing him?
Choosing not to risk it, I open my music app instead. I’ve got the whole studio to myself and no plans for the rest of the evening. Let’s see if these old ballet slippers can still work their magic.
As the piano music begins, I take my place in the middle of the floor. Watching my reflection move along to the music, I turn and leap through the air as though I were weightless. With every fouetté turn, I feel more and more at home.
This is it. Finally, my work is lining up with what I love. I can’t believe I ever let my body stand in the way of this.
The thought puts an unexpected knot in my stomach, enough to make me stop mid-turn.
My body standing in the way of doing what I love. That’s exactly how Case must feel.
Chapter Nine
Case
I hit SAVE in my document, sitting up straight and stretching my back, a big smile on my face.
Ten chapters done now, and I’m damn proud of them—and that’s only since Sienna’s been here. She might be a pain in the ass sometimes, but damn, that girl knows how to set up a writing schedule and hold me to it.
Ten chapters down, ten to go, and I’ve got over two weeks left to finish. The book I’ve been trying to write for months now is finally coming together, and honestly? There’s no way I’d be where I’m at now without Sienna.
Speak of the sexy devil herself.
Sienna walks into my office in a tight navy-blue skirt and a tweed jacket, flashing me a smile as Ryder saunters in behind her, his crisp paisley button-down tucked into a pair of perfectly tailored baby-blue polyester slacks.
“Glad to see Ms. Swanson’s demands are as detailed as ever.” I smile, nodding at Ryder’s brightly colored outfit.
He shakes his head, smoothing the front of his shirt. “Not going to lie, these outfits always make me feel like her five-year-old son on Easter morning.” He smirks.
Sienna crinkles her nose and shakes her head, but Ryder and I just laugh.
“Come on now, don’t tell me you’re kink-shaming your brother’s client.”
“I would never. Would you, Case?” She raises a challenging brow at me.
“The clothes don’t stay on for long. And it’s not an incest fetish; Case was kidding. Let’s just say her kinky interests lie . . . elsewhere.” Ryder motions to the shiny white belt around his waist.
“I don’t want to know,” Sienna says, raising her hands and turning to her computer.
“Just make sure you have a clear conversation beforehand with her about what is and isn’t on the table. We don’t want a lawsuit on our hands.”
Ryder rolls his eyes at me. “Dude, I’m a professional. This isn’t my first rodeo.”
When he’s sure Sienna isn’t looking, he mouths “you need to get laid” at me, thrusting his hips in an exaggerated way.
You wouldn’t be saying that if you knew who my dick wanted.
I roll my eyes back at him, but he just laughs.
“All right, you two, I’ve got to get going. Can’t be late for my date with Mommy,” he says, winking at Sienna.
She cringes and fake vomits into the wastebasket by her desk.
“Well, that’s one way to start the day.” I chuckle, shaking my head and watching Ryder walk down the hallway to the living room.
“I’m already trying to forget it, and you should too. You’ve got another chapter and a half to write today.”