The Randy Romance Novelist(68)
I smiled down at Rosie, who seemed shocked by Eric’s assessment. “I’m well aware Rosie is too good for me, but I will hold on for as long as she will let me.”
“Well, if that’s the case,” Eric grabbed Rosie’s arm and pulled her into his side. She winced and side stepped quickly, keeping her legs glued together. What the hell was she doing? “Cut ties with him now, sweetheart.”
Playing into Eric’s game, Rosie looked me up and down. “I don’t know; I might get a little more use out of him, but when I’m done, I’ll be sure to call you.”
A flirtatious wink was exchanged between Rosie and Eric, and even though I knew they were playing around, it still grated on my nerves.
“Good to know, I’ll be waiting.” Changing the subject, Eric gestured to the room. “Have you been able to take a look at Henry’s campaign for Legacy condoms? He did a great job.”
Rosie gave me a surprised look. “I haven’t actually. Is that what you’ve been working so hard on? A condom campaign?”
I pulled on my collar. “Yeah, it’s been interesting.”
Eric looked between us . . . Rosie’s face unable to read, mine, terrified that she might blow up. She was so unpredictable.
Reading the tension well, Eric said, “Ah, does this awkward silence have to do with Tasha?”
“What about her?” Rosie snapped her attention to Eric. Sweat started to pour out of my armpits by the liter.
Rosie was breathing down Eric’s neck, looking for answers, and I could tell that he immediately regretted his interference with the conversation. I tried to pull on Rosie’s hand, to remind her that we were in public, at a work event, and to try to hold in the cray cray for at least an hour, but she smacked my hand away and stared Eric down.
“Uh, just that she works here. Nothing happened between her and Henry, if that’s what you’re asking.”
Like that didn’t sound completely guilty, even though it was the truth.
“Nothing happened, huh?” Rosie asked, hand on her hip.
I shook my head, trying to hold it together. “Nothing. I don’t even know why Eric would bring that up. Seriously, why?” I asked, looking at him, trying to shame him with my eyes for breaking guy code. Always be cool around each other’s ladies. I was by no means guilty of anything, but Eric implying that nothing happened between me and Tasha, only made a suspicious woman even more suspicious.
“I say stupid things in awkward silences,” he answered honestly. He turned to Rosie and grabbed her hand in his. “Seriously, Rosie. I know there was history between Henry and Tasha, but I want you to know, Henry has been nothing but professional in the workplace. He is kind of obsessed with you, talks about you all the time while at work. He’s a valuable asset to the firm, and I wouldn’t want to see pieces of his body thrown through a wood chipper because you got the wrong impression.”
Not the smoothest backpedaling, but it did the trick, because Rosie visibly relaxed.
“How did you know wood chipper would be my destruction of choice?”
Eric laughed. “You seem like a girl who wouldn’t want to leave any trace behind.”
“You’re right,” she pointed at him with a wink.
This whole conversation was entirely too disturbing.
“All right, well on that note, glad to know I won’t be found when murdered by my girlfriend, but I’m going to show her around. Excuse us, Eric.”
“By all means, brag away.”
I linked Rosie’s hand with mine, connecting our palms so I could feel her warmth, and started to walk her around the room, and when I say walk, I mean shuffle.
Not wanting to embarrass her, in case her vagina was itching or something—I had no clue what went on with pregnant women—I quietly asked once again if she was okay.
“I’m fine. Why do you keep asking?”
“You’re walking weird,” I pointed out the obvious.
“This is how I walk. Don’t you find it sexy?” She bit her bottom lip and shook her head at me, as if she was trying to be a tempting lioness; instead, it looked like she had an overbite and a spasm in her neck.
How was I supposed to answer that question? Did I find her shuffling sexy? Well, did I want my penis ripped off in the middle of a work event, or did I want to lie to her just so she could continue to shuffle and look weird? Hmm . . . protecting my penis or protecting her image.
I liked my dick.
“It’s just different, that’s all,” I answered, hiding the wince that wanted to cross my features.
“That’s because I’m holding . . .”
“Bro-logna sandwich!” Freddy interrupted Rosie, slapping me on the back. “I didn’t know you were bringing the old ball and chain with you. You lucky dog.” He playfully punched my side, and in return, I refrained from punching him in the jugular.
“Rosie, this is Freddy. Freddy, please don’t touch my girlfriend; say hi with just a wave.”
“Henry,” Rosie scolded. I didn’t care. I didn’t want Freddy anywhere near Rosie. He was a giant creep, and I wouldn’t put it past him to “accidently” trip and wind up head first in Rosie’s cleavage.
“He’s just playin’, babe,” Freddy said, grating on my nerves. This entire night was annoying me, and I was pretty sure it was because Rosie was looking fine as f*ck and every man in the room knew it.