Rebound (Boomerang #2)(34)



Philippe and Paolo show up, and they look just as excited about Brooks as the girls do. For a few seconds, it’s like a mime show outside. Everyone talking animatedly, hands flapping around.

“Looks like marketing has the floor,” Rhett says, standing. He glances at me, giving me back the pointed look I sent him a moment ago. “Oh, Alison, I almost forgot. I just saw Cookie in the elevator. She told me to tell you that your dating pool has been refreshed. I think she spent a lot of time over the weekend finding good matches for you, in case you were going to get around to them.”

Touché. Rhett—and Cookie—are fighting back.

“All you have to do is log in and pick your date,” he continues. “I really hope you meet someone nice and have a great time with it. Even though I know you’re really here to get a handle on Adam’s business.”

Rhett cringes, realizing what he just said. It’s an apocalyptic slip for the guy. Just a tragic choice of words, and I pray to every god there is that I won’t start laughing.

Ali meets my eyes. Her smile is genuine and open.

She’s enjoying this as much as I am.

“Thanks, Rhett,” she says. “I’m sure it’ll be fun.”





Chapter 19



Alison


Out in the hallway, Philippe and Paolo engage in animated discussion about the latest episode of Fargo. I watch for a moment, awed by how well Philippe fits in with everyone, how smoothly he ingratiates himself. That we brought in leftover swag bags from one of my mother’s recent events for the Boomerang staff to pick through this morning only sweetens the pot.

Paolo straightens Philippe’s collar while they speak, which makes me wonder if there’s a possible connection there. They seem cut from the same cloth—adorable, fashion-forward and, from what I’ve seen of Paolo so far, they have similar keen but fun-loving dispositions. Philippe is single and pretty much open to anything with anyone. I make a note to get the scoop on Paolo.

Even though Boomerang has a strict no-dating policy within the office, I decide that “visiting executives”—to use Rhett’s phrase—don’t count. All of which brings me right back to Adam, to our night together, and to the fact that I have to get close enough to dig for information from him while keeping enough distance between us to protect my heart.

I’m twenty-two, and already I feel like the real world’s too much to handle.

Philippe catches my eye and gestures for me to come join him. Excited chatter rises around us, like an ice cream truck’s due to come down the hall any moment.

In the conference room, I slide in close to Philippe, who gives me a sharp elbow nudge, meant to serve as a greeting.

“How’s it going in there with Mr. Mysterioso?”

“Just fine.”

He quirks an eyebrow but says nothing. I reach for the pitcher in front of us and pour us both glasses of water.

“How’s it going over there?” I whisper, nodding in Paolo’s direction.

Philippe shrugs. “Taken, I think. But I’ve got my hands full with you, anyway.”

“Yes. I know how high-maintenance I am.”

He’s kidding, but his comment stings a little. I’m conscious that he’s had to take care of me this last year. That he’s the one who stayed after I drove off all my other friends. He picked me up when I needed it, and I needed it a lot.

Rhett, Mia, Adam, and a couple of others take seats. Mia smiles at me, and I ask how she’s feeling.

“Much better on dry land,” she says.

Brooks—Adam’s producer friend—comes into the room, and all attention shifts to him, like he’s a magnet to our metal shavings. He’s husky, with a broad forehead, thick brown hair, and five o’clock shadow that looks like it begins coming in around noon. He also has thoughtful brown eyes, and a dazzling smile that puts half the room in his pocket before he’s uttered a word.

Adam stands before a wide-screen monitor set into the wall. “All right, gang,” he says, and in an instant it’s like Brooks has disappeared. Everyone’s focus shifts right to him, and he seems so easy with it. No, he seems entitled to it.

For about the twentieth time today, I find myself admiring the tailored lines of his clothes, the way they encase his elegant, powerful body. Like they’re a container for his boundless energy and confidence. It’s like he’s more alive than most of us, somehow, and the clothes are there to give us a fighting chance of functioning in his presence. But that perception could be mine alone.

He continues. “I wanted you all in here so you can take part in what’s going to be a historic event—the launch of Blackwood Entertainment as a full-scale film and television studio, starting with this teaser for the first feature we plan to make.”

Adam explains that in the future, casting will be done by casting directors, the same way they are for commercials they’ve made for the website. But today, he tells us, he wants his team around him.

“Besides, it’s fun!” Pippa says, and everyone laughs.

Adam grins. “Definitely. And you know I want that to always be the case. We work hard, and we play hard, right?”

Cheers and applause come from everyone at the table.

“Yeah, we do,” Rhett exclaims with his usual exuberance.

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