Or period. I’d wondered if she’d seen any of the early press about me and what she’d say, but while I didn’t do anything wrong by deciding to keep my job and my full identity closeto the chest since she’d done the same, I’d never anticipated actually having to explain.
“I’m sure,” she laughed, shaking her head. “This is my day job. I’m a writer for a PR agency when I’m not R.M. Dioro.”
“I never thought you had another job.”
“You saw me on a rare day off. This job pays the bills more than feeds my passion,” she said, flashing me a real smile, reminiscent of the ones from the day we’d first met. I remembered that smile, and that inclination to do anything just so I’d see it again pulsed in my fingers. But unlike our first meeting, I wasn’t free to give in.
Not here and not anywhere.
“Makes sense,” I finally said, my gaze snagging on that fucking beautiful mouth as she chewed on her bottom lip.
“And I didn’t know this wasyourjob,” she said with a little chuckle as she looked around. “Or what your old job was. Explains why you said you used to train so much and were so happy to be eating tacos.”
“Yes, I was. When you play, you have to stay in shape. This job suits me since managers can let themselves go a little.” I patted my stomach.
“You didn’t let yourself go, not even close,” Rachel said, her eyes darting to the floor for a minute before they came back to mine. “I mean… I don’t know what I meant.”
That adorable blush stained her cheeks as she ran a hand down her face. My gaze traveled over the V neck of her silk blouse as memories I shouldn’t have been entertaining right now—or at all—ran through my brain. How she tasted, the sounds she made. The sweet way she’d said not getting to know me had been my brother’s loss.
The odd but very strong pull between us was still there, but as we were both at work and being watched, there was nothing either of us could do about it.
“I was just as surprised as you probably were when I noticed you.” Her smile faded as her gaze came back to mine. “But we have to keep it professional because?—”
“No need to explain.” I held up a hand. “I get it. When can you meet?”
“Well,” she said on a long sigh. “Gayle is going to want to see a first draft very quickly. Would you be able to talk tomorrow?” She reached into her bag and pulled out a white card. “That’s my card with my cell and email. Send me some times you’d be available, and I can set us up with a video chat link.”
“I’m free tomorrow. What about meeting in person?”
What was I doing? Torturing myself, most likely. I wouldn’t take it any further than a conversation, but if Rachel fell back into my life, I couldn’t walk away again without knowing her. The real her, not just skimming the surface like we’d both done with each other that day.
Other than the sex. That was deep and raw and so unforgettable I could barely think of anything else.
“Um, sure. We could do that. I would have to figure out a few things at home to give you a time to be able to come back here.”
“What if I came to you?” I raised my hands when her eyes grew wide. “I mean, closer to your neck of the woods.”
Her lips curved when I gave her a smile.
“I live in Park Slope. It would probably be easier for you if I came?—”
“How about a nice public place where I could give you whatever you need from me over a decent meal? PR hasn’t made me New York famous yet. And I should get to know Brooklyn as much as I can.”
She studied me for a long moment before she nodded.
“We could do that. Do you like Chinese? There’s a great restaurant about a block away from me. We could talk, and then I could head home and start on your article right away.”
This was getting much too close for professional comfort. Why couldn’t I just agree to a video chat or have her come here?
Maybe it was the gentleman in me not wanting to inconvenience her, remembering how she took care of her sister while she worked what I now knew were two jobs.
Or it was the confused caveman in me who didn’t want to share her—at least this last time I’d get to talk to her. But you couldn’t share someone who wasn’t yours and whom you didn’t really know. After I’d learned just how much I didn’t know her, the best thing to do would be to keep it all business.
“I’ll text you when I get back to the office, and you can text me back with the address, if that’s okay with you.”
“Sure. And one thing, don’t be nervous.”
“Nervous?”
