P.S. I went to brunch with Dillon on Sunday and then wecaught a movie. I can take breaks. I’m the best at taking breaks. What did youdo?
“You’re smiling atyour phone again,” Vera pointed out.
I cleared my throatand wiped the goofy look off my face. “Am I?”
“What is going onwith you?” she demanded.
“Nothing.”
“Don’t play coywith me, Molly Maverick. If there’s a man in your life, I should be the firstone to know about him. Maybe even before you do!”
I rolled my eyesand looked at Vann for support, but he was as curious as his sister. We steppedup in line at the café that was teaming with protein-shake drinking crazies.
“It’s a workemail,” I told them. “It’s just from Ezra.”
Vann’s eyebrowsshot up. “Ezra Baptiste?”
“He hired me to dosome work for his company. It’s not a big deal.”
“You’re smilingagain!” Vera pointed out. “Vann, she’s smiling about work!”
“So?” I shrugged.“I like working for him. I’m the only one on his project so I get to do whateverI want. It’s nice.”
Vera’s eyesnarrowed. “I thought you were afraid of him.”
I felt my cheeksheat from their unwanted attention. I didn’t need the third degree from thesetwo this early in the morning. Mostly because I hadn’t had coffee yet and Ididn’t think I’d be able to deflect their accusations with the kind of expertninja skill I usually had. “He’s not so scary once you get to know him.”
“I thought you wereworking for him,” Vann pressed. “Why are you getting to know him?”
“Oh, my gosh. I’mgetting to know him because I’m working for him.”
The siblings shareda look. “I’ve known him as long as you have,” Vera argued. “I haven’t gotten toknow him. Not really.”
“Stop,” I beggedthem. “It’s nothing. Just work stuff.”
Vera attempted tohold back a smile. And failed. “I said the same thing about Killian.”
Vann smiled nowtoo. “He’s cool, Molly. You could do a lot worse.” He thought about it for asecond. “Youhavedone a lot worse.”
“Thanks for yourapproval, guys, but seriously, we’re just working together. That’s it.”
I didn’t even haveto lie to them. That was the truth. Ezra had hired STS to help him with marketing.And I was the designer thathe’d handpickedhappened to get picked forthe project. Hardly a romantic fairy tale.
Vann stepped up tothe counter to order for us while Vera continued to smile at me, her headpractically exploding with unsaid well wishes. “He’s just so perfect for you.”
Laughing at herdisproportionate reaction to a few simple emails, I threw her a bone. “He’s atleast not as horrible as I thought he was. He’s… nice.”
“And hot,” sheadded.
“So hot,” I agreed,finally giving into the gushing that had been building since I read his email.“How is it even fair that he’s that hot?”
“It’s because he’salso nice. Looks are one thing, but when they’re good people too, that’s like awhole other level of hot.”
“And funny,” Iadded without thinking about it. “He’s surprisingly funny. And thoughtful in anunexpected way. And he sends me things, Vera. Like pastries and lunch. I don’tknow what to think about him.”
Her smile softenedand her expression warmed. “It sounds like you guys work really well together.”
I ignored herinnuendo. “I’m just realizing that maybe I don’t hate him as much as I thoughtI did.”
