A bitter laugh escaped me.“I’m a broke single mom who can’t even face her soon-to-be ex-husband.I’m not exactly a catch.And I wouldn’t want to do it without a partner.”
I loved being in a relationship.I wasn’t a one-night-stand kind of girl.
“Everything okay in there?”a high-pitched voice asked, breaking through our little bubble.“Can I get you any other sizes?”
Saved by the shop assistant.
Vance stood up and held out his hand to help me.Despite knowing better by now, I took it.And was immediately reminded why it was a bad idea when my grip tightened automatically and tingles swept up and down my arm.
His breath skated across the side of my face when he leaned down, and I shivered.“For the record, you’re definitely a catch.”
He opened the door, leaving me standing in the middle of the changing room, breathless and floundering.
Vance’s voice pushed me into moving, and I stepped out at the same moment he said, “I’ll take it all.”
The shop assistant’s attention was drawn behind him, and her eyes bugged out of her head when she spotted me.
I awkwardly waved at her.“He needed help with his shirt.”
She looked at the T-shirt he was currently wearing, mouth now gaping open.
I collapsed back into the chair, my legs refusing to hold me up any longer.Vance closed the door again, and I studiously avoided looking at the shop assistant as she rushed past me.
I looked around the shop from under my hair that was draped over my face since I was still looking down.Thankfully, I didn’t spot Cockalorum, so at least there was that.
Vance came out a few minutes later, dressed back in his suit, clothes draped over his arm.“Is it safe to leave yet?”
Getting up, I nodded, clearing my throat.“I’m so sorry about barging into your dressing room.I panicked.”
He put his hand on my back again and led me to the register.“No need to apologize.”
I peeked up at him and found he looked like he actually meant it.It seemed I may have misjudged him.
It was hard to reconcile the gentle and attentive guy with the jerk I’d first met.And I didn’t hate him at all anymore.Not even a little bit.
And wasn’t that just the scariest realization of all?
He paid for his clothes, and we walked the short way back to the office.Malena was already there, talking to Rix, one of our regular clients.
They spotted us, and Rix smiled.He was a nice guy, but he didn’t understand the concept of personal space.We all joked that we couldn’t be in a room with him because he always came closer and closer.And there was never enough space to keep discreetly stepping back whenever he came within feel-his-breath distance.
He opened his arms, and since I didn’t want to be rude, I let him hug me, awkwardly patting his back.“There she is.I was worried when I didn’t see you at your desk.”
He spotted Vance behind me and thankfully turned his attention away from me.Holding out his hand, he stepped forward.“Rix Howler.”
“Vance Moore.”
Rix grimaced, and they released hands.He shook his out and then stepped back.I didn’t think I’d ever seen him willingly do that.“So, how do you know our Mae?”
I ignored his “our Mae” comment since it was pointless to explain to him yet again that I wasn’t his anything.But he was a client, and a good one, not counting his inability to respect private space.
“I’m her lawyer.”
“Her lawyer?”Rix’s voice boomed through the office.“Why does she need a lawyer?”He turned to where I was putting my handbag down behind my desk.“What happened?”
I didn’t want to talk to him about this.It was none of his business.But again, I didn’t want to be rude, so of course I answered.“Everything’s okay—”
Before I had a chance to say anything else, Vance stepped in front of me, blocking my view of Rix.“It’s confidential.”
