He breaks our gaze, tapping something into his phone. “Obviously so, Salvia officinalis.”
“You said I was a no-talent gimmick who ‘slept my way to the middle.’”
He sets his phone down with a sigh. “I never thought that.” One side of his attractive mouth tightens. “I was courting your attention. Picking a fight was asinine, but… effective.”
“Bullshit,” I shoot back. “You’re saying this because you want me to forgive you and call off the internship so you can go home and, like, do whatever you posh douchebags do with your time.”
He pushes the pink shoebox across the table toward me. “Believe what you wish. In the meantime, I’ll do the tasks required of me. Let’s learn how to tap dance.”
“All right,” Alexander says, peering at his phone and rotating his free hand, directing me as the camera runs. “And again! Shuffle, brush, ball change, repeat.”
I switch my weight to the other foot and fling my arms out and completely fuck up the simple move. With a screechof frustration, I go into a ridiculous stompy dance, chicken-flapping and spinning like a manic toddler who needs a nap. “Delete that one. Let’s start over.”
“I’ll do no such thing. Your profound clumsiness is bewitching.”
“Hey!”
He gives me a wink, and usually I find a wink cheesy but it’s not bad on him.
“Did you claim you’re a good dancer?” he taunts. “Because I’m skeptical.”
“Get bent!” I say with a laugh. “I’m just not good with stuff that has rules. I’m a free spirit, babes. ‘A rider at the gates of dawn, and I take no prisoners.’”
A shocked smile freezes on his face. “You know that show?”
I’m equally shocked that he recognizes my quote fromThe Young Ones. “Yeah, my brother and I watched my mom’s DVDs of it constantly when we were teenagers.” A little wave of sadness goes through me, remembering when Jules and I still got along, and even hung out and watched shows together. I push the feeling away and plant my hands on my hips. “Hold on, you and I aren’t, like…bondinghere. You’re still a total fuckchuckle, even if you have good taste in old sitcoms.”
He cradles his perfect jaw with a mock-pensive look. “Is that an upgrade, from ‘posh douchebag’ to ‘fuckchuckle’? Be still, my heart.”
“Yeah, don’t count on it.” I take my Emerald F1 hat off and Frisbee it at him, and he ducks. “Fine, go ahead and send that video to Pri and she can post it in the morning.”
He inspects it, staring at his phone with a little smile that’s almost tender. Finally he looks up. “Would you let me write the copy as well?”
“Ha!As if. You’ve done enough damage, writing shit about me.” I hop on one foot, wrestling off one of the tight tap shoes.
“That’s why I’d like to make it up to you. I can send it to Priya for approval first.”
I wrench off the second shoe and underhand them toward the sofa. “I mean, go for it, but she doesn’t have any obligation to use what you write, got it? I still don’t trust you.”
“Understandable.”
I pull my hair out of its ponytail and can’t help noticing that he watches me as I run my fingers through it. I scowl and pass him, trying not to notice his warm, spicy smell as I go to the sofa and flop down.
“Okay, you’re off duty, Sandy. Hit the bricks.” I almost thank him, then decide he doesn’t deserve it yet.
He pockets his phone. “Anything I can bring you in the morning to make press day less trying?”
I close my eyes, feigning exhaustion, but to be honest I’m just trying not to look at his tailored trousers and wonder what’s underneath that pricey fabric. What the hell is wrong with me? I can’t wait for the Australian GP. There are some great clubs in Melbourne, and clearly I need to get laid.
“Sure. A jasmine tea with agave syrup.” I open my eyes to peek his way, then close them again. “And if I’m not too wrecked tomorrow night, we can do some more videos. Deal?”
“As ever, I am your creature,” he says with amusement. “Good night, Salvia.”
I keep my eyes closed as he leaves, like a kid “hiding” from the monster under the bed.
The monster I’m hiding from, I realize with dismay,is me. I think I might’ve hired this guy not as payback but because I want to fuck him senseless.
7
