“I couldn’t sleep last night,” he said softly.
“Why?”
“Because you were on my mind.”
“I couldn’t sleep, either.”
He arched an eyebrow. “For the same reason?”
She nodded. “Yes. You were on my mind.”
“What are you doing for lunch?” He stepped closer.
“I... I...” She knew something was going on, but for the life of her, she couldn’t remember. This was exactly what his presence did to her. “Oh, yeah, I remember now. I’m working through my lunch. I have a deadline, and I’m sure the boss will fire me if I don’t get it to him by four o’clock.”
He grinned. “I don’t think he’ll fire you. I have ways to make him listen to reason.”
“Good. You don’t know how happy I am to hear that.” She glanced over his attire again. “What are you doing all dressed up? Do you have a job interview?”
He laughed. “No. My dad wants me to take over the magazine in California, so he’s training me.”
Conflicting thoughts clashed in her head. Although she was overjoyed that he was finally settling down enough to have employment, her heart sank because his job would be in California. Panic filled her. She couldn’t let him leave. Not yet.
“But it won’t be for several months,” he added.
Sighing heavily, she clutched her hands together in front of her. “Oh, good.”
“Will you miss me when I’m gone?”
“Terribly.”
He took a step closer. Now she could feel his warm, minty breath on her face.
“So if you’re busy for lunch, what are you doing tonight?”
Her heart flipped. He was asking her out, and there was no way she would turn him down... But then she remembered Rita’s bridal shower. Inwardly, she groaned. “Rita is having a shower tonight.” She frowned.
“My dad’s secretary?”
“Yes.”
“And she can’t take a shower by herself? Why do you need to help her?”
She snorted a laugh and quickly covered her mouth. Once she calmed down, she dropped her hand and said, “No, Brad. Rita is having aweddingshower tonight. The girls from the office are throwing her a party.”
He sighed and his shoulders drooped. “Dare I ask you about tomorrow?”
Her heart and mind were fighting. She couldn’t start going out with Brad until she officially broke things off with Tom. Yet, if she went out with Brad, was she just rebounding or was it because she was truly having feelings for him?
She sighed heavily. “Can you ask me tomorrow? I just won’t know my mood yet.”
He nodded. “I can wait. But tell me one thing.”
“What?”
“How do you feel right now? If you hadn’t already had your plans for today, would you have gone out with me?”
She couldn’t stop the smile stretching wide across her face, or the singing in her heart. “Yes, I would have.”
