“Yeah, I don’t think I want to hear it,” he said, glancing at me with an impish smile.
I tossed my napkin at him. It’s really unfortunate how handsome that smile is.
“I suppose I do get some serious PTO with this cushy new job and Miranda is already bugging me to schedule it,” I said, more to myself than to him, but Jesse’s eyes brightened while I considered it out loud. “Am I going to have to dress up in tight dresses and six-inch heels, or whatever the women you’re into wear?”
“No,” he said quickly, still smiling. “I need you just exactly as you are.”
“Fine, then I’ll do it,” I agreed without overthinking it like I would’ve in the past. Jesse was fun and I needed some of that in my life. “But you have to pay for wherever you’re taking me on this trip.”
“Done,” he said.
“And I want a damn good ring. If you’re going to show me off, let’s give them something to look at.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I stood up. “Now I really have to get back to work.”
I walked off, happy with myself, until I heard him call my name. “Jacque?”
Turning to look at him over my shoulder, I nodded, waiting for him to tell me what he wanted. “Can I at least have your number?”
CHAPTER 13
JESSE
Ihad an exceptional memory. It seemed like a wildly unfair trade-off for my complete lack of situational awareness, but I’d take it because it meant that, despite the fact that I’d been extremely intoxicated the last time I was here, I still managed to find Jacqueline’s apartment on the night of the investor dinner.
As I stepped out of the car, I checked my watch, smirking when I realized that miraculously, I was right on time.
“Look at me,” I muttered, straightening my jacket as I headed inside. “I’m a fantastic boyfriend already.”
The doorman let me up without question, a perk of him clearly recognizing me, and a few minutes later, I was standing outside her door, knocking before stepping back and sliding my hands into my pockets.
The soft buzz of the lock sounded and the door swung open. As soon as she appeared, I briefly forgot how to speak. Jacqueline’s dress unzipped halfway down her back and only one of her earrings was in, her dark hair falling in loose, slightly chaotic waves around her shoulders like she was still busy battling with it.
Once again, the first words that escaped me when I saw her made me wonder if I had a death wish. “Damn. I thought my fake girlfriend would be punctual.”
She gave me a look that could turn a man to stone. “I will call this whole thing off if you prefer?”
“No, no. What I meant to say was you look beautiful tonight.”
She rolled her eyes. “Get inside. I’m almost done.”
I walked in, turning to shut the door behind me. When I looked again, she was gathering her hair over one shoulder, exposing the line of her spine and the open zipper. “Make yourself useful and zip me up, would you?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said, reaching forward and trying not think about what was happening right now, but it didn’t work. The soft brush of fabric, the warmth of her skin just beneath it, and the way she held still for exactly half a second before shifting slightly like she was just as aware of it as I was made me swallow hard.
Eventually, I dragged the zipper up in one smooth, fast movement. Day one of being my fake girlfriend, and there’s already some nice perks.
“There,” I said, stepping back immediately to put some much needed distance between us.
“Thank you,” she replied, already moving away like she was trying to do the same thing I was, but then she turned, her eyes frantically scanning the floor. “Where is it?”
“What are we looking for?” I asked.
“My earring.”
Of course.
