He sticks his hands in his pockets and slopes off to Cosmo’s office. Taking a deep breath, I bring up my emails. After clicking angrily at a couple of them, I notice Rakhee and Mimi staring at me.
“What?” I ask, frowning at them.
“Nothing,” Mimi says innocently, before looking to Rakhee. “You see what I mean, though, right?”
“It was out of control,” Rakhee agrees.
“What was?” I ask.
“The chemistry,” she replies breezily.
“And the eye-sex,” Mimi adds.
“Yes, there was a lot of that.” Rakhee nods.
“What!? Have you both lost your minds?” I say, unable to keep my voice down. “He’sinfuriating!I told you, we don’t get on! I can’t believe you hired him, Rakhee. This is going to be a complete disaster.”
“For you maybe. But for me,” Mimi says, grinning at Rakhee, “it’s going to beveryentertaining.”
There’s no hope of avoiding Ryan at Rakhee’s goodbye drinks.
I try my best, but the pub area that she’s reserved isn’t huge, so I know I’m going to be forced to see him at some point tonight. And starting Monday, I have to sit next to him every day. I’m two gin and tonics down and aiming for at least three before I have to acknowledge him.
“This sucks,” Mimi sighs.
I watch Ryan as he looks interested in whatever Cosmo is saying. Nothing Cosmo says is interesting, so Ryan is either a giant suck-up or just as insufferable as Cosmo.
“Yeah,” I reply, shaking my head at him. “It does.”
“I’m going to really miss having Rakhee in the office,” Mimi says glumly.
You know something else about Ryan Jansson? He’s not quiet. Not really. Everyone always thinks he’s reserved, but when he wants to, he’ll talk and talk, usually disagreeing with whatever point you’re making. I’ve witnessed this side to him on many occasions. The sexy, brooding, tight-lipped persona he has around everyone else is a façade.
“I don’t know what we’re going to do,” I say, watching him as he continues to listen to Cosmo’s rambling.
“At least we always have each other,” Mimi says, gripping my arm. “You can never leave me.”
“Oh, I won’t be the one to go,” I assure her.
She follows my eye line and then gives me a strange look. “Are you still obsessing over how much you dislike Ryan?”
“I’m notobsessingover it.”
“You don’t need to worry, Harper. I know you’re nervous about him sitting next to you, but you still have me right across! And once he gets to know you, I know you’ll win him over.”
“I don’twantto win him over. If anything, he needs to winmeover.”
She laughs. “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen you this stubborn about anything. He must really push your buttons, huh?”
“He’ll push everyone’s buttons soon enough,” I inform her haughtily. “Trust me. Ryan Jansson may seem harmless, but I know the truth.”
She gives me a strange look. “You’ve met him, what, twice?”
I shake my head, forgetting my white lie. “Oh, I’ve got the measure of him all right.”
He suddenly glances up and catches my eye. I look away, but it’s too late. He excuses himself from Cosmo’s company and makes his way toward us.
“He’s coming over,” Mimi warns me through her smile, before saying brightly, “Hi, Ryan! Excited to join the team?”
