Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 66330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Lily looked at me, clearly surprised I’d bothered to look at the resume she’d sent when she thanked me for the internship. I hadn’t at first. It was only in the past two weeks I’d opened her email again and looked at the attachment. It was clearly an undergraduate’s resume, but it was impressive for what it was. She’d had leadership roles in her sorority, as she’d mentioned at lunch. She’d also attached her transcript, so I knew that her course load hadn’t been a cakewalk.
“And don’t call me Mr. Walker,” I added, meeting her gaze for the first time since I’d snapped at her on the sidewalk two weeks ago. “It’s Con.”
“Or asshole,” Landon said, surprising her into a laugh.
“I’ll stick with Con,” she said, her eyes still on mine. What could only be described as a frisson ran through me as I stared back at her. I was aware of Landon glancing back and forth between us, his bemusement morphing into comprehension, but I still couldn’t look away.
Finally, the sound of the bell above the sandwich shop door tinkled as someone came out. Distracted, Lily glanced up. My eyes stayed on the curve of her cheek, the defined underline of her jaw, the glint of a diamond stud in her earlobe.
“I’d better go get my lunch,” she said, breaking the spell.
I wrenched my gaze away before she could capture it again. My heart was beating unpleasantly fast, and low, throbbing irritation was simmering up. I didn’t want to notice her glowing skin and golden hair. And I sure as hell didn’t want Landon to see me noticing. I felt his gaze boring into the side of my head. When I didn’t look back, he said to Lily, “I’ll pull up a chair.”
“Oh, no,” she said hurriedly. “I have to get back for a meeting. It was nice meeting you, Landon. I’ll see you back at the office, Con.”
The bell tinkled again as she went inside. Landon waited until the door closed behind her, then raised his eyebrows expectantly at me.
“What?” I asked belligerently.
“That’s what I’m asking you,” he said. “Although my question is more like, what the hell are you thinking? Didn’t you make us all swear a fucking blood oath not to touch this girl because she’s just a kid?”
I shot him a killing look. “I’m not thinking anything. So whatever you think I’m thinking, keep it to your fucking self.”
“That’s great advice. Make sure you follow it since that’s your daughter’s best friend.” Landon’s voice was low and pleasant, but his tone carried an unmistakable warning.
I bristled, even though I knew it came from a good place. Landon had seen the way I looked at Lily. Knew what it meant. He was trying to keep me out of trouble, the same way Garrett tried to reign in his clients as their crisis manager. But this wasn’t a crisis, and I didn’t need to be managed.
“I know who she is,” I snapped. “And even if she wasn’t Halley’s best friend, she’s a Walker Agency employee. I don’t fuck with employees as a rule.”
“Good. Don’t break it.” Landon sat back, prepared to let it go.
But when Lily walked out again, holding the box with her sandwich, I couldn’t help but follow her with my eyes all the way down the sidewalk until she crossed the street with quick, light steps and disappeared from view.
Landon sighed and shook his head. He didn’t need to say anything. I knew.
I was in trouble.
10
LILY
For two weeks, I’d managed to stay out of Con’s sight. I couldn’t believe that after avoiding him so carefully at the office, I’d ended up walking right up to him at the sandwich shop. I’d specifically gone there because it was the cheapest place within walking distance. After seeing his lunch place of choice with its twenty-five-dollar side salads, I’d thought there was no way he’d be there. Just my luck, I was wrong.
My heart beat like a jackhammer as I walked back to the office, only slowing slightly when I was out of his sight. It was crazy, but I could have sworn I felt his eyes on my back the whole way. It made me both self-conscious and lightheaded with a crazy sort of desire I’d never felt before.
I told myself over and over that it was crazy, that I couldn’t keep thinking about Con that way. I just couldn’t. But all day, thoughts of him intruded on whatever I was doing, wherever I went. And of course, Halley called when I was walking home. I told her the carefully edited version of what was happening with my mystery crush.
She blew out her breath in a noisy sigh. “Lily, have you forgotten everything I taught you?”
I racked my brain, trying to think of any nuggets of wisdom that might apply to wanting to crawl on top of her dad. “I think so,” I said finally when none came to mind.