Asking for Andre by Minx Malone Read Free Book Online

persuasion.
    “You are gorgeous.” Anya clapped her hands and started taking bows. She blew imaginary kisses to herself in the full-length mirror. “Yes, I know I’m brilliant. She’s my greatest creation.”
    “I can’t believe that’s me .” Casey wore a fitted pencil skirt with a silky collared blouse. It clung in all the right places, giving her a sexy look that was still completely professional. Her shoes looked like plain pumps from the back but the open-toed design had a decidedly sexual crisscross pattern. She looked like the other women in D.C. who strutted with the kind of confidence she could only wish for. She looked strong and successful. All the things she’d always hoped to be.
    Casey blinked rapidly against a sudden rush of grateful tears.
    “I don’t seem so pale anymore.” The deep amethyst color of the blouse made her skin glow like alabaster. She pivoted to see how the skirt cupped her ass. This was an outfit for someone bold, someone daring. She’d never worn anything like it before.
    “Damn, you look fierce.” Anya moved around her, her eyes taking everything in. “But you’re still missing something. I’m not sure what.”
    Casey bit her lip and glanced at her reflection again. Who was she trying to fool? She wasn’t good at being the center of attention. And there was no doubt in her mind that even she could command attention in a getup like this.
    “It doesn’t matter anyway. I’m not sure I have the guts to wear something this tight.”
    “Sure you do. Wear it tomorrow and we’ll do happy hour after work. Maybe you’ll meet someone handsome and mysterious. Hell, maybe I’ll meet someone handsome and mysterious, too.”
    “Oh come on. You’ll get back together with Law. You always do.” Casey frowned when Anya turned away and hurriedly began hanging up clothes.
    “Not this time. It’s over. We’re done. Not that it matters to me anyway. Men are easy enough to find.” When Anya turned around her eyes were hard.
    Despite her bravado, it was obvious the other woman was hurting. Casey’d always assumed Anya was just playing around. Apparently her friend had much deeper feelings for their boss.
    “I didn’t realize…” Casey trailed off uncertainly.
    “What? You didn’t realize I cared?” Anya chuckled. “It’s okay. I know what people think about me. I’m the gold digger who only dates older men.”
    Casey winced. “I don’t believe that.”
    She had a knack for saying the wrong thing and her foot-in-mouth disease had alienated more than one friend over the years. She’d only known the other woman a few months, hardly long enough to question her life choices. She hadn’t exactly been making great choices herself lately.
    Anya smiled softly. “You believe the best about everyone. But in this case you’re right. I’m definitely not a gold digger.”
    “So why do you do it then? It seems risky, dating your boss.” Casey bit her lip. She couldn’t help her curiosity. It was such a curious matchup, the outgoing, vivacious Anya with their enigmatic and slightly mysterious, older boss.
    “It’s hard to explain. There’s just something about Law.” Anya’s voice softened. She swiped at her eyes. “I can’t believe I’m crying over this. It’s not like I haven’t gotten dumped before.”
    “He dumped you? I find that hard to believe. I only wish a man would look at me like that. As if he would do anything to protect me, anything to make me happy.”
    Anya chuckled bitterly. “Yeah, anything except what I need him to do. He just wants more than I can give right now.” She shook her hair back and cleared her throat. She opened her mouth as if to say something else but apparently thought better of it. “Whatever. It doesn’t matter anymore.”
    Casey knew what it felt like to be uncomfortable sharing feelings. Sometimes no amount of talking could fix a problem. “Maybe we should skip happy hour tomorrow. We don’t have to go out. We could just