Asking for Andre by Minx Malone Read Free Book Online Page A

watch something on TV and relax.”
    Anya shook her head in mock dismay. “You’re way too young to be so boring. I’m going to corrupt you at least a little if it’s the last thing I do.”
    “That’s what I’m afraid of,” Casey muttered. She shrugged out of the blouse and skirt and hung them back up next to the three other outfits she’d already tried on. She didn’t shop much but Anya claimed this store had the best clearance rack around. As she slipped out of the shoes, she turned one over and saw the price.
    “Anya!” It came out as a shocked whisper. “We have to put these back. These shoes cost almost as much as my apartment.”
    Anya pursed her lips. “No offense, honey, but your apartment is a shithole. So that’s probably not the best basis for comparison. Besides, you can always pay me back a little at a time.”
    Casey gaped. “Are you crazy? I don’t want you eating macaroni and cheese for the next three months because you felt sorry for me.”
    “When I said I wasn’t a gold digger, I meant it. I have money to spare and I can spend it as I like. I’m not just buying this stuff for your benefit, you know. My poor eyes just can’t stand seeing any more of those hideous sweaters or god forbid, those penny loafers.” She said loafers the same way some people referred to bugs or infectious diseases.
    “I can’t let you buy all this stuff, Anya. It’s too much.” Casey trailed a finger over the delicate fabric of the skirt and closed her eyes. She’d never owned anything so lovely. But the idea of taking charity was more than her pride could allow. Plus, she couldn’t spend more on shoes than she did on her textbooks, could she? It seemed wasteful and wrong.
    And really, really tempting.
    “On the contrary, it’s nothing at all.” She sent Casey a sly glance from the corner of her eye. “You’ll actually be doing me a favor. I need to do some good deeds to make up for being such a slut and all.”
    Casey choked back a laugh. Her attempt to look stern failed and she shook her head at her friend’s antics.
    “I don’t know why I’m even bothering. Who’s looking at me anyway? Unless you count Harold from accounting who, by the way, is old enough to be my dad.”
    Anya studied her fingernails casually. “You know I overheard Law talking on the phone. Apparently the Lavin Group is going to be in town a lot more lately. They plan to finalize the campaign pretty soon.” She didn’t meet Casey’s eyes as she said it.
    Great. So Anya had picked up on her fascination with the man. She could only hope that it wasn’t so obvious to everyone else at work.
    Casey peeked at the shoes again and then her eyes went to the brightly colored blouses hanging on the back of the door. The fabrics shimmered even under the crappy fluorescent lighting. What would Andre think when he saw her in her new clothes?
    He’ll probably think you’re even more of a tease than you were last night. Or maybe he’ll kiss you again.
    Maybe you’ll have a chance to make it up to him.
    “I shouldn’t but I can’t resist.” She shook Anya’s hand before the other woman pulled her into a quick hug. Casey surprised them both by holding on tight. “You’re an angel, you know that?”
    With a self-conscious wave of her hand, Anya brushed the compliment away. “Shhh. Don’t say that too loud.” She winked. “I have a reputation as a bitch to maintain.”
    * * * * *
     
    The next afternoon, Casey tugged self-consciously at the front of her blouse. She’d worn one of her new outfits and was already regretting it. Her breasts were half exposed and she had to resist the urge to tie a scarf around the open area of her chest. She felt different, as if people were staring for all the wrong reasons.
    Especially since she was starting to believe that more than a few of her coworkers had seen her nearly sucking the lips off their biggest client. She’d gotten several pointed looks, especially from the guys in the