Can't Touch This by Marley Gibson Read Free Book Online Page B

suggest, waving the complimentary passes in the air.
    Kyle’s face lights up.  “Where’d you get those?  Jiles wants me to talk to their president.  This is the perfect opportunity.”
    I shrug noncommittally and just say, “Some guy gave them to me.”
    Score one for me!  I can distract Rory while Kyle makes the move on his client.  DigitalDirection will rule the day.  Okay, maybe I’ve had too much wine.  I’m getting into the corporate competitiveness way too much.  But then, that’s why I’m here.
    We stumble out into the warm summer night; Ted and Kyle flank me.  We walk past families pushing their kids in strollers and guys in wetsuits heading out for some night surfing.  The aromatic scents of coffee beans, cotton candy, and pizza fill the air as we walk the three blocks, past Merv Griffin’s Resorts hotel, to the club where the party is taking place.
    Before we walk in, I tug on Kyle’s sleeve.  Since he’s totally Mr. Business, perhaps I can help out.  “Hey, Kyle.  You want a moment with the president of EG?”
    Interest sparks his striking eyes.  “Absolutely.”
    “Why don’t I run interference with the SalesTracker people?  I already met them at the cocktail party.”
    “That would be excellent.”  He fist-bumps me like we’re on the basketball court.  Then Ted looks at us and puts his hand up in the air.  Kyle laughs and smacks his hand, too.  “Let’s go.”
    As soon as we walk in, my eyes lock with Rory’s and he gives me the thumbs up.  My pulse races and I dare my feet not to do the same, chiding myself to not be over anxious.  When I reach the bar where he stands, Rory hands me a lowball full of sparkling tawny liquid.
    “I’ve been watching the door and waiting for you,” he says.
    Smooth, very smooth.  “You didn’t have to buy me a drink,” I yell over the music.
    “I didn’t.  It’s an open bar.”  He dazzles me with his smile and I notice he has a small brown mole about two inches under his left eye.  I don’t know if that’s necessarily considered to be a beauty mark, but it is to me.
    Behind me, Ted slips up to the bar between two older women and orders a drink.  Kyle is back in the corner with a smartly dressed older man that I surmise is the president of EG.  Kyle certainly didn’t waste any time.
    I take a huge sip of the drink Rory handed me, thinking it’s Ginger Ale.  The liquid chars my throat and I start coughing and hacking.  Rory pats me on the back and laughs as the strobe lights reflect in his blue eyes.
    “First Kamikaze you’ve ever had?”
    “I thought it was something softer,” I say, swallowing hard.  “I’ve mostly been drinking wine all evening.”  I’m not counting the G&T I carried around for half an hour.
    Rory leans in close to my ear.  “You’re such a lady.”
    I don’t know how to react, so I glance back toward Kyle who’s shaking hands with the very moneyed-looking man and swapping business cards with him.
    “Do you know the big cheese over there?” Rory asked, swigging back his beer.
    I don’t want to point out Kyle as a co-worker of mine, so I focus instead on the older gentleman he’s talking to.  “The man looks rich.”
    “Yeah, he’s got more money than God.  And he’s a royal pain in the ass.”
    I gaze into Rory’s eyes, giving him all my attention as he serves me with a cocky smile.  “Who is he?”
    Rory chuckles.  “This is his party.”
    “Oh,” is all I can get out when his arm slides onto the back of my chair.  Earlier, I’d pegged him as a sleazy salesman, but I was totally wrong about him.  Sure, he pours on the charm when clients are around—as most successful sales people do—however, it seems that I’m the center of Rory’s attention right now.  And I like it.  I focus on his mouth for what seems like six years.  Full, firm lips that curl up on the edge when he smiles as if I’m the only woman in the world right now.  When he leans in to order more