Love Love by Beth Michele Read Free Book Online

mumble to myself. Let’s look at my list of
infractions. First, caught gawking, and second, spilling my drink.
And I can’t forget dumping out my purse. Geez, I shouldn’t even be
allowed to walk around by myself.
    All at once, everything goes into slow
motion. Dark and Sexy moves toward me; at the same time I hear Brad
say, “are you okay?” No, actually, I’m not. I want to crawl into a
deep hole and start this day all over again.
    Dark and Sexy eyes me amusingly, and
again I’m embarrassed. God, I’m so transparent it’s ridiculous.
Could I be any more flustered? Or klutzy, for that matter? I don’t
think so. When he reaches down to help me pick up the contents of
my purse, I’m suddenly eternally grateful there aren’t any tampons
in there. All at once, my muscles tense up and I dig my fingernails
into my palm as I stare blankly over his shoulder.
    He continues in silence, then looks up
at me, waving my wallet in front of my face. “Hey, are you
alright?”
    And I’m immediately snapped back to
the now.
    Somehow I manage to find my voice.
“Yes, I’m fine. I wasn’t looking where I was going.”
    He gives me a dubious grin.
I’m sure he’s thinking my excuse has bullshit written all over it. He
finishes helping me with my purse and pulls me to my feet. When our
fingers touch, I immediately feel a shudder move through my entire
body.
    “ Let me at least buy you
another drink. What was it you were drinking?”
    At the moment, I can’t even remember
my own name, let alone what I was drinking. Brad returns with more
towels. I see him shake his head back and forth but I’m too
preoccupied to give it a second thought.
    After hearing the question, Brad
replies for me, “she was drinking a Salted Caramel
Mocha.”
    Dark and Sexy immediately requests
another one and I stand there like a fool, tapping my hand against
my thigh, while his eyes feel up my entire body. Thankfully, Brad
saves the day and returns with my drink.
    “ Thank you, “ I say, still
a little taken aback by this whole fiasco.
    Dark and Sexy pays for my drink and
gives me a wink, says “anytime,” and heads out the door. No name,
no introduction, and he didn’t even get a drink for himself. What
the hell?
    By the time I arrive at work, it’s ten
o’clock, and I know Robby’s going to give me hell for being late. I
sneak into my cubicle, shove my purse in the drawer, flip on my
computer, and take note of the demonic red light on my phone
blinking at top speed. I sigh loudly, so much so, that when I look
behind me, Robby is standing there. His dirty blonde hair is
perfectly coiffed and he’s wearing one of his signature silk
shirts, this one hunter green, black pants, and loafers. His arms
are crossed over his chest, his foot tapping, and his lips form an
annoying grin when I make eye contact.
    Busted .
    “ Gabby, dahling. Do you
realize what time it is?”
    I swallow hard. “Yes, Robby. I’m
really sorry. I had a bit of a difficult morning.”
    “ Well, difficult morning or
not, there’s work to be done. As it is, I had to deal with the
calls you were supposed to be taking, and you know how much that
pains me.”
    “ I know. It won’t happen
again.”
    “ Good, now let’s get to
work. Have a look at your latest sticky notes. I couldn’t sleep
last night so I started then.”
    Lovely. “Okay, Robby, thanks.” When
Robby leaves, I put my head on my desk. Could this day get any
worse?
     

     
    “ Are you fucking serious?”
Fran asks me when I get back to our apartment.
    “ I know. This is the second
time he’s made me crazy with lust, and he hasn’t even touched
me.”
    “ So let me get this
straight, you saw the hot guy at the coffee shop and dropped your
drink and your purse…geez, that must have really turned him on,”
she deadpans.
    “ Very funny. I don’t know
what the hell happened. I never thought I’d see him again, so when
I did, it caught me completely off guard.”
    Fran’s eyebrows crease and her