No Romance Required by Cari Quinn Read Free Book Online Page B

room.
    “Cory, take some damn downtime for once,” Vicky called after him, sounding surprisingly
     worried. “If you want, you can crash here—”
    He was already on his way out the door.
    …
    Monday morning, Vicky approached Cory’s closed office door with her usual full-on
     swagger. Well, almost. That she wore ice-pick boots and carried a special surprise
     for her pseudo-boyfriend only slowed her down slightly. Her nerves slowed her down
     more.
    She’d worked so hard to shed her rep as the town bad girl, and now with just a few
     pictures she was right back in the thick of it. Partially by choice.
    That morning she’d awakened to a phone call from Jill, even before their scheduled
     breakfast meeting to discuss that week’s design consultations. Her BFF had wanted
     to clue Vicky in about the photos just in case she still hadn’t heard the gossip column
     chatter. No chance of that. Shortly after Cory left last night, her sister Melly had
     called from her location-scouting trip upstate to ask her what the hell she was doing.
     It was an excellent question.
    Why was she doing this again?
    It wasn’t just about the photos. Oh sure, reputation preservation always counted as
     a valid reason, but that wasn’t the only one. Cory needed help. He needed her . The guy was running on fumes and his showing up late looking like death’s dark-headed
     stepchild had driven that point home. They were friends, right? Sort of. In a manner
     of speaking. And not-exactly-friends assisted each other.
    Heck, maybe she’d even bring some fun into his staid existence. While doing so, she
     would also avail herself of all potential sexual opportunities in his direction, just
     to cross another item off her bucket list. Doing an uptight smerd—smexy nerd—check!
    Vicky adjusted her portfolio and knocked. She was a few minutes late for their standard
     twice-weekly appointment to work on the magazine, so she wasn’t surprised that he
     barked at her to come in.
    She opened the door and stepped inside.
    Because he looked way too tired still, she kicked up her leg on the edge of his desk
     and noted the grind of his teeth with grim satisfaction. “Like the boots? The stiletto
     heels are a little much, but I managed.”
    “Your boots are fine. As is your skirt.” He barely spared either a glance, nor did
     he come around the desk to shut the door in case of bloodshed. Remarkable. “That slit
     in the side isn’t terribly appropriate for work, but since when has that stopped you?”
    She pulled down her foot. “Oopsie, I left my Miss Manners manual at home. Thank God
     I have you to set me straight.”
    “Speaking of setting things straight…” He folded his hands and gazed down his nose
     at her as if he were her professor and she were a naughty student. Which she totally
     could be in this getup. She even had a ruler in her portfolio. “We need to talk.”
    She sprawled in the chair across from his desk. “Yammer away.”
    “Yesterday you offered me sex,” he said, as if she’d forgotten. She certainly hadn’t
     tossed and turned all night thinking about just that. “Which I’m assuming you’ve reconsidered.”
    Like a jack-in-the-box, she popped up and shut the door. “Correction: I offered to
     act as your girlfriend for a limited-time engagement. And we both could benefit, if you feel me.”
    “I don’t want to feel you. That’s part of the issue.”
    Hmm, did he realize that his jaw was twitching? Because she certainly did. “So take
     one for the team.”
    More twitching. “Victoria, this isn’t a joke.”
    “Who’s laughing?” She rolled up the mass of jingling bracelets on her wrist. “Call
     it curiosity. We’ve been dancing around each other for so many years that maybe it’s
     just the next step. Besides, you’re the one who keeps bringing up the sex thing. We
     could pretend to be all kissy-face without screwing. That was your optional add-on.”
    His teeth ground together in a way that