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 wouldn’t please his dentist. “We certainly could, as we’re not teenagers led around by our hormones.” His eyes glittered. “Despite that unfortunate encounter in the gazebo.”
Vicky tried not to snarl. “Unfortunate, huh?”
As usual, he didn’t deign to give her a response. “But playing devil’s advocate, say the worst were to happen due to spending time together or whatnot.”
“Or whatnot.” She rolled her eyes. ”Oh God, let me go wring out my panties.”
She’d even worn some today. She was a respectable businesswoman and all.
“We’re not talking about grabbing a pizza. We’re talking about you and I becoming lovers. Do you understand the implications of that?”
His exasperation almost made her laugh as she looked down at herself. She wasn’t icily gorgeous like Melly—not “perfect” by any stretch of the imagination—but was she really that repugnant to him?
“Figures you’d clam up now.” He pulled on his perfectly knotted tie. If she didn’t know better, she’d think she made him nervous. “How long has it been for you?”
For a moment, she didn’t get the question. She was too busy gauging if her stomach poufed out more than it had the last time she’d checked. But then…
Whoa, he was getting personal. She fluttered her eyelashes. “I’d rather not say.”
A half smile crossed his perfectly shaven face. She’d kind of liked him scruffy and rough-looking yesterday. “You opened this line of inquiry.”
“I’ll tell you if you’ll tell me.”
His pause was just long enough for her to think he’d say no. Then he shrugged. “Fine. You go first.”
“I don’t keep a tally or anything, but around ten months. I think.”
He looked at her for an instant too long, then frowned. “You disappoint me.”
“Quit stalling. How long for you?”
A knock sounded at the door and Dillon craned his neck around the frame. “Hey, bro, did you finish those reports for the Carlton store yet? If not, I can handle them.” He glanced at Vicky and grinned, his blue eyes warming about fifty degrees hotter than his brother’s ever did. “Hey Vickster.”
“I’ll e-mail you what I have so far. I had trouble getting the projections to line up.” Cory didn’t sound pleased about that fact, but when did he ever sound happy?
“I’ll take care of it,” Dillon offered.