She would pick the French Vogue. Em gritted her teeth, trying not to glare at her. It wasn’t the woman’s fault she was absolutely fabulous. She probably had wonderful, rich parents who cared for her and sent her to the best schools. Em had been lucky if they hadn’t sold her clothes for money to buy alcohol.
She saw Joe the moment he strode down the hall. He flashed his swaggering grin as he approached. But then he saw the Victoria’s Secret model waiting for him and his face lit up.
Em felt like she was going to light up too—like an angry firecracker.
He lifted his brow. “Why—”
“Your guest is there.” She tipped her head toward the woman.
“I know. But—”
“You don’t want to keep her waiting, do you?” Say yes, she silently urged him.
Giving her an odd look, he turned and smiled brightly at the woman. “Cressida, this is a wonderful surprise.”
His guest looked just as pleased to see him. She jumped up and kissed him on both checks, of course. He held her waist, talking to her in a low voice. She watched them walk back to his office, the door closing behind them, cutting off the woman’s trilling laugh.
She stabbed a pen into her collage, knowing she was being completely irrational about this. She didn’t own him.
Own him? She didn’t even want him. She bowed her head and stared at her collage. Ben was the one she’d earmarked.
She pouted, staring at his door, her mind churning through everything they could be doing. She’d been in his office—she knew what happened in there firsthand.
She slammed a fist over her collage and then folded it and put it away. It was useless.
Someone touched her shoulder, and she whirled in her chair to find Summer standing next to her, looking concerned. “Are you okay?” her friend asked. “Because you’re muttering.”
Em glared at her. “Do I look okay?”
Summer took her by the arm. “Come with me.”
“I can’t leave. I’m the reception.”
She waved to a passing assistant. Smiling in her friendly way, Summer said, “Watch the phones, will you? I need to discuss an important case with Em.”
The assistant looked confused but shrugged and sat down. Summer had that effect on people.
Sighing, Em trudged after her friend. “I’m absolutely livid,” she exclaimed as Summer closed her office door.
Smiling, her friend perched on the edge of her desk. “I wouldn’t have noticed.”
She threw her hands in the air. “I don’t even know why I’m so angry.”
“At Joe?”
“Of course at Joe.” She glared at Summer. “Who else would cause this sort of emotion?”
“Not anyone I know.”
“Exactly.” She paced back and forth in front of the desk, the frustration boiling in her chest, right at her throat where it threatened to bubble up. “I don’t even want him.”
“That’s not the way it looks from my perspective.” Summer pursed her lips. “Weren’t you after a man who owns a coffee shop or something?”
“Yes.” She crossed her arms and pouted. “He asked me out.”
“Oh,” Summer said, perking up.
“I haven’t agreed.”
Realization dawned on her friend’s face, and she nodded. “Because of Joe.”
“No, I just haven’t gotten around to it,” Em said stubbornly.
“Are you really going to lie to yourself? I’ve seen the way you and Joe look at each other.”
“How is that?”
“Like you want to tear your clothes off and eat each other up.”
“No.” Em shook her finger. “There will be no eating. We’re work acquaintances, nothing more.”
“The sexual energy between you two is incredible.” Summer rotated her foot, looking at her shoe. “You know there’s a bet going around the office for when you two shag.”
“What?” She clapped her hands to her face. “That’s horrible.”
“Is it that off base?”
“Yes, it really is.” Despite the flirting and the kisses. She shook her head. “I have a plan. I want a family. I don’t have time for an office fling.”
Summer frowned. “Is that what Joe wants?”
She threw her hands in the air. “I have no idea what he wants.”
“Maybe you should ask him.” She stood up. “Because he clearly wants you, and I’ve never known Joe to go after anyone at the office.”
“It’s just a sexual thing,” she muttered morosely, crossing her arms. “I want forever, not someone who’s going to use me and then leave me.”