shows off the perpetual flatness of my chest and stomach. It makes me look professional, at least, and that’s what I need this evening.
I spritz some perfume on my neck and wrists. “No, I won’t admit to that,” I finally say in my effort to put that meeting past me. “In fact, I think you’re seeing things, and I blame your new low-carb diet.” Fixing my hair one last time in the mirror, I quickly change the subject. “Okay, I’m ready. You?”
I cross the room to find a suitable pair of shoes while Ellie takes my place on the vanity bench. “I’m ready. But are we seriously not going to talk about this? Alex, we’ve been friends for ages. Even before Cupid’s Arrow. We grew up together. I know you.”
“Okay, fine. I haven’t been on a date in two years and I suppose I was struck by the man’s utter beauty and his gorgeous—we can’t deny it—British accent,” I say, slipping on my favorite red heels. “That speaks volumes about me, don’t you think? That some stranger can just throw me off the way he did?”
Ellie laughs. “It speaks volumes that you need to get laid. Even workaholics need a little playtime.”
“Not this one. And especially not with him. God, he was such an ass in Alastair’s office, Ellie!” I stand up, wriggling my toes in my shoes to make sure they’re comfortable enough to drive in. “I suppose if a decent man asked me on a date, maybe I’d go out with him.”
This week I’ve been sleepless, wondering why meeting Kit has made me think a lot about the romance in my life—or lack thereof. And how much I’d love to change that.
“Like who?”
I shrug. “I don’t know.”
Ellie arranges her bun and twirls around, inspecting herself in the mirror. “Yeah, well. I do. Alastair’s son. You would totally date him.”
“No, I shouldn’t. Alastair once told me his eldest son, William, is like his first wife, who was very responsible and divorced Alastair because he was such a mess in his younger years. But if Kit is anything like his father when he was younger or that stripper second wife he married, I wouldn’t touch him with a ten-foot pole. Players aren’t my thing.”
Ellie frowns at me, looking disappointed.
I laugh. “I just like guys that aren’t complete assholes, Ellie. Like that one boyfriend who was so easygoing. Maybe too easygoing to the point maybe I thought he didn’t care?” I grab my car keys from my dresser and pull Ellie to the door. “I know what you’re thinking. But I’m not picky. I just have standards.”
Ellie and I head out to the car together, complimenting each other’s outfits.
“I have standards, too, but I occasionally date, you know?” she counters as we get in my car. “It’s not a bad thing to recognize that you’re a woman and have needs.”
I groan and playfully swat her shoulder before starting the engine. “Stop it. I need to be professional tonight and I can’t be moping around about my datelessness these past two years.”
The truth is that I’m more nervous than I’m letting on.
I haven’t been to a party in a while, let alone one as important as this. Kit will be there tonight. I need to make the right impression from the start. Do I act professional? Do I try to be friendly with him in a way that’s totally out of character for me? I’m not sure what Alastair will expect.
“Are you going to pull out of the parking spot?”
I blink, realizing I’ve been sitting in the driver’s seat for a solid minute. I shake my head at myself, shifting into Drive.
“Wow. Alex Croft, completely dazed by a guy.” Ellie laughs.
As I pull into traffic, I rub at my eye absentmindedly, then quickly pray I haven’t smudged my makeup. “This has nothing to do with a guy. We barely exchanged words. It’s just that tonight is important.”
“I’ve never seen you so flustered. Do you want to talk about it?”
“No,” I say bluntly. Then I laugh when she just wags her eyebrows. “You know I’m nervous about this whole deal. Me babysitting that...player. I’m nervous that after Alastair gives his goodbye speech later tonight, there’ll be no turning back and we’ll all have Kit Walker as a boss.”
Ellie sighs dreamily. “Another reason to wake up with a smile in the morning. Just to see him in the office—”
“Ellie!” I groan, part of me wishing I could be so carefree about men and dating like she is.
When we park outside the hotel, I grab my handbag from the backseat and spend a minute fixing myself up in my wing mirror. Ellie does the same.
“Speaking of possible dates...look who’s here just in time. Methinks some guy at the office likes you.”
As I peer out the window, I spot Ben walking toward us. “Hey, Alex. You look great.” He opens the door for me.
“I—ah, thanks Ben.”
“No, really, you do. You sound like you don’t believe me.”
“I, uh, no, I’m...”
“Ben, she knows she looks hot.”
He frowns at Ellie, then shoots me this sad little smile. It’s probably the kind of look that normally has girls swooning at his feet. He’s got a certain charm, that one. Not that it appeals to me much. He’s a friend, and that’s how I want it to stay.
“Okay then,” he says absentmindedly. As I straighten up, he offers me his arm and I take it, letting him lead Ellie and me inside the hotel.
The party is already getting going, even though it’s early.
Alastair has always known how to throw the best parties. The music and decor are just right: young, simple but edgy. When the guests are happy, everything is good. I just wish I could get in the spirit of it.
“Alastair knows how to get the best vibe. I’ll miss his parties,” Ben says, staring around in awe as Ellie goes over to talk with Angela.
A waiter passes by with glasses of champagne and Ben thanks him as he accepts a glass. The waiter offers me one with a smile and I shake my head, though a drink would really calm my nerves right now.
But I’ve always told myself that I’m not one of those people who need a drink to feel confident.
I guess I’m regretting that stance now.
“Where’s Kit? Have you seen him?” I ask Ben. He wrinkles his nose, half his glass already poured down his throat.
“Who cares? I’m sure you’ll see him later. We should be having fun.”
“It’s a staff party. It’s not meant to be fun.”
“Everyone else is having a good time,” Ben points out. He gestures over to Tim, who has a girl from Accounting on his arm and three empty glasses of champagne on the table beside him. I sigh.
“I
