blinked. “Thank you, I think.”
“You’re welcome,” she said as briskly as she could. “What type of dress for the party?”
“Cocktail,” he said, his gaze still on her like radar on a car clocking 95 in a 55 mph zone.
“Okay, thanks for your time,” she said, and scooped up her sketches. “I guess I’ll see you Saturday night.”
“Sure. Don’t you need directions to the house?” he asked.
“Good point,” she said, eager to get out of the room. Wasn’t this what she’d wanted? Hadn’t she wanted him to notice her? But her heart was beating too fast, and she felt out of her depth. “Could your assistant e-mail them to me?”
“Yes, that’ll work. How’s your car?”
Oh, no, now he was being nice again. She immediately slowed and met his gaze. “It’s fine. Thank you for asking. It was the battery. Thank you again for helping me out.” She bit her lip. “I put a little something on your desk as a token of my gratitude.”
He glanced down and saw the leather box and opened it. His lips tilted in a smile. “Peppermint patties.”
“Your emergency stash,” she said.
He looked at her, and she felt the flicker of understanding shimmer between them, as if they were both on a secret team. Her heart stuttered.
“Thanks,” he said. “I can’t remember the last time a woman gave me candy.”
Oh, no. Did he think she was flirting with him with peppermint patties? Coming on to him? Which she would if she knew how. But this was really just a thank-you. She’d thought it was, anyway. Jenny bit her lip and strained to dream up a flirty comeback. “Maybe that will make them taste even better,” she managed, surprising herself.
“Maybe,” he said, and she saw the slightest spark of sexual challenge in his eyes. “You’ll need to keep me well supplied.”
Feeling as if she were stepping into untried waters, she resisted the urge to back out. “I’ll have to find out what your appetite is. For peppermint patties.”
“Yeah, you will.”
Her throat swelling from the tension, she decided to run before she did something stupid. She cleared her throat. “I’ll do that. Thanks again for your time, and please don’t forget to have your assistant send me the directions to the party.”
“Will do. Thanks again for the candy.”
“You’re welcome,” she said, and felt his gaze on her as she exited his office. Holding her breath until she reached her office, she closed the door behind her and sank against it.
Omigoodness, Marc Waterson had actually looked at her and even kinda flirted with her. Her heart was still racing, and she knew her face looked as if she’d spent the day in the sun.
A dozen thoughts raced through her head. Okay, so this Marc Waterson thing had been a fun, unrequited fantasy like Huey Lewis. Did she really want to make it come true? And sheesh, were men really so superficial that they couldn’t notice a woman until she raised her hemline and took off her glasses? Ridiculous, she thought, frowning in disgust.
Right, her conscience prodded her. And was she so superficial that she noticed Marc Waterson because of his bone structure and body?
Jenny mentally stuck her tongue out at herself and decided to call Chad. Whether or not she had the guts to go through with her fantasy with Marc, she would still need some help getting ready for the cocktail party.
Two hours later she got ready to leave work, and her e-mail alert went off. She checked her in-box and found a message from Marc. “J—No need for both of us to drive. I’ll pick you up at 7:45 p.m.—M”
AFTER SPENDING THREE HOURS shopping with Chad on Saturday, Jenny was still grumbling as the two entered her apartment. “The hem is way too short. I’m going to end up hurting someone in those spike-heeled sandals. You wait and see.”
Chad gave a bad boy smile. “That might not be all bad. Maybe VP guy is into a little S&M. Besides, you’re wearing a jacket. The color is dark purple instead of the red I chose. You could almost wear this as a business suit.”
“If I were a hooker,” she retorted in disbelief. She was so nervous she was considering canceling.
“I still think you should go no panties,” Chad said and looked in her refrigerator. “I’m opening this bottle of wine. You need a glass or two. I do, too.” He opened the bottle of Chardonnay, filled a glass and gave it to her.
Jenny took a big gulp then a second. “I don’t know about this, Chad. This isn’t me.”
Chad filled his glass and groaned. “Maybe your ‘me’ needs to expand a little bit. Besides this is my big opportunity to do my queer eye for the straight girl. Don’t blow it for me,” he said, then put his arm around her. “What’s the worst thing that could happen?”
“I’ll do something stupid,” she said.
“I’ll have you looking so stunning it won’t matter what you do.”
“What if he thinks I look like a slut?”
“A dream come true,” Chad said.
Jenny scowled at him.
“You will be classy but sexy. Okay, we’re obviously going at this from the wrong angle. What’s the best thing that could happen?”
That was easy. “He’ll remember my name.”
“During or after sex?”
Jenny gave a double take. Despite the sexy dress and the condoms Chad had insisted she put in her purse, she knew there was no way she was having sex with Marc Waterson. No way. She had to take this step by step. “I really don’t think Marc and I are going to have sex at this party. I would just be happy if he remembered my name, period.”
Chad shot her a look of pity and shook his head. “Oh, dear girl, you must learn to aim higher.”
“I’ve been hearing that my whole life,” she muttered, and took another long gulp of wine.
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