There was a hint of something in her voice, and he tensed before he realized it was simply puzzlement. Playing with the edge of the plate, he forced himself to relax. “That’s why we came here, so no one would recognize us.”
Comprehension dawned, and she set her phone aside. “Because there are a lot of hos who want to use you for your money.”
“Hos?” He raised his brow.
She shrugged. “Like I said, Netflix.”
“I haven’t told Rachel that I’m a footballer yet,” he confessed.
“But you’re going to?” she asked, frowning.
“Yes.” He had to, especially before they became too intimate. He raked his fingers through his hair, pressing his lips together. “I don’t want who I am to influence how she feels about me.”
“It won’t.” Lottie gestured with her hand, emphasizing her belief. “Without a doubt. My girl is steadfast and cares about people, not things.”
“She works in PR,” he pointed out. “She must care about things too.”
“She works in PR but she’s miserable in it. Who wouldn’t be, working for a company whose acronym is TMI?” Lottie shook her head. Then she fixed her gaze on him. “How long are you staying here?”
“We’d planned on three weeks at the most.”
Humming, Lottie nodded. “Which means you need to figure out what Rachel means to you fast.”
He leaned forward. “What is the word you’d give me for her?”
“Partner,” she said immediately. “That peckerwood she married was only out for himself. Rachel needs a partner she can nurture but who also nurtures her.”
Nodding, he absorbed that. Then he decided to go for it. “What word would you give to me?”
“Precipice,” she said just as instantly. “You think you’ve reached the end of this path you’ve been on, and you’re staring at the wild expanse before you, thinking your only choice is to jump.”
He thought of Brad and the offer and shook his head. “There’s another option?”
“Of course there is, sweetheart.” She leaned forward and took his hand. “You can decide to fly.”
Eight
“Rachel.”
Rachel looked up from staring at her computer screen blankly as she had thoughts about Jamie. “Yes?” she said as perkily as she could, trying to focus on Hailey, who was suddenly barricading the entrance to her cubicle.
“Where is the slideshow for the Threshold Properties presentation?” Her boss gave her a flat stare. “You have that, don’t you?”
Of course she had it. She’d gotten here early this morning to finish it, even though the presentation wasn’t until Friday.At Hailey’s request. “I sent it to the team this morning, but I can send it again.”
“Great.” Hailey grimaced—her version of a smile—and slithered away.
She shook her head. It was only Monday. This was going to be the longest weekever. To think speed dating had been just yesterday.
The word that kept echoing in her head:distracted. As in her, because of Jamie. It was either that or she’d hit her head without realizing it, because she was forgetting things, walking into doors, and suddenly going off into a lusty daydream in the middle of conversations with her coworkers.
No guy had ever distracted her like this.
It’d only beenone daysince they’d decided they were going to see each other.
She picked up her mobile to text him. If she asked him, what word would he give her?
Of course he’d saykisses. She wanted them. It’d been so long since she’d been kissed. When she thought about it, she wasn’t sure she’d ever been properly kissed.