Cover Girl

“So much for me living the book,” said Keira, watching the couple as they sat and Alexander flagged down a waiter. “Good God. Look at the body on that woman. She’s not just hot, she’s ‘stripper hot’. And her skin was like porcelain.”

“Hey, we still don’t know the deal about the blonde. There was no ring on her finger.”

“Thank you for checking, but I don’t think it matters.” Keira grabbed a bread stick, disgustedly took a bite and talked through the dry crumbs. “Sonofabitch. I can’t compete with a girl who looks like that.”

“Not always about looks, sweetie. For a girl who edits romance, you’re supposed to get that part. And you’re extremely cute.”

“Hot trumps cute every time.” Keira picked up the wine bottle on the table to get a refill and found it empty. “I need another round.” A waiter carrying a bottle of champagne in a silver ice bucket was heading in their direction and she waved at him. He arrived at their table and smiled. “We’re gonna need one more bottle. Who knows, maybe two.”

The waiter laughed as he placed the bucket on the table. “Good timing,” he said, then pointed at Alexander. “From the couple seated next to the fountain.” He popped the cork on the bottle and poured the champagne into two fresh glasses.

She looked at Alexander as he and his companion raised glasses in their direction. She and Gretch smiled and did the same as the waiter placed the bottle back in the bucket and moved on.

Gretch turned back to Keira. “Class act.”

“Only makes it worse.”

Juliette studied Alex’s face as he sipped his wine. “You’re flushed. You like her.”

“You can tell?”

“Pffft.” She waved her hand like she was shooing a fly. “I know your type and I’ve seen that expression you’re wearing.”

“What expression?”

“The quivering lip, the little wobble in your voice that only I notice. You’re scared of her. Which means you like her. Luckily you had your ‘safe date’ on your arm or you would have been a shuddering lump of flesh. You’re smitten. And from the way she looked at you, I can tell the feeling is mutual.”

“You think so?”

“Yep. But the way she checked me out means you need to clear up something right away.”

“What’s that?”

“She thinks we’re a couple.”

“Why would she think that?”

“Duh-uh, you’re out to dinner with another woman. What the hell else is she supposed to think, especially with you putting your arm around me on the way back to the table?”

“Oh, shit. Why the hell did I do that?”

“Because, you clueless idiot, you love me like I love you and you’re an old-fashioned protective Boy Scout. But no big deal. Just make sure you let her know you’re unattached and we’re best buds. Or, if you want, I can time my trip to the ladies room when she goes. I can talk you up.”

He put up his hands. “Nah, then it sounds like a fix-up.”

“Don’t you want to be fixed up?”

“Yeah, but I don’t wanna scare her away. Besides, she might think there’s some sort of ‘conflict of interest’ thing since we’ll be working together.”

“Okay. But, seriously, when you get together tomorrow morning, make sure she knows I’m a platonic friend.”

“Suppose she doesn’t believe me?”

“Why wouldn’t she believe you, Alex?”

“Not too many guys have platonic friends who look like you.”

Juliette smiled and blushed a bit. “See, that’s the sweetness in you that women love. Trust me, she’ll trust you. And if not, I’ve got a backup plan I know will work.”

Keira looked up from her desk and saw Gretch’s disapproving expression. “What?”

“The first guy to ever work on a romance novel is coming in today, he’s got that ‘boy next door’ thing going you can’t resist, he was classy enough to send over a bottle of champagne last night, and that’s what you’re wearing?”

She looked down at her gray suit. “What’s wrong with it?”

Gretch sat on the edge of the desk. “What’s wrong with it is that you wear it here all the time. It screams corporate. Hell, it almost screams cat lady. All that’s missing is a pair of horn-rimmed glasses on a chain.” She tapped Keira on the head with a knuckle. “Earth to Keira! A man who you’re interested in will be here in an hour and a half—”

Keira pointed at Gretch’s ultra-conservative navy-blue dress, which was very out of character. “You’re not dressed to the nines. And I don’t think I’ve ever seen you with a hemline to the knee or something buttoned up to your neck. Did you go to an Amish festival?”

“Funny. Gretch is dressed in the dowdy collection because she is your loyal and trusted assistant who wants Alexander to notice you.”

“Where’d you get that thing? I know you didn’t buy it.”

“Borrowed it from a friend who works in a library. Highly unflattering, don’t you think? Anyway, my natural hotness doesn’t need to be a distraction, hence it remains under wraps.”

“I appreciate that, but c’mon, Gretch, he’s obviously off the market. What’s the point in getting all gussied up?”

“Because, McFly, as we discussed last night, the blonde might not be his girlfriend. Or even someone he dates.”

Keira shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. He’s out of my league.”

“Bullshit. I saw the way he looked at you, and you said you felt some chemistry at lunch yesterday.”

“Yeah, but—”

“Yeah but nothing.” Gretch got up, grabbed Keira’s arm and pulled her out of the chair. “Get your skinny ass home and put on that killer royal-blue dress you wore to the wedding last month.”

“That’s kinda fancy for work, don’t you think?”

“Have you seen how the rest of the office staff dressed today since they found out a man is coming by? It looks like the cattle call for the ‘Tits and Ass’ number in Chorus Line. Now, you live around the corner so you have no excuse for not going home and getting dolled up.” Gretch put her hand on Keira’s back and pushed her toward the door. “Go. Don’t come back until you look as hot as possible. Do something with your hair. And when he gets here I’m gonna clear up the mystery about the blonde first thing.”

“How are you gonna do that?”

“Trust me, boss. I know how to get information out of men.”

“Yeah, but we don’t have a bed in my office.”

“Very funny.” She pointed at the elevator. “Home. Now. Gussy up.”