Mingle All the Way Read online

  A wave of adrenaline washes over me and I sit up, nodding. “It’s just that he works here too—not in the same department though,” I add, quickly. “So, I didn’t think it was such a good idea to put his picture up on my desk.”

  Slow it down. Take a breath.

  Under the clear desk, my knee starts bouncing again because I’m nervous, and also, I’m a big fat liar. But it’s too late to take it back now.

  I press my hand down hard on my knee to still it, and flash him a closed-mouth smile.

  This is not one of those times when you can just say, JK. I was just seeing how you’d react. No take-backs. My heart pounds against my chest.

  Boy, I have really done it this time.

  My phone pings back immediately.

  * * *

  Todd 9:43 am

  So, what happened? Have you seen her since?

  * * *

  My brother, Todd, and I had been texting back and forth when I made the mistake of mentioning I’d been on a speed date. Now, despite having the perfect marriage, a kid on the way, and a dream job running a local all sci-fi bookstore, for some reason he feels the need to live vicariously through my love life.

  I’m about to respond with some vague dismissal of the subject when I lift my chin and catch a sight of Nina’s wide-eyed nervous expression. I follow her line of vision.

  From back here in web development, I have the perfect view of Spencer James’s office, so the glare off his swinging glass door as Riley Mills comes out speed-walking immediately snags my attention.

  Shit.

  I toss my phone aside and shoot Riley a thumbs up in question, thinking she’s going to veer off to her cubicle, but she does not detour. Todd can wait. Her eyes are wide. Her neck is stretched tall. The further down the aisle she gets, the panic on her face comes in clear and in technicolor.

  Then I realize she’s on a straight path for me.

  The fact she passes her own desk and beelines toward the back catches everyone’s attention. Heads begin popping up over the walls. Apparently, they’re all watching her too. Naturally, she gets the side-eye from Jessica who’s put two and two together to figure out Riley is the “diamond in the rough.”

  When Riley reaches me, I flash her a hopeful smile. “How’d it go?”

  She flits a glance at the coffee cup on my desk then at the one I left on Evelyn’s from marketing—to return the favor—before grabbing my hand and dragging me to the exit where all the smokers take their breaks every fifteen minutes. As soon as we’re outside, she gives the two people chilling along the wall her famous, and effective, death stare.

  Warned, they quickly put out their cigarettes and duck back inside.

  “What? It went that bad?” I ask once we’re alone.

  Riley starts fanning her hands and taking gulps of air. “Oh my god. Oh my god. Shit. I’m totally freaking out right now.”

  “Relax. You were in there for like twenty minutes. I’m sure it’s going to be fine,” I say, gently touching her arm.

  Apparently, touching her is what it takes to calm her down because she stops with the flailing hands, and her whole body tenses.

  “Sorry,” I say instinctively.

  “It’s okay. I just…I told Spencer James we’ve been in a serious relationship for almost four years.”

  My mouth falls open. Then all the air in my chest vacuums out of me. “Why?” I scrub both hands over my face and drag them through my hair. “Why would you tell him that?”

  I cannot close my mouth.

  “It started off fine. I went in there and said I was interested in the position. But then he changed the subject to family and holiday shopping and why I didn’t have pictures on my desk. I couldn’t get Jessica’s words out of my mind, so I figured, if he only promotes sticky people, I’d say I was in a serious relationship.”

  “Okay, I’m still not following where I come in.”

  “Not only do I want this in this worst way, but I also don’t want Jessica to get the position. Can you imagine working for her?”

  I pinch the bridge of my nose. “No, but when did you throw me into the mix?”

  “Right. So, you walked by, and I got an idea. It seemed innocent enough to say I didn’t have pictures because I was dating someone at Lovestruck in a different department. But then he asked who…”

  “And you couldn’t have said anyone else. What about Darrell or Caleb?”

  I heave a sigh and start pacing the side of the building, but when I pivot to her again, it’s back. The death stare.

  “What?”

  “Why Darrell or Caleb? Because they’re black too?” She juts her chin out. Her tone is all vinegar, no honey. “I guess you and Renee or Charlotte are matches made in ginger heaven, then.”

  My stride is easy as I erase the distance between us. “It wasn’t like that. I just meant, I know you’re friends with those guys. I always see you talking and laughing with them. Let’s be real here, the first time you’ve said more than two words to me was at the speed date event. Let’s not act like we owe each other favors.”

  She takes a deep breath, which I’m guessing is her way of acknowledging my point. “Sorry. It wasn’t fair to just lump you in with Renee and Charlotte. You’re pretty cute for a gingy.”

  Every muscle in my body softens against her words—well, almost every muscle. “Cute, huh?”

  “Anyway.” She rolls her eyes playfully and her lashes sweep up in a flutter as she laughs. “You should’ve seen how Spencer lit up when I told him it was you.”

  “Really?” Hmm.

  Riley arches a brow and the beginnings of a smile tug at the corners of her lips. “Yes. He said he wants me to bring you to the holiday party, and he’ll keep me in mind for the position.”

  “Okay, so what’s the plan then? How are we going to do this?”

  She shoots me a megawatt smile. “So we are doing this?”

  I nod even though I must be out of my mind. Everything can go wrong, but I’m helpless against those eyes…and those lips.

  “For what it’s worth, I didn’t know if you’d agree, so I told Spencer we were keeping it low-key and professional for work purposes. All we have to do is shoot each other sweet smiles every once in a while, until the party when he announces his decision. I won’t sneer at you. And you can bat your long lashes at me and make the marketing girls all jealous.”

  Riley peeks her tongue out to lick her lips and I’d pretty much say yes to anything she asks.

  “Then,” she starts, and I think it’s going one way, but she says, “when the time is right, we’ll stage a breakup.”

  It surprises me how my shoulders sag. What did I think she was going to say, we’ll take things slowly? What things? We barely know each other. Still, she’s got the ending figured out before we’ve even begun.

  I’m going to need more time to downshift.

  “You know, that’s the second time you’ve brought up the marketing girls…” I say, buying myself some time.

  Riley sinks her teeth into her full lower lip, a move that hasn’t failed to make my dick twitch yet. She lifts her brows and smiles. “I dare you to tell me I’m wrong.”

  I dare you to tell me you haven’t been watching me, too.

  I take another step closer until there’s only inches between us. In heels, Riley’s top lip is aligned with my lower. If I wanted to, I could eliminate the whisper of a distance between us and taste her sweet heat. I could pull a deliciously sexy moan from her mouth and see what she’d think about playing with this fire between us then.

  She’s breathless. Her chest rises and falls to a quick staccato daring me to finish what she started.

  Instead, I slide my hand to her waist and dip my hand in her jacket pocket where she stashes her phone. Then, as much as I hate being away from her heat, I step back. “Why don’t we work on that picture for your desk?”

  This is going to be fun.

  Chapter Four

  After that libido jumpstart he p
ulled by the side of the building with his face an inch from my mouth, we had an impromptu photoshoot, and the games began. I may have pressed my ass up against his completely impressive hard-on, but he started it when he banded his arms around me, wrapping me in his warm, spicy scent.

  Where did this guy even come from? He always seemed sleazy and a little too…too something. Where’s he been hiding his smooth, gentle, heat magnet side? And why am I just taking notice?

  Why am I so caught up in this farce?

  A week later, there are exactly two totally appropriate framed pictures of us on my desk. One is in a frame with the words “Joy to the World” at the top, with my back flush against his chest and his lips alarmingly close to my ear. It has definitely provided fodder for office gossip—joy for those with no business of their own to mind.

  We’re all anyone wants to talk about.

  The second frame is more for my own amusement. As bad as I wanted Chase that day, I indeed felt like a Ho!Ho!Ho!

  “Hey, babe, you ready to pack it in for the day?”

  Chase glides his hand down my spine, and I may as well be naked by the way my skin blazes under his touch.

  Focus, Riley. This is not real.

  I jolt upright, correcting my posture and swivel to face him. “Logging off now, sweetums,” I say, wishing I didn’t feel as flustered as I’m sure I look.

  A quick glance around the room reveals the office is almost cleared out for the day. Jessica and Charlotte are headed toward the exit, but the fact we’re basically the last two people here doesn’t exactly do the trick to ease my nerves.

  In fact, as I slip on my pale blue peacoat, I feel the tension in my shoulders tighten. “Ready.”

  But then, just like every time Chase intertwines our fingers, I’m putty. My pulse picks up and a literal shiver runs over my body.

  “Relax,” he whispers then jerks his chin to Spencer’s office. “He always stays late on Tuesdays.”

  I nod and do my best to even my breathing, but, dammit, Chase Campbell is beyond sexy in his black leather jacket. My mind keeps dragging me through images of him on a damn motorcycle telling me to climb on. I don’t even like motorcycles. They’re unsafe.

  “Got it.” I swallow and nod repeatedly, making the mistake of meeting his heated gaze.

  Maybe I didn’t think this fake relationship thing through.

  And as far as hats go on guys, they’re usually hit or miss. Especially this time of year when women can get duped by a guy who’s seemingly hot until he removes his cap to reveal a misshapen head or a weirdly unbalanced forehead. But, my stars, Chase’s strong bearded jaw with that little tweed ivy cap. Phew. It shades his steel blue eyes in a way that does wonders for my imagination—one more layer to remove with my teeth.

  “Okay. He’s watching so…I’m going to kiss you.”

  Alarms could be going off. Bombs could be dropping out of the sky. Hell, if I know. I can’t hear a thing over the sound of my heartbeat pounding in my ears. Kiss?

  His throat bobs.

  “What, here? Now?”

  “Preferably while he’s got an uninterrupted view.”

  Chase scratches his beard. It’s my mistake for looking because now I want to feel the roughness on my lips and run my fingers in it. Between my thighs… “Um…” My throat has closed up. I’m blinking like a wild banshee. What the hell is a banshee, anyway? Do banshees even blink? “Okay.”

  He leans in painstakingly slow, and I’m holding my breath because I’m not sure I won’t faint. I close my eyes.

  I hear a warm, throaty laugh from deep down.

  When I flutter my eyes I open, the man is doubled over. “I got you so good,” he says between chuckles.

  My mouth falls open. This fool…

  “But it’s good to know you’re game.” He clears his throat. “The man said it was fine since we’re in different departments, but I doubt he’s good with us putting on a show right in front of him.” Obviously. Ugh.

  I shrug. “Not for nothing, but I was just seeing if you’d go along with it.”

  “Yeah, okay. Come on. Let’s get out of here.” Chase throws his arm over my shoulder and grabs my purse as we walk toward the exit. “You have an umbrella?”

  “No. I’m good though. My car isn’t far.”

  He’s still biting back a laugh. “We can share. Mine’s big enough...”

  “Ha. Ha.”

  Chase tosses me a wink, and I want to be pissed. I really want to be, but it’s kind of hard when he’s so dang adorable. Plus, I’m the one who dragged him into this “relationship.” He’s just making the most of it—finding all the humor.

  * * *

  Outside the cool air lassoes the rain, whipping it against us as I fumble to open up my umbrella.

  “Ooh, it’s coming down hard,” Riley says, huddling close to me under the awning. “Should we make a run for it?”

  “Shit.” I jab at the release button three more times. “It won’t open.”

  Riley folds her arms over her chest, shifting on her feet. “It’s cool. Don’t worry about it.”

  My eyes dart from her warm brown eyes to her twisted locs. “But what about your hair?” I ask, which is apparently a mistake because her upper lip curls as she pins me in place with the return of her favorite expression from hell. “What about my hair?”

  “Isn’t it sort of a big deal for—”

  “For black girls? Ugh. It’s obvious you’ve never dated a black girl. Is that why you brought that janky umbrella?”

  I drop my chin and swipe my hand through my wet hair before meeting her gaze again. But this time her expression is soft, alight with…amusement?

  “Don’t laugh, but I might have googled ‘things important to black women.’” I let my head fall back and groan. “Shit, that is completely pathetic, isn’t it?”

  There’s a long stretch of silence during which she says nothing, and I feel like a total asshole for having said anything at all.

  “I’m totally fucking with you.” She giggles. “But your research on my behalf, is maybe the funniest, sweetest…sexiest thing a guy has ever done for me.”

  All the humor drains from her face and is replaced by a fire so bright, I’m blinded.

  In a move I couldn’t have come up with in my wildest dreams, Riley steps from underneath the overhang out into the rain letting it drip in streams over her smooth, rich brown skin and through her hair. Under her fixed gaze my pulse quickens as she twists her hands into the drenched fabric of my shirt.

  My body comes to attention.

  “You got me back for the kiss thing. I call truce.” The words claw out of me tortured and gruff. “Please, don’t let this be a joke.”

  Riley erases the distance between us and peeks up at me.

  We agreed on sweet smiles and five-second glances, which we’d upped to ten when Spencer James was around. Aside from the framed couple’s pictures displayed on both of our desks, that was the extent of our deal.

  But, the Lovestruck holiday party is in two weeks, and I know Riley feels the lines blurring too.

  The number of walks I’ve taken past her cubicle alone have tripled—there’s only so many cups of coffee I can bring her. I write her silly letters about IT policies and framework, and she responds with hearts and statistics I know she makes up, but I love it. Everything about this fake relationship feels more real than anything I’ve shared with a woman up to this point.

  And, now this.

  “Oh, there’s nothing funny about how I’m feeling right now.” A ghost of a smile plays on her lips before she presses them into the curve of my neck electrifying me. The heat of her mouth and the rain sear through me. She’s kissing, nipping, tasting, and I haven’t even touched her yet.

  Every inch of me craves this woman. I’m wrapped up in the scent of her— warm vanilla and coconut—as my muscles lose tension. My breaths come fast and shallow as she gently lifts the brim of my cap and stands up onto her toes. She weaves her hands behind m
y neck and pins me with a different kind of stare.

  This one I love.

  “Is this okay?” she asks.

  My heart skitters, and I must nod or give some sign of approval because her soft lips brush over mine. With my aching fingers I fist her jacket fabric, tugging her flush to my chest. I pull her lower lip into my mouth, coaxing out the tiniest, sweetest moan. Her breath hitches.

  Desire radiates between us, and I deepen the kiss, slipping my tongue between her lips, licking, exploring, matching her rhythm.

  She feels so good.

  One minute, I’m a bundle of nerves trying not to offend her or overstep her boundaries. The next, this amazing woman is kissing my neck, and her hands are roaming over my chest. My heartbeat revs up. How did we even get here? Is this some part of her plan she failed to let me in on?

  But there’s no one around to see it…

  Every nerve ending on my body stirs and tingles. “Are we really doing this?” I ask, reluctant to hear the answer. Suddenly, someone clears his throat. My eyes snap open. Her throat.

  “Hey, Jessica…”

  Her mouth is hanging open to the wet ground, and her eyes dart between me and Riley, whose wine-colored lipstick is nearly gone.

  “Thought you’d left earlier,” I say.

  “Forgot my phone. Sorry to interrupt.” She turns on her hot pink heel, then pauses, twirling her matching umbrella as she pivots back to us with a narrowed gaze. “So, you guys really think you’re pulling off this whole—” she gestures her free hand to us “—whatever this sloppy mess is you’re doing? Because spoiler alert. You’re not. No one believes you’ve been undercover lovers for four years.

  “Oh, right. The ‘diamond in the rough’ is conveniently in love when Spence is about to announce the new marketing manager.”

  She gives us a deadpan stare as if it’s too much of a bother to match the foam coming from her thin lips with an actual glare.

  Riley twists in my arms, but she doesn’t move to step away. Her stare travels slowly from Jessica’s heels up to her eyes before she speaks. “Are you mad? Jealous?” she asks evenly.