Page 41 of About Last Night

"You really shouldn't do that."

He pressed his lips together, then shot a weary look in her direction. "And why not?"

"It's not a natural movement for your body."

"Oh, but I suppose standing on your head in a yoga poseisa natural movement."

She upended a shopping bag on the bed. "Several other species hang upside down, but none that I know of crack their knuckles."

Derek stared at her. The woman was absolutely relentless, not to mention oblivious to how she affected him.

"I had Manny bring you some shaving cream," she said, waving a small can.

"I hope he broughtyoua razor."

"You," she said, pointing, "need to relax."

At the sight of that little finger wagging, his blood pressure spiked again. "Well, excuse me," he said, tapping a key to bring his blank laptop screen back to life. "I'm sort of stuck in a quarantine in Atlanta, with a friend of mine's accident-prone bride, for God only knows how long, while an important client in Kentucky sits waiting for a brilliant ad campaign that I don't have." He shoved both hands into his hair, leaned his elbows on the desk and stared at the trio of honey and bee by-products that were supposed to save his firm. "I'm a little stressed here," he croaked.

Suddenly his antagonist was behind him, her sweet breath on his neck. "You know, Derek," she murmured. "I just might be able to help."

Chapter 12

JANINE COULDhelp his stress? Derek tensed for her touch. Part of him shouted he absolutely shouldnotallow her to rub his shoulders, while the rest of him clamped down on his inner voice. Her right hand drifted past his ear, and he fairly groaned in anticipation. But when she reached around to pluck up one of the containers of honey, he frowned and turned to face her.

She was studying the label. "Your client is Phillips Honey?"

"Potential client. You've heard of them?"

"Nope."

His shoulders fell. "Neither has anyone else."

"Bee-yoo-ti-ful honey?" she read, then made a face. "I hope that wasn't your idea."

Derek smiled and shook his head. "No. The CEO is shopping for a new ad agency."

"With a slogan like that, I can see why."

"I'm supposed to meet with him Monday. He's looking for a new label, a new slogan, a new campaign—the whole package."

She shrugged. "So what's the problem?"

"Other than the fact that I might still behereon Monday?"

Janine nodded a little sheepishly.

"Well, excluding Winnie the Pooh, honey isn't exactly in demand these days."

"Oh?"

He gestured toward her. "Doyouput honey on your toast in the morning?"

She shook her head. "Not typically."

"Drizzle it over homemade granola?"

"Nope."

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