Page 10 of Conrad

Red wine dripped down Conrad’s front onto his expensive dress pants.

She grabbed a couple paper towels, ran them under water. “I’m so sorry—” Her eyes burned. What had she been thinking, trying to?—

“Hey.” He’d put the glass down on the marble countertop. Met her eyes through the mirror. “This isn’t over. You gave him a lot to think about.”

“Yeah, which he’ll use to look up some case law and hunker down on top of it like a junkyard dog on a pile of old hubcaps.”

She got a smile.

He took off his jacket and hung it on an open stall door. And then he took off his soiled shirt.

And the undershirt.

Which left only his stained skin. He cleaned it off while she ran his shirt under cold water, soaping it up and scrubbing. It worked out much of the stain, leaving a cloud of gray, but maybe with some bleach. . . .

He threw the undershirt into the trash. Then he took the wet shirt from her, ran the dryer and held the garment under it.

Penelope leaned against the tile wall, her arms folded. Tried not to admire the view, but yes, so much better than a stupid calendar. Washboard stomach, burly shoulders, muscled arms.

The man was beautiful.

Too bad she didn’t date. Athletes or otherwise.

He finished with the shirt and tugged it back on. It was still wet, and it stuck to his skin in places, but he grabbed his jacket and pulled it on too. Shoved his bowtie into his pocket.

“I have an auction to attend,” he said.

“And I’m in the mood to spend money.”

He held out an elbow. She looped her arm through it, and he opened the door.

He stepped out first, and by the time she followed him, the press had already grabbed their shots. They blocked the hallway, shouting.

“Miss Pepper, why were you in the bathroom with Conrad Kingston?”

“Conrad, is Penelope Pepper your good luck charm?”

“Penelope, is he your plus one?”

Maybe.

Conrad held up his arm and ushered her out into the hall.

She spotted Franco near the door, his arms folded, a look of annoyance on his face.Oops.Thankfully he hadn’t made a scene. Calm down.Conrad was harmless.

Even, maybe, safe.

Now, Conrad ushered her into the event area, shutting the door on the paparazzi.

She looked at him. “Thank you.”

He smiled down at her. “Anytime.” He winked.

And she couldn’t help but lift herself up and kiss him. Sweetly, on the cheek. Like a friend.

Then she lowered herself back down and patted his chest. “Now. Let’s see if I can win me Mr. June.”

TWO

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