Page 41 of Just One Fake Date

She was starting to wonder whether she’d been too subtle in showing her interest. Ty was, after all, a perfect gentleman. For all she knew, the interest was mutual but he was too polite to make the first move.

Maybe at this week’s meeting, she’d find out.

Cassie had arranged for a presentation at the partners’ weekly meeting by a member, Meesha, about a trend the younger woman had noticed on social media. She’d come to Cassie with her observations and suggestions, but Cassie’s big takeaway was that a high percentage of members who were inclined to ship paired her with Ty.

Meesha’s presentation could be the opening Cassie had been waiting for.

She dressed for success on this particular Wednesday, instead of just showing up in yoga gear as she usually did. Cassie went home after her last class to change into a cute little navy suit she’d bought for business meetings. The skirt was short enough to show her legs to advantage. The suit was feminine and chic, and to her thinking, made it look more likely that she and Mr. GQ could be a couple.

Maybe clothes could help Ty see the obvious.

She twisted up her hair into an up-do more complicated than her usual messy ponytail and liked the result. As a bonus, Cassie wore her newest pair of killer heels and her reddest lipstick. She even took a cab back to the club, instead of walking as usual. A couple of the regular guys wolf-whistled after her as she crossed the lobby, which didn’t hurt her confidence one bit.

She wasn’t surprised to hear Kyle and Damon already bickering in the conference room when she entered the offices. They’d done it for so long that it was an ingrained habit, and it had never meant anything anyway. Jax, who Cassie considered F5F’s resident dragon lady and threshold guardian, rolled her eyes at the sound of the guys.

“They’ll never quit,” Cassie said.

“When they do, we’ll know there’s something really wrong,” Jax said drily. She was in her forties and managed human resources for the club, scheduling teachers and balancing their part-time work force with military precision. She was the original woman of few words and one of the best kick-boxers at the club. Cassie wanted to be Jax when she grew up.

“You’re last.” Jax said and Cassie took a deep breath that Ty was in close proximity. Jax seemed to sense her excitement because she looked up from her spreadsheet to survey Cassie. “Anything wrong?”

“No, why?”

“You look like you’re going for a job interview.” Jax’s eyes narrowed. “Maybe you’re going to quit.”

“Never! I just wanted to up the ante.” She spun, showing off. “Like it?”

Jax nodded. “Love it.” She indicated Meesha, who was perched on the lip of a chair, waiting. “I still think you two are up to something.”

Meesha had her laptop on her knees and held a large insulated coffee cup. She was also wearing a suit, although hers was pale pink with a ruffle on the hem. She had a smile that could light a room and it made sense that social media was her natural environment. She was in her early twenties, exuberant, and her love of the color pink bordered upon an obsession. Her hair was tipped pink today, maybe for the meeting.

“Ready?” Cassie asked her.

Meesha nodded. “I’ve never done this before, not to people’s faces.”

“More used to doing it online?” Cassie teased.

“Or behind the scenes.” She took a gulp of her coffee.

“You’ll rock it. Don’t worry.”

Cassie and Meesha exchanged thumbs-up, and Jax started to pack up for the day.

Heart in her throat, Cassie went into the conference room, her gaze flying to Ty. He was wearing a navy suit and crisp tie, frowning slightly as he reviewed the financial reports for the previous month. Ignoring Kyle and Damon, just like usual. Yum, yum, yum, just like usual, too. Ignoring her arrival in standard operating mode.

Cassie refused to be discouraged by that.

Theo was leaning in, pointing at an item on Ty’s laptop as he murmured a comment. He was suited up, too, his cufflinks flashing as he indicated a line item. The pair conferred quietly, two peas in a pod.

Kyle, predictably, missed nothing and refrained from comment on nothing. He did a double-take at the sight of her, then gave a whistle. “Nobody told me we changed the dress code,” he said, getting up to prowl around Cassie. “Damn, woman, you could stop traffic in that suit.” He made a growling sound and Cassie shoved him back toward his chair.

“Down, boy,” she said, well aware that Ty had barely glanced up.

“Big date afterward?” Kyle asked, with typical curiosity.

“No. I just felt like dressing up for a change.”

“Thank you for adding to the view,” Kyle said and she wished she had something to throw at him.

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