Page 59 of Sass

“Bullshit.” Beck grinned like a cat who’d got the cream, and I wanted to slap him. Then his eyes blew wide. “Whoa. You actually like him.” For an ivory tower poetry professor, he was too damn intuitive, not to mention annoying.

“He likes him?” Rhys frowned and looked between us, then zeroed in on me, and try though I might, I couldn’t stop my gaze sliding away. “Oh my god.” Rhys fell back in his chair. “You’re right, babe.” He held up his fist and Beck met it with his own.

“As afriend. I like him as afriend.” I put every ounce of determination into my tone that I could muster. “We fucked. We talked. We moved on. That’s it. Now we’re friends, nothing more. That’s what you wanted, wasn’t it? For us to stop the feud and be friends?”

Rhys’s eyes danced with mirth. “Riiight. So, you were only taking one for the team.” He shot Beck a sunny look. “See, it was all for us, baby. Wasn’t that kind of Kip?”

Beck snorted. “Such a big-hearted guy.”

“Oh, shut up,” I growled. “I’m going now.Someonehas to save your label from the ghost of Christmas financial ruin, after all.”

Rhys was still laughing. “Oh, don’t be like th—”

“Go... now... line... breaking up... can’t he... next time—” I ended the call to the sound of the two of them still laughing their heads off. Arseholes. Then I fell back in my office chair and chuckled because, arseholes or not, I loved them to bits.

None of which solved my problem about Leon.

I shoved it from my mind and set about ordering the substitute fabric and emailing our new manufacturer to give her the good news. I’d just finished when Drew once again poked his head into the office, looking sharp in red trousers and a killer black-and-red striped shirt.

“Hey, Boss. Store’s empty and I moved all the remaining sale items onto the two front racks like you asked. The new setup is working really well. Rhys is gonna love it.”

I hoped so. I’d decided to embrace Leon’s advice and just do the fucking job, like I already was. I’d already made some shelving and stock changes. Next had been a rejig of the whole store layout to create a better flow for customers and cleaner lines of sight from the service desk. It looked great, even if I said so myself.

“Can you keep an ear out for customers and I’ll make us a coffee?” Drew offered.

“Will do, but first...” I waved him to a seat and took a deep breath. “At the risk of getting my head bitten off... about the other day... with Gary?”

Drew stiffened. “Please, Kip, I’m not in the mood for—”

“He likes you,” I blurted with my usual tact. “It’s so fucking obvious, it’s painful. And if I were a betting man, I’d say he’s already asked you on a date.”

Drew’s eyes widened. “That’s beside the point. It’s not like he and I could ever be...anything.”

I frowned. “And why the hell not?”

“Because—” Drew hesitated, then shook his head and sighed. “I’m not sure if he knows... you know... and if he doesn’t and I tell him, then he probably wouldn’t...” He trailed off, his gaze sliding away. “Look, it doesn’t matter. I get it. I know I pass. But it’s different when—” He glanced back and the pain in his eyes cut straight to my heart. “It’s just easier not to—”

“Try? Hope? Take a chance?” I offered, and Drew’s expression turned to misery. I rounded my desk and crossed to where he sat chewing on his lip, taking the seat alongside. “Believe me, I know all about not taking chances. But I’m happy on my own, Drew. Whereas you were made to be loved, and you deserve to be.”And what about me?I quashed the thought. “You deserve to have someone at your back and a soft pair of arms to land in.”

He frowned, eyes brimming. “You sound like Beck. That’s very poetic and all, but I’m not sure I could take another...”

“Rejection?” I scowled, wanting the names of every man who’d hurt this sweet man.

Drew shrugged. “It’s hard. Knowing and believing in who I am is one thing. Putting myself out there for someone else? Shit, Kip. That’s a whole lot of terrifying.”

“There will always be arseholes, honey.” My heart broke for him. “God knows I’ve met more than my fair share. And maybe it’s not the right time or the right man, but Gary is good people. And if I’m not mistaken, he’s a smitten little bow-tie-wearing kitten over you. Just saying.”

Drew met my gaze and held it. “You really think that?”

I grinned. “Really. He asked you out, didn’t he? And he’s also well aware I’d crucify him slowly and painfully if he ever hurt you. Maybe you could give him a chance rather than decide for him.”

Hope played in Drew’s eyes for a bit before fear quickly replaced it again. “I dunno. What would he see in someone like me? He’s this up-and-coming fashion photographer, and I’m just—”

“An awesome, smart, hot guy, with a heart like a lion. Who’s generous, kind, quick witted, funny, and honest.” I threw up my hands. “Yeah, I can see how he’d hate that. Must be such a drag to date someone like that.”

“Shut up.” Drew flushed and dropped his eyes to the floor. “That’s not me.”

I tipped his chin up with my finger, forcing him to look at me. “Yes, it is.” I dropped my hand and stepped back. “Do you like him?”

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