Page 14 of Jilted

Fuck. “Um, yes. They’re definitely getting a lot of attention.”

“Good, good. So how would you like to cover twelve more? Actually, eleven, since you already attended the first one. We’ll make a series. Twelve dumbass Harvard boys from the same fraternity got engaged last year. Must’ve been something in the water. But making it into a series was my son’s idea, actually. When he came over yesterday and suggested it, I thought it might be a bit much—seeing the same people every month in the magazine. A lot of the boys are in all of the wedding parties. But after talking to Bill and hearing about the way social media took a shine to the first wedding, I’m thinking maybe it could work. Though I wanted to hear firsthand from the woman in the trenches. Tell me, what do you think, Sloane?”

Ugh.I couldn’t imagine dealing with that crew for a full year. I didn’t get to know the other ladies too well, but if they tolerated Piper, there had to be something wrong with them. And the guys—well, I knew for certain at least one was a Harvard douche, as Mr. Hayes said. But… how could I say no when his son had suggested it? Plus, if he didn’t know social media was blowing up because I’d posted a nip slip, I wasn’t about to tell him. So I had no choice but to suck it up.

I plastered on my best smile. “I think that’s a great idea. The readers will love it. I’m sure they’ll look forward to the layout every month, a chance to revisit the group. People love a series of anything nowadays.”

Hayes nodded, looking pleased. “Very good then. My son is popping in tonight before he flies home. I’ll have him stop by your office and give you the names and contacts. Will you be here about six?”

I had my gym clothes in my desk drawer, hoping to hit my favorite six o’clock hot yoga class, but it was what it was. “I will be.”

“Great. Nice meeting you, Sloane. And keep up the good work.”

“Nice meeting you, too, Mr. Hayes.”

An hour after they left my office, Elijah slunk back in. “You’re still here. That’s a good thing…”

I sighed. “I’m not so sure. I think I might’ve been happier getting fired. Hayes has decided we should do aserieson the friends from the wedding Saturday night. Apparently a dozen Harvard guys from the same fraternity got engaged, and he wants us to coveralltheir weddings this year. Oh, and he also thinks readers love the crew because of all the social-media attention the pictures are getting.”

“He doesn’t know about the nipple?”

I shook my head. “Apparently not.”

Elijah shrugged. “Well, there’s at least a bright side to it.”

“Really? What? Because I’m not seeing it at the moment. My life is about to be that old movieGroundhog Day—wake up, be reminded of being left at the altar all day long at work, yoga, dinner, sleep, repeat. The highlight of my week will be helping my brothers out at Carrick’s a few nights.”

Elijah unzipped the leather portfolio he always had stuffed with proofs. He slipped out a few pages of contact sheets and dropped them on the desk. “This, for one.”

I looked down. The photos were all thumbnail sized, so I lifted the pages for a closer inspection. “Oh my God. Did you color enhance these?”

“Nope. Those are all him, girl.”

Jesus. If it were possible, Wilder’s eyes were even better in photos. They were mesmerizing. Colored contacts didn’t make eyes shine that bright. My gaze went hazy as I thought back to Saturday night, to our kiss in the coat room… First kisses werenotlike that. They were awkward head turns, clashing teeth, tongues that needed to find their way. But with Wilder, there was no hesitancy. Once our lips touched, we kissed as if we wanted to eat each other alive. The entire drive home, my body had felt the aftershocks. Between my legs had throbbed as hard as my raging heartbeat. Too bad he was an asshole. I blinked myself back to reality with that thought.

“He’s good-looking, but he knows it.”

Elijah sat back in his chair. “Can’t say I blame him. It’s kind of hard not to notice. You guys had some crazy chemistry zinging between you. Are you going to see him again?”

“Are you nuts? No. The alcohol went to my head the other night, that’s all. Besides, he lives in London.”

“If he was part of the first wedding party, maybe he’ll be at these other weddings we have to cover.”

“God, I hope not.”

“Might be a fun way to get back on the horse, so to speak.”

“Think I’ll pass and stay celibate.”

I looked at the time on my phone. Almost seven thirty. Hayes had said his son would be here about six. How long did I have to hang around and wait for this guy? Now I was going to miss not only the six o’clock hot yoga but the 7:45 Pilates class I used as my backup. If this appointment hadn’t been with the son of the CEO, I’d be long gone by now. People not respecting other people’s time was a pet peeve of mine.

I got up from my desk and stretched, moving the book I was reading with me as I shifted left to right, then went to the kitchen to fill my water bottle. The office had long cleared out—even the cleaning people had come and gone—so the sound of my heels click-clacking on the tile echoed off the walls. While I was filling my bottle, I continued to read my book until my phone chimed with a text from my brother. He wanted me to cover for him at the bar Friday night. I dictated a voice text as I walked back to my office, but I stopped abruptly when I saw a man standing in the hall.

“What the…”My water bottle clanked to the floor, along with my book, while my heart picked up to a gallop.

“What are you doing here?”

“Hello, Cupcake.” Wilder smiled. “I’m looking for you, of course.”

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