Page 3 of Not Fooling Anyone

“Me?” I clear my throat to get rid of the squeakiness. “I’m not certified to do that.”

“Yeah, but you know how, right? You took a class on it or something?”

“I mean, I’m an accounting major. I understand theoretically how to do it. But I’ve never actually done it for a business.”

He waves his hand to dismiss my concerns. “You’ll learn on the job. And I already talked you up to Marty.”

Of course he did. This is just like him to assume everything will work out fine without thinking through the details. “Dad, I’m not dressed for an interview.” I point to my face. “I’ve got my slutty makeup on to get tips at the bar.” Not to mention I’m wearing a bustier, for Christ’s sake. Thank God I had stowed my hoodie in my car earlier.

“And how’s that working out for you? Are you at the bar now making tips?”

I complained to him last week about how I wasn’t getting enough shifts there when he asked. He knows I need the money.

“You said you wanted a side hustle, so here it is.”

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. It’s actually kind of sweet of him to look out for me like this. “Fine, I’ll talk to Marty.”

He nods, walking across the gym to an office door and knocking.

“Bookkeeping, huh? Sounds exciting.”

I glance over at Ethan, who, for some reason, is still hanging around. “Sure, I guess.”

“Do you like your major?”

I turn to face him. “Look, no offense, but I don’t date boxers.” Or anyone, actually. But no need to go into that. “So you don’t have to make conversation or anything.”

His gaze dances with mirth as he angles his big body toward me, completely unexpected from how I thought he’d recoil. “I don’t recall asking you out. But it's interesting how your mind went straight there.” He grins, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

“So what are you doing, then?”

He crosses his arms over his chest, but if he thinks I’m intimidated by all those muscles, he’s forgotten who my dad is. “It’s called being polite.” He doesn’t say it with censure, but the implication is there all the same.

Heat crawls up my neck, but I pretend like it’s not happening. I’m in too deep now. “Well, you don’t have to be. We don’t know each other.”

“Yeah, but maybe we will. You’ll be around here more often if you get this bookkeeping gig.”

“I won’t be out on the floor with the meatheads.”

“Ouch.” He smiles as he says it, clearly not taking me seriously. “I thought Lawrence gave me a pass.”

My lips quirk, though I didn’t tell them to. “You’re all meatheads.”

He laughs, the sound rich and full of warmth.

“Lex.” Dad waves to get my attention. “He’s ready for you.”

“Well, it was nice tomeatyou, Lex,” Ethan says, still grinning.

I blink up at him. “Did you make a pun?”

“Yep.” He beams, way too pleased with himself.

Seriously, who is this guy? “It’s Lexie,” I tell him. “Only my dad calls me Lex.” Just Dad and… Nope. Not thinking about her.

“All right, Lexie.” There’s friendliness in his gaze, but in my experience, it rarely stops there. Guys always want more.

“I have to go,” I blurt out, heading across the gym. I don’t need some random boxer getting in my head. I apparently have an interview to see about.

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