Page 2 of Sharing Shane

“Which is why I walk to work,” she reminded him, perplexed. “What’s with you this morning?”

He sighed, another long-suffering sound that threatened to set her teeth on edge. “I’m sorry, Veronica, but I have to prepare for this call.”

“You’re kicking me out?” She blinked. “Derek, this is my apartment.”

“Believe me, if I had enough time before the call I’d go back home.” He glanced around her living room, with its clutter of books and furnishings, no doubt comparing it to his minimalist, grey-walled condo and finding it wanting, as usual. He shook his head. “Can you head out early, stop for a coffee along the way or something?”

“If you need the time,” she began.

He gave her a relieved smile. “Thank you.”

“Hey.” She took his face in her hands. “You’re really anxious about this call, aren’t you?”

His expression twisted with embarrassment, a flush blooming under his self-tanner, and he gave her a sheepish smile. “It’s just important, that’s all. If I nail the campaign, I get the promotion. And if I get the promotion, I can start looking at some of the bigger marketing firms. It’s my future. Our future.”

“You got this,” she told him and pressed a firm kiss to his lips. “And I’ll get out of your way so you can do what you need to do.”

“Thank you.” He gave her a genuine smile that lit up his handsome face, and most of her resentment at being booted out of the apartment faded away.

“Do you want to have lunch today?” she asked, crossing to the front door. She grabbed her messenger bag off the coat hook and glanced over her shoulder in time to catch his frown. “I mean, if you have time.”

“You don’t have to work this afternoon?” he asked, his frown deepening.

She hooked the bag over her head, the strap across her chest. “Nope. The office is closed this afternoon because they’re doing some scheduled building maintenance, so I’m all clear after twelve-thirty.”

“I’ll see how the morning goes and call you, all right?”

She beamed at him and opened the door. “Sounds great. Knock ‘em dead.”

“I’ll do my best,” he promised, and with one last kiss, nudged her out the door.

She was smiling as she jogged down the steps of her building, and bounced out onto the sidewalk in a good mood. The early May sunshine was struggling through the few lingering clouds from last night’s thunderstorm, and she had a moment’s regret that she hadn’t grabbed her sunglasses.

She was half thinking of going back for them when the phone she’d tucked into her pocket jangled the ringtone she’d assigned to her best friend. She winced, tempted not to pick up, but knew if she didn’t Delia would just keep calling.

She dug into her pocket and swiped to answer. “Hang on, Delia. Let me get my earpiece in.”

It took her a second to fumble the little device out of her bag, and another few to connect the call. “You there?”

“Hell must have frozen over, you figured out your Bluetooth.” came the sardonic reply.

Veronica rolled her eyes and stuffed her phone back in her pocket. “Don’t bust my balls, I’ve had a weird morning.”

“Speaking of balls,” Delia went on cheerfully, “how’d things go with Dead Dick Derek last night?”

Veronica swallowed a snort. “You’re not seriously calling him that.”

“The man hasn’t fucked you in over a month, so yes, that’s his name now.”

“It’s as much my fault as his,” Veronica protested.

“That’s bullshit, and we both know it. I have it on good authority that you’re a firecracker in bed.”

Veronica shoved at the hair blowing in her face. “You’ve been talking to your cousin again.”

“Yes, because you blocked him on social media, and now he’s asking me for your number. I didn’t give it to him,” she went on before Veronica could panic, “because you’re more family to me than he is. But he’s getting annoying.”

“One drunken night freshman year,” Veronica muttered, “and I’m still paying for it.”

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