Page 87 of One Good Crash
She yelled, "What the hell are you doing!"
I was still struggling to get a grip. "I'm saving you."
She tried to squirm away. "From what?"
She was wiry and strong, but I held on tight. "From making a fool of yourself, that's what."
Suddenly, she grew very still.
And so did I.
Probably, Allie and I were thinking the same thing. Rolling around on someone's floor was no way to preserve our dignity.
Allie was squashed face down, with me sprawled on top of her. If I let go now, what would she do? She seemed calmer, but was she really? Or was this only a ruse so she could make another run at Jaden the moment I let go?
From above us, Jaden said, "If they kiss, you owe me a beer."
Oh, for God's sake.I lifted my head to glare at him. "We can't kiss. We're not even facing each other."
Seriously, what a dumb-ass.
Underneath me, Allie muttered, "I'll give him something to kiss."
As I lay there on top of my friend, a horrible thought occurred to me. Even if Alliehadbeen selected for the job, was it all for nothing now?
I was no employment expert, but I did know that this wasn't the best way to end a job interview.
With as much dignity as I could muster, I pushed myself up and then, standing in the quiet hall, extended a shaky hand to Allie.
Already, she'd flopped on her back and was staring up at me with accusing eyes. Her long blond hair was in a messy disarray, and the T-shirt she was wearing had twisted around her torso, making it look crooked and uneven. The hem of her shirt had crept up, revealing her tan stomach and the very bottom of the pink lacy bra she'd borrowed earlier.
Reluctantly, I looked to Jax and then to Jaden.
Jax gave me a look that I couldn’t quite decipher. As for Jaden, his eyes were focused on Allie, as if he were waiting for her to sprout horns and a devil tail – or maybe just go for his nuts.
Whatever.
I looked back to Allie and nudged my hand a little closer. Finally, she took it and let me tug her up. Once on her feet, she gave me a half-wince, half-smile. In a hushed whisper, she said, "Sorry, I guess I blew it, huh?"
I turned anxious eyes to Jax.
He and his brother were staring at us like we were the most interesting specimens in the whole zoo.
Jaden looked to Allie and, "Who the hell are you, anyway?"
But it was Jax who answered, "She's Allie Brewster." His jaw tightened. "Your new assistant."
Chapter 37
His words hung there for a long, silent moment. I should've been thrilled. But mostly, I was confused.
Jaden's assistant?
Not Jax's?
I looked from brother to brother, wondering if I'd misheard. Or maybe Jax had misspoke? I held my breath, waiting him for him to correct the mistake.
But he didn't.
