Page 41 of Unraveling the Truth About Love
Chapter Eighteen
JOSH WAS STANDING in Mia’s office when the call from Peter came in.
Mia arched a brow. “Peter Stafford is asking for Riley Banks.”
The call didn’t come as a surprise. Peter had asked if he could see Riley’s portfolio, but it still sent a wave of discomfort through Josh’s gut. He contemplated bringing up his issues with Claudia to Peter, but then he realized that if he did soon the heels of Peter’s conversation with Riley, he might look more like a jealous boyfriend than an employer dealing with a problematic employee.
“Put him through to her,” he said with what he hoped was a nonchalant shrug.
“I swear, between you walking around with that contented look on your face all the time, Claudia running hot and cold, and now this? I feel like I’m suddenly working in theTwilight Zone,” Mia said.
“What contented look?” Josh asked.
Mia rolled her eyes.
On his way back to his office, he swung by the design studio, where Claudia was busy hovering over a design table. He leaned over her shoulder and was surprised by the impressive design she was sketching.
“That’s really interesting, the way you mixed the empire waist with the shoulder cutouts.” He rememberedthe dress Riley wore out to dinner, and the similarities were striking. “How did you come up with this?”
Claudia leaned back and flashed a smile. “You told me to come up with fresh ideas, things that aren’t redesigns of old trends. It took some soul-searching, but this is what came to mind.” She touched his hand and he pulled it away.
“Claudia,” he said in a stern voice. “I told you no moreof those games, and I meant it.”
“My apologies,” she said, turning back to her drawings. “Old habits die hard.”
“Hard or soft, as long as they die. Immediately.”
He heard Riley on the phone and headed in her direction, feeling the heat of Claudia’s eyes on his back.
“Yes, sir,” Riley said into the phone.
The curiosity was killing him. Peter ran a modeling agency. He wasn’t in the design business,which made Josh wonder if Peter had something more intimate in mind after all. He overheard Riley wrapping up the call. She spoke professionally to Peter. Josh thought of the deep, sensual tone she used with him in the privacy of each other’s arms.
“Yes, I’ll send them over, but again, I’m not looking to leave JBD. I’m quite happy here. Oh yes, I see. Thank you. That’s very kind of you. Yes,sir. Goodbye.” Riley pushed a stack of drawings into a pile and placed them on the corner of her desk before backing out her chair. When she turned and saw Josh, relief swept through her eyes. “I was just coming to see you,” she said, reaching for him, then pulling her hand back and shooting a glance at the other employees.
He’d sensed a change in Riley that morning in the shower, but they’dhardly had time to get ready before leaving for work, and talking had been the furthest thing from his mind.
“That was Mr. Stafford,” she said.
“Yes, I know.” He wished they were somewhere private, where he could put his arm around her and feel her against him while she spoke, for no other reason than to calm that nervous look in her eyes.
“He wants me to send my portfolio over, but I don’tunderstand why. He knows I’m happy working here. Should I be concerned or flattered?” She crossed and uncrossed her arms.
“Flattered, I think,” Josh said, trying to keep his tone professional. “Would you like me to call him and see what he has on his mind?”
She shook her head. “No. Thank you, but no.” She took a step closer to him just as Claudia stood and walked toward them.
Josh saw Riley’sshoulders tense.
“How’s the booth design coming along?” Claudia asked.
“Perfect. I’m about as ready as I can be,” Riley answered.
Claudia nodded. “Super,” she said in a friendly tone, and continued walking past them.
Riley let out a breath.
“You know you can ask me anything you need to about the trade show. I do know a little about this stuff,” Josh offered.
