Page 30 of Unraveling the Truth About Love
Riley studied the books for the next two hours,taking copious notes of the details she’d need to remember. As she headed back to her desk to review the line sheets, she saw Josh coming toward her, Mia by his side.
“Hey, Riley. How’s it going?” Mia asked with a wide smile.
“Great. I’m really excited about the trade show.” She tried not to make eye contact with Josh, but she felt his alluring eyes on her, drawing her in, and she couldn’t remainevasive. She lifted her eyes.Oh great, now I want to kiss him.“Good morning, Josh.”
He smiled, and she felt a rush of excitement all the way to her toes.
“Riley,” he said easily. “Have you found Claudia unusually wicked today?”
“Wicked? No. In fact, she’s been nothing but pleasant today. It’s been a nice surprise.”And a shocking one. I don’t trust her.
Mia’s eyes darted between the twoof them, and Riley realized she was staring at Josh with a girl-crush smile on her lips. “I’ve got to get to work,” she said and rushed past them. Mia’s voice hung in the air behind her.
“A little skittish today?” Mia asked.
Riley slowed her pace to catch Josh’s response.
“Aren’t all new employees?” he answered.
Thank you.She breathed a sigh of relief. Back at her desk, she sat down withthe line sheets spread out before her for the Bliss line as well as the previous two seasons. She opened her desk drawer and reached for a pencil without looking. Something pricked her finger. She brought her bloody finger to her mouth and looked around before glancing in her desk. She wished she knew what Claudia was up to now. She did flip on theniceswitch awfully quick. Riley wanted to believethat Claudia was just being nice after her suck-up act, but could she change her tune that fast—or at all?If she’s playing a prank after being so nice, I’ll—She looked into the drawer, then quickly rolled her chair to block the view from her officemates. She reached into the drawer and withdrew an orange rose.Josh.Her heart skipped a beat. She opened her purse and stuck the flower inside. Asshe was closing her purse, she found a note. She hid it in her fist and headed to the ladies’ room. She wasn’t going to be caught blushing at her desk.
After locking herself in a stall, she opened the note.
Beautiful Riley, please forgive me, but I have a conference call tonight. Can we move our date to 8? Can’t wait to see you. I’ll pick you up at Savannah’s. Wear something scruffy. Yes, scruffy,not nice, not designer, not pretty.
—J
Scruffy? What does that mean? Do I even own anything scruffy?
FIVE O’CLOCK FOUND Riley hovering over line sheets. In her mind, she saw a blur of sizes, colors, and stock numbers running like a pattern on repeat.
“How’s it going?” Claudia asked.
Riley started at her pleasant tone.“Great. It’s a bit hard on the eyes, but it’s going well. I’ve got some great ideas, and with another two weeks of studying, I think I’ll have this information ingrained in my mind forever.”
“Good. Remember, it has to be perfect.”
“Perfect. Got it.” Riley saw Josh heading their way, and she trained her eyes on the paper once again.
“Claudia, how’s our newest employee coming along?” Josh asked.
“Oh, she’s coming along,” Claudia answered.
Claudia’s seductive tone caught Riley’s attention. Claudia touched Josh’s arm and fluttered her lashes.
Oh no, you did not just do that.Riley tightened her fist around her pencil.
“I’m giving her a few extra pointers,” Claudia said.
Riley clenched her jaw against the green-eyed monster that had snuck into her mind, but she could feel the heat creepingup her neck, the tightening of every muscle in her body. She dropped her eyes back to the line sheets and stewed.
“Thank you, Claudia. I knew you’d step up to the plate,” Josh said.
“Always,” she replied in that bedroom voice again.
I bet you do.
“Josh, I wanted to talk to you about a few things. I’m tied up for a bit, but will you still be here in an hour?” Claudia asked.
At that, Rileypushed from her chair, sending it skittering a few inches backward. In the most casual voice she could muster, she said, “Excuse me. Nature calls.” She brushed past Josh, sure she was leaving a trail of smoke in her wake, but she was too annoyed with Claudia to care.
