Page 84 of Romance and Peppermint Lattes
Cait straightened, too curious to hide her interest. “Did he look concerned? Jealous?”
“Paul? No, if anything, he looked bored.”
“Bored,” Cait repeated. Her shoulders sagged with defeat. “I swear that man wouldn’t notice me if I pranced around his office naked.”
“That’s a clever idea, and one that just might work. Maybe you should practice around the house first, get the hang of it. I’d be willing to help you out if you’re serious about this.” He sounded utterly nonchalant, as though she’d suggested subscribing to cable television. “This is what friends are for. Do you need help undressing?”
Cait took a sip of her wine to hide a smile. Joe hadn’t changed in twenty years. He was still witty and fun-loving and a terrible tease. “Very funny.”
“Hey, I wasn’t kidding. I’ll pretend I’m Paul and—”
“You promised you were going to be good.”
He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. “I will be. Just you wait.”
Cait could feel the tide of color flow into her cheeks. She quickly lowered her eyes to her plate. “Joe, cut it out. You’re making me blush and I hate to blush. It makes my face look like a ripe tomato.” She lifted her slice of pizza and bit into it, chewing thoughtfully. “I don’t understand you. Every time I think I have you figured out you do something to surprise me.”
“Like what?”
“Like yesterday. You invited me to dinner, but I never dreamed you’d take me someplace as elegant as Henry’s. You were the perfect gentleman all evening and then today, you were so...”
“Low and disgusting.”
“Exactly.” She nodded righteously. “One minute you’re the picture of charm and culture and the next you’re badgering me with your wisecracks.”
“I’m a tease, remember?”
“The problem is I can’t deal with you when I don’t know what to expect.”
“That’s my charm.” He reached for a second piece of pizza. “Women are said to adore the unexpected in a man.”
“Not this woman,” she informed him promptly. “I need to know where I stand with you.”
“A little to the left.”
“Joe, please, I’m not joking. I can’t have you pulling stunts like you did today. I’ve lived a good, clean life for the past twenty-eight years. Two days with you has ruined my reputation with the company. I can’t walk into the office and hold my head up any longer. I hear people whispering and I know they’re talking about me.”
“Us,” he corrected. “They’re talking about us.”
“That’s even worse. If they want to talk about me and a man, I’d rather it was Paul. Just how much longer is this remodeling project going to take, anyway?” As far as Cait was concerned, the sooner Joe and his renegade crew were out of her office, the sooner her life would return to normal.
“Not too much longer.”
“At the rate you’re progressing, Webster, Rodale and Missen will have offices on the moon.”
“Before the end of the year, I promise.”
“Yes, but just how reliable are your promises?”
“I’m being good, aren’t I?”
“I suppose,” she conceded ungraciously, jerking a stack of mail away from Joe as he started to sort through it.
“What’s this?” Joe asked, rescuing a single piece of paper before it fluttered to the floor.
“A Christmas list. I’m going shopping tomorrow.”
“I should’ve known you’d be organized about that, too.” He sounded vaguely insulting.
