Page 11 of Thoroughly Innocent Intent

“Fine.” I sigh. “I will make an effort to talk about something besides work with my new client. But he’s still a client, which means I’m not putting myself out there with him.”

Delaney’s eyes sparkle the way they always do when she knows she’s got her way, but instead of smiling outright, she’s fighting a coy grin. That usually means there’s another catch.

“What?” I grit.

“You have to smile.”

“What?” I repeat, more confused than irritated.

“You have to smile. As in, look genuinely happy.”

“I smile.” I know that for a fact that I do.I take a moment before meeting with every client to make sure I am. It puts them at ease.

“At me, yes. But with everyone else, it’s sort of forced. Stiff.”

“Polite,” I counter.

She snorts.

“What’s wrong with being polite?”

“Nothing. If you’re just trying to placate the person you’re talking to.” She leans back as the waiter delivers our drinks so he can see the bright smile on her face.

“You ladies need anything else?” he asks, focusing more of his attention on Delaney than me.

“I think we’re all set, thank you.” She beams at him. He spares me a brief glance before moving on to another table.

“See that?” Delaney leans forward again.

“Did I notice he seems into you? Shocker.” Delaney’s long blonde tresses and soulful brown eyes appeal to most men, but she isn’t kidding when she says she’s discerning. Our waiter, who I don’t think is unattractive, would not spark her interest, consequently I doubt she gave him a second thought.

“Did you notice he was more attentive to me because I smiled at him?” She ignores my childish quip.

“He was more attentive to you because he was interested.”

“Even if that were true, there’s no reason we both wouldn’t spark his interest except that you didn’t smile at him. Not a real smile, anyway. You gave him the tolerant one, not the one that says you’re having fun.”

“That’s because this conversation is hardly fun.” I take an angry gulp of my wine.

“My point is you don’t invite people to really engage with you. Not outside business. Colt being a notorious playboy and undoubtedly a flirt makes him the perfect option for you to practice your friendly skills on.” She sips her wine with a smirk that dares me to object.

There’s nothing I’d like more, but if I’m being honest, she’s right. I need to work on my people skills, although it’s probably safer to do that with people who don’t give me butterflies. That way I don’t run the risk of projecting myself onto them or interpreting their signals incorrectly.

Speaking of, now that I know Colt’s a playboy and a flirt, there’s no more reason to misinterpret his signals. The playful tone is his normal setting, not something reserved for me. And the whole business about looking into my eyes and holding my hand was just, well I don’t know what that was, but clearly, it didn’t mean anything.

The fact that I got butterflies is probably due to my ignorance of his flirty personality. I didn’t realize he meant nothing by it. Now that I know, I can avoid getting swept up in the moment, because there isn’t actually a moment to get caught up in. I can do as Delaney suggests, smiling and talking and the like, without doing any damage.

“If I agree to do as you ask, can we drop this and talk about something else?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” I sigh, taking the first sip of wine I actually taste.

“So, about that bag?” She prompts, twisting her glass by the stem.

“Delaney,” I whine.

“What? I feel like I’m on a roll. I’m going to capitalize on it by trying to get you to do more stuff you’re too stubborn to do.”

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