Page 52 of Mr. Hook-up

“You’re a bad influence.”

“The worst, I know.” There was movement in the background, followed by the sound of her swallowing, and then she said, “Just poured my first glass. See, you inspired me. Hey, is Mr.Hottie there?”

I rubbed my thumb over my lip, chewing the corner of my nail. “Yes.”

“And?”

Mr.Hottie had been a main topic of every conversation I had with Saara since my interview. In fact, one of her favorite things to do was bring him up. Most of the time, I would brush it off, acting aloof and changing the subject. There was nothing to discuss, nothing for her to dwell on.

What I hadn’t told her was that I’d looked up Easton on social media and checked out his pictures on Instagram. It took only a few months’ worth of photos to learn more about him, how much he enjoyed traveling and going out to eat, spending time with his family and friends. The shots also confirmed that he was as outdoorsy as he’d said earlier tonight. I didn’t think there was a sport missing from his collection of photographs.

“And ...” I glanced across the street at our office building, the moon reflecting off the mirrored windows of the giant high-rise. “We talked tonight at the bar.”

“I need more.”

“And I learned more about him.”

“Why aren’t you giving me any juicy details and instead acting all,We talked about the current drought New England is experiencing and our love for French macarons.” Her voice had lowered, mimicking an old, distinguished gentleman. “Come on, babe, we both know you went deeper than that.”

I laughed. “We just talked and sorta eyed each other up. I found myself grabbing his arm way too many times.” I thought about his lips. His eyes. Scanning my memory, flipping through all the people I’d met during my career. “I don’t know, there’s just something about him that makes me keep reaching for him.”

“Keep reaching. I have this gut feeling that he’s a good guy.”

“Ignore your gut.” I rubbed the back of my head against the brick behind me. “He’s my boss, Saara. He stays in that category.”

“Let’s not forget I once dated my boss, and even though it didn’t work out, it was one of the best experiences ever.”

My head tilted and I blinked hard. “Ummm, you had to get a new job.”

“Not because of him, girl. The company got bought out and we ended up going our separate ways when he relocated to the new headquarters, and I took a position elsewhere. But those sixish months we were together ... whoa, they were hot. Boss sex might be my fave.”

“You’re not helping the situation,” I told her.

“Drake, Easton is hot—let’s focus on that.”

“And he’s also anticommitment.”

She sighed. “How do you know that?”

“Hello, must I keep reminding you that he cofounded Hooked? His Instagram doesn’t show one photo of a woman who isn’t related to him, and I’ve found zero pics online where he’s brought a date to any public event or gala.”

“Busted.” She giggled. “So, you have been snooping on him, huh?”

I groaned. “Stop it.”

“Well, it’s the truth. You dug because you’re interested, and you’re interested because he’s making you all hot and bothered, and you’re hot and bothered because all the pics I’ve seen of him—oh yes, bestie, I’ve googled—makes him a total smoke show.”

I blinked hard, keeping my eyes squeezed shut. “I may have taken a peek at his accounts, but that’s it, it ends there, there’s no reason to read into any of this.”

“Mm-hmm.”

My eyes flicked open. “I’m serious, Saara.”

“You know what I’m serious about? My best friend putting herself first, and if that means grabbing that man at the bar and laying one on him, then do it. Don’t hold back. The unimportant things, like what will happen after or your rule about workplace dating or if he’s ready for monogamy, will all get figured out. Don’t stress about them.”

I pushed my hair away from my face. “You do realize those are huge items, right? Things I can’t really see past?”

“Shhh.Go enjoy your time with the hottie. We’ll talk tomorrow, when you bring over a pint of ice cream because I’m pretty sure I’m going to inhale my last pint while I take a bath.”

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