Page 30 of By A Thread

Ally lifted a questioning eyebrow as she typed. Our gazes met, and I knew she’d noted the tone too. The last thing I needed was two of them.

“Let’s take a look,” I announced.

Everyone scrambled through their handouts to the spread that was up for discussion. I didn’t bother flipping to it. I’d been coached.

“I think the bones are good, but you’re missing the mark not including some kind of bronzer. It’s a transition season, and all women aren’t necessarily ready to let go of the sun-kissed look.”

Both of my evil little notetaker’s eyebrows winged up in surprise.

Shayla played it cooler. “Do you have any suggestions?”

“That’s not my area of expertise,” I reminded her. “I’m sure whatever you choose will be fine.”

Fine. Not “good.”These subtle little digs back and forth were boring, annoying. In my old job, we’d lock ourselves in an office, yell for twenty minutes, and move forward with a solution. Here things just festered. The bottom line was it didn’t really matter if Shayla wanted me here or not because Iwashere, I was in charge, and we all had to deal with it.

“Moving on,” Linus said, smoothly steering the meeting back to the agenda.

I found myself watching Ally throughout the meeting. She seemed to find it impossible to hold still, typing while swaying side to side ever so slightly to a beat only she could hear.

Our eyes met and held over the gigantic laptop screen several times.

No messages passed between us. No “fuck you”s. No thinly veiled insults. Just long, shared looks. Her eyes looked more brown than gold in this lighting. Her hair, even though it was tied back in a short tail, still had that just tousled by a man’s hands look with the waves escaping around her face. And those lips seemed to be permanently quirked as if always ready to smirk or smile.

I didn’t trust smilers.

She stuck her tongue out at me.

Ever so casually, I raised my hand and rubbed at my eye with my middle finger.

She was definitely smirking now.

“Excuse me a minute,” I said, interrupting an editor. “Do you mind typing just a little quieter? It sounds like you’re trying to stab your way through the table.”

Everyone turned to stare open-mouthed at Ally.

She looked up. Smiled. And I suddenly couldn’t wait to see what she’d do next.

“So sorry,” she offered sweetly.

I was disappointed.

Momentarily.

As soon as the table returned to their debate whether peach or rose was a better background, Ally mashed her keyboard in an obnoxious crescendo.

Linus looked like he was about to swallow his tongue. Shayla cleared her throat and stared at the ceiling. The rest of the team around the table scooted their chairs as far away from Ally as possible as if they didn’t want to get caught in any crossfire.

“Would someone see about getting Sausage Fingers here a quieter way to take notes next time?” I said to the room in general.

There were actual audible intakes of breath.

“And if someone could see about getting Charming here a nicer personality that he could try on for meetings, that would be great,” she shot back.

Linus choked on his gum, and the rest of the room was turning blue holding their breath.

“Moving on,” I said, feeling marginally more cheerful.

Conversation began again. I wasn’t sure if it was my imagination or not, but everyone seemed a little more relaxed.