Page 50 of Kiss and Tell

“Are you going to be able to eat all that?” Connor asked.

“Watch me,” I replied.

All talking ceased the moment our food arrived as we jumped on our burgers. It was only when half the food had been devoured that Connor leaned back with a contented sigh and spoke up.

“Justine seemed to know her stuff,” he said.

I stabbed a bundle of fries with the fork more vigorously than I’d intended. The metal tines screeched against the plate. I shoveled the fries into my mouth so I didn’t have to respond.

“It was pretty cool, seeing how they made the beer on-site,” he continued. “Justine explained the process really well, too.”

I took a vicious bite out of my burger and grunted with a single nod of my head.

“She’s going to be a good contact to have, I think,” Connor said. “I look forward to working with her.”

“So does she,” I muttered.

Connor cocked his head at me.

“You don’t like her,” he noted.

“We just met,” I countered. “I have no opinion of her.”

“You didn’t talk to her much.”

“No point, when she only responded to you.”

Connor’s eyebrows drew down in a frown.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

I suppressed a scoff.

“Are you telling me you didn’t notice the way she was hanging off you?” I asked.

“She was friendly,” he replied, looking befuddled.

I put my fork down with a clatter. “She was practically swooning over you.”

And I would know, because the way she acted was precisely what I had to suppress whenever I was around Connor.

“Was she?” He raised an amused eyebrow. “Are you jealous?”

“No.” I shoved another fry into my mouth and chewed. “I just think it was unprofessional.”

“And I know how much being professional matters to you.” It was almost teasing, but I still caught the hint of regret in his voice.

“And you know exactly why.” I gave him a pointed stare. “I can’t be seen having an inappropriate relationship with a client. It’s bad enough I have the threat of—” My voice wavered and my hand shook as I held my fork in my clenched fist. I lowered my voice to a whisper. “—the threat of sleeping my way to the top. But if people think I scored this assignment because I was sleeping withyou…”

A flash of understanding crossed Connor’s face, as if he had been working on a puzzle and all the pieces were suddenly coming together.

“I can’t have people think I slept my way into this.” I couldn’t keep the nausea from roiling in my belly. “Ican’t.”

The turmoil inside me must have shown on my face, because Connor’s expression turned sympathetic. He reached out, making a move to pat my trembling hand, to cover mine with his. He paused, seeming to think better of it, and retreated.

“I don’t think anyone will assume there’s something going on between us,” Connor said. “No one from your work has ever showed up at the bar. I’ve never gone to your office. There’s no need to worry.”

“I still do.” I bowed my head, staring down at the sticky pub table. “I worry about everything.”