Page 51 of Reluctantly Yours

CHAPTER12

Chloe

I’ve barely sat down at my desk, when Jules barges into my office.

“What the hell is going on? You sent that text last night and then nothing. You can’t leave me hanging like that.” She pauses her ramblings, and does a double take. “Oh my God. Did he knock you over the head and drag you to his lair? Should I call the police? Blink twice if you need help.”

“Jules. Relax. I’ve got everything under control.”

“The angry bruise on your forehead does not convey that.”

“It’s a tennis injury. I got hit in the head yesterday when Barrett and I played with Fred and Frankie.”

“Ah. For a moment I thought maybe you and Barrett were banging and things got a little wild.” She wiggles her eyebrows. “I imagine that’s how it would be with him. Those cold eyes boring into you. His lips in a frown, all moody and pissed. A good stern fucking.”

“Jules!” I glance toward my door, knowing that JoAnna’s office is a mere ten feet down the hall. And Jules’ voice carries at least double that distance.

“I think you should at least have some fun with this fake relationship. No reason to make it miserable.”

“I’m just trying to make it through this without losing my mind. Now that JoAnna has given me a real shot at assistant editor, I don’t want to mess it up.”

“I know,” Jules says, nodding sympathetically. “You deserve that promotion. You’ve been kicking ass with selecting submissions.”

“Thanks.” I give her a small smile. “I have to focus on work and do my best to play along with Barrett, then I’ll put this fake relationship behind me.”

Jules nods. I can tell she wants there to be more to it than that. There isn’t, not with Barrett. He’s got his own agenda, and I’m just a pawn in his game. At least I’m aware of it. But, now that I’m not dying of mortification anymore, I can tell her about last night.

“Barrett walked in on me in the bathtub last night.”

“WHATT??!!” she shrieks.

I sigh. “Volume.”

“Sorry.”

“I was, you know.” I make a circular motion toward my lower half.

Her mouth drops open.

“What did he do?”

“He stared, then told me I was late for dinner.”

The image of Barrett standing in the bathroom doorway pops into my head. His hard expression never wavered from its usual frown. I could have been trimming my toenails for how uninterested he appeared to be in what he saw.

“Shut up.”

I cover my face with my hands, the embarrassment of the moment creeping back in. I shouldn’t let it bother me; Barrett obviously wasn’t fazed by it.

“Damn.” She fans herself. “I knew you were holding out on me.”

I laugh. “There’s nothing to it but an embarrassing story and a reminder to lock the bathroom door.”

Jules’ lips quirk. “I don’t know. I think there’s more to it.”

I shake my head and Jules rises from the chair.

She pauses in the doorway. “Some gals from admin and marketing are getting drinks tomorrow night. Want to join?”