p her take boxes from the trunk.
We spread out across the large table that usually served as a meeting area after gaming tests. Jenna went straight to work, demonstrating how to wrap each item in bright tissue of a different color, so that even with just a quick glance you could see how many items were inside.
“You know, I haven’t mentioned it enough, but you’re very good at your job,” I said, observing her eyes for her reaction. She seemed surprised.
“Thank you.” Her eyes snapped back to the package in front of her, using sparkle tape to loosely fasten the tissue around a hat.
As we worked, I couldn’t stop myself from intentionally getting in her way, snatching the scissors when she needed them, and reaching directly in front of her as much as possible.
Jenna’s smirk turned into a giggle. Then I was rewarded with a bright laugh as I hip-checked her out of the way to place a wrapped t-shirt in a box.
“Sorry,” I muttered, “I didn’t see you there.”
“I honestly can’t tell if you’re nuts, or just completely full of yourself,” she said, shaking her head.
“ Can’t it be both? ”
Grabbing the ribbon, I wound it around her wrists, pulling them up over her head. Her breath caught as she stepped closer in front of me as I held her captive.
“Have you ever been gift wrapped for anyone, Jenna?” I murmured, gliding my lips across that delicious nook of her collarbone.
“Mmm,” she breathed. “No. And I’m supposed to tell you to knock it off.”
“Go ahead,” I grinned. “Tell me.”
Those beautiful eyes locked on mine as she bit her lip shyly, then took a tiny step closer.
The door opened down the hall, and she jumped away, pulling off the loose ribbons in a flash. I turned to see Terry walking toward us, his sharp eyes narrowed on Jenna.
“PR person?” he asked.
“Yes. Terry, this is Jenna, from Jeremy’s agency.”
“Hi,” she said softly. I could tell that she was trying to size him up so that she knew how to react.
I’d seen many people examine Terry this way over the years. He was tall, and slightly bird-like, with delicate bones, and an angular frame. His blinking pattern was sometimes a bit rapid, and his head occasionally jerked around as he studied things.
It was easy to understand that he sometimes made people uncomfortable, but Jenna didn’t seem phased at all.
“Andrew told me that you’re the genius behind these updated gaming systems,” she said, smiling so prettily and warmly it was distracting.
“Upgraded. Not updated.” Terry seemed to be standing even more stiffly than usual, a signal that he was disturbed about something.
“Sorry,” Jenna said quickly. “I’ve been studying hard, but I don’t know very much about computers, or gaming systems. But the t-shirts and brochures look amazing, and I’m sure that tomorrow’s–”
“She read the brochure?” Terry asked, tilting his head to me in alarm.
“Yes. She needed to write the press release that’s going out tomorrow,” I said, trying to soften my voice.
“Is she going to Distrekxion’s secret party tonight?” he asked.
She shook her head, looking up at me. “I know that’s one of the top gamers, but I don’t know about any parties tonight. It must be private.”
Terry stepped closer, studying Jenna closely. “Her pupils dilate when she looks at you. She’s either trying very hard to seem innocent, or she’s incredibly attracted to you. Did you run a security check on her?”
“No, Terry. She works with Jeremy, and–”
“I thought you were taking this seriously,” he said. His thin hands curled into loose fists, and he flicked his thumbnails against the tip of his ring fingers. That was always bad. It was one of his tell-tale nervous reactions when he was starting to become overwhelmed.