The Renovation (Contemporary Reverse Harem 2)

Her eyes widened. “Oh. I’m sorry. You’re right. It’s not my business.”

I shook my head. “I didn’t mean it’s not your business. I just meant I don’t tell many people. But I don’t mind telling you. I don’t mind at all.”

Embarrassment crossed her face. Had I been too harsh?

“And what about you?” I asked. “You gonna share a secret or two with me?”

A funny look crossed her face. “Secret? I have no secrets.” She shrugged.

Now that was one huge lie.

“Fair enough,” I said. “So, if you’re free tonight, I have an idea about something fun to do.”

“Tonight? I thought this wasn’t a date.”

“This is not a date. But tonight could be.” I was nothing if not persistent.

“But…well…I thought…what did you have in mind?”

Ha. Progress.

“Swing dancing.”

“Swing dancing? You like swing dancing?” All levels of suspicion crossed her face.

“Actually, I’ve never tried it,” I said. “But it sounded like fun. And I can’t go alone. So you see, you’d be doing me a favor.”

“Uh huh,” she said. She was looking at me like I’d just told her I was Jesus.

“If I go alone, I’ll look like a loser.” I was all sincerity. Just a guy who wanted to swing dance. Happened every day, right?

Truthfully, I could give a shit about swing dancing. In fact, I dreaded it. But I heard chicks loved it. In fact, that they couldn’t resist it.

The waiter dropped off our plates. Jayma picked up her fork and flaked off a piece of salmon.

Well. I guess I could go with you,” she said with that sly smile that just killed me. “I do owe you and all since you got that asshole from accounting off my back.”

I threw my hands in the air. “Bingo. It’s really only fair.”

She shrugged. “All right, then.”

“Okay, awesome. And now that we’ve settled that, tell me about your ambitions for work.”

She set her fork down, suspicion replaced by seriousness. “I studied communications in college. And I’ve been interested in advertising for as long as I can remember. That’s why I took the job as receptionist. I’ve been doing it now for a couple years, but I hope I can move off the phones soon.”

“Well, if you’re lucky, you can join the tampon account,” I said with a laugh. I was still bitter I got stuck on that campaign. Wait ‘til we got a condom client someday. I’d get even with them then.

“Nah. I’m not really interested in that,” she said. “I’m more into consumables. You know, food and drink. In fact, one of my friends from college works for a small organic salad dressing company.”

“No kidding.” Geez, she was really laying the groundwork for success. I had to love that.

“Yeah. If I can bring them into the agency, that would be huge. I think I’d definitely get a promotion then.” The lady knew what she wanted.

“I’ll be glad to help you in any way I can.”

“Thank you. I plan to take you up on that.”

“So I have to tell you something.”