Bad Manners - Single Mom Fake Fiance Office Romance

“I meant the city, but sure,” Vicky said. She gave me a little shrug.

Accepting that I was not going to get out of chit-chatting, I looked up at her. “Oh, right, pretty good. Damn if that chair in my office isn’t comfortable. The view is a bit distracting, but I can get some blinds.”

“Distracting?” Vicky asked, widening her brown eyes.

“Too pretty,” I said, followed by an awkward laugh. Most people would think I was nuts to say that, but I knew that I was easily preoccupied.

The assistant brought a single slim finger up to her chin. “I suppose I can see that.” She nodded thoughtfully.

“Don’t have a window?” I asked.

She sighed. “I spend most of my time in the copy room. The only glimpse I get of the outside world is when I go into Ann’s office.”

Ann Howell was one of the partners. She and Jim were brother and sister, something I found quite amazing. I loved my sister, but I wouldn’t own a company with her.

“You call her Ann?” I asked, shocked.

I had met Jim, but not Ann. She had a bit of a reputation for being extremely intelligent and extremely snide. I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing in a lawyer or a boss.

Vicky laughed and shrugged at the same time. “Of course, she’s my sister-in-law.”

“Friends in high places,” I joked back.

“I guess.” Vicky gave me a grin just as the coffee maker finished. “What do you call her?” she asked, reaching out for me to hand her my mug.

“I haven’t actually met her yet, though something along the lines of your highness should do,” I joked.

After filling my cup, she handed it back over. “Yeah, I really don’t think that is needed. She’s really not the arrogant type,” Vicky pointed out.

“Brilliant and humble?” I asked gobsmacked.

“Pretty much, yeah,” Vicky agreed then took a sip from her mug.

“She must have tons of friends.”

It was an offhand comment that I meant to be a parting remark, but the way that Vicky looked at me stopped me in my tracks. Not sure if I was offensive or intuitive, I waited to see what her confused look was about.

“Interesting you should mention that,” Vicky said, topping off her cup again with the finished brew.

“How so?”

She crossed the distance between us, giving me a smile that could only be linked to a favor. “Ann has a wedding to go to but no one to take as a date.”

I wasn’t expecting that at all. Work relationships, especially one with the boss, was a boundary I wasn’t going to cross. To be honest, any relationships was a no go.

I shook my head. “I’ve tried blind dates before. I sometimes still wake up screaming. I am not looking for a relationship,” I said. People were usually shocked when I said I wasn’t looking for a relationship. The assumption seeming to be that a good-looking, young guy like me should be settling down. I could see their point but wasn’t going to waver. Nor did I want anyone all up in my business.

“I understand that,” Vicky said. Her grin not changing much. “Though it still might be a good idea to meet with Ann. It can’t hurt to make a friend of a founding partner.”

“Your probably right,” I said, hiding my nervousness.

“Meet me in the conference room in twenty,” Vicky said, walking away before I could figure out an excuse not to go.

I was left standing in the break room with a rapidly cooling cup of coffee in my hand. A feeling hit me like my day had taken a bad turn, but I wasn’t sure why.

Chapter Three

Ann

I was back to trying to decipher the species depicted in Drew’s little statue. At present, all indications pointed towards some sort of wolf, which made sense. He had been obsessed with the famous fairy tale, big bad wolf for a couple of months. Which included hobbling around the house and trying to blow the walls down. A behavior that was more cute than destructive.

Work was slow, because of that, I had too much time to think. I had already stitched up my closing argument on my current case that would hand me the win on a silver platter. If only the same thing could be said for an option of who to take to my cousin’s wedding.

Dating was not my favorite pastime. After Drew’s father ghosted me, men just didn’t seem worth it. Sure, I was happy to have male friends. That was something that came easily after serving in the army, but my heart only belonged to my little boy.

It was crazy for me to think that the fake fiancé thing would work for me. I needed to just see this as a work agreement. If I could even find someone to go with me.

A knock at the door startled me out of my thoughts. I jumped, embarrassingly letting out a little yelp.