You’ve been so great to me. It’s time I repay the favor and help you in ways you’ve helped me. Plus, this is entirely too much to ask for you to pay for a dress to an event that has a mandatory black-tie dress code.”
I reluctantly grab the card and look at the engraved lettering. They say it’s not about what you know, but who you know. This event is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for someone in my position. Being dressed to impress is in my best interest. “Okay, thank you.”
“I should be thanking you, love.” Branson rises, and I follow.
His arms are out, and as he walks around the desk, I see he wants to give me a hug. He’s never done this before. Then again, he’s never asked me to go to a gala with him before either. I walk into his arms and momentarily find myself lost in the scent of peppermint.
There’s a knock on the door, and when I turn, I see Hunter with a confused yet stoic expression covering his face.
I pull away from Branson and quickly put my hands to the sides. Branson, however, keeps an arm around my shoulders.
“Hunter, come in,” he calls out.
“You wanted to see me?” Hunter asks Branson, holding up his phone, like he just got an email. His gaze, however, is focused on me and Branson’s arm on my shoulders. “Good morning, Katie.”
“Hi,” I say shyly, for no other reason than it feels great to see him again. I haven’t heard from him since he dropped me off at my apartment.
Hunter doesn’t say anything else, but the way his eyes are burning a hole in Branson’s hand on me says enough.
“I’ll leave you two,” I say, moving out of Branson’s arm. “Can I get you anything?”
“Yes. Coffee, please,” Branson says as Hunter shakes his head in decline.
I brush my knuckle against Hunter’s as I walk to the door. He doesn’t make a move back, which is surprising. Last week, he kissed me in front of Branson when we were just friends. Now, we’ve slept together, and he won’t even touch my hand.
I bow out to get the coffee.
Iris and Janice are in the break room, chatting away about Lord knows what. I excuse my way past them to get a to-go cup.
“Katie, what’s this I hear about you and Hunter being a thing?” Janice asks in a very gossipy sort of way.
I cringe inwardly, hating being the topic of office rumors. I don’t say anything as I spin and raise my eyebrows to them in question.
Janice rolls her eyes. “Oh, come on. Everyone knows.”
Being that our boss knows, I suppose it shouldn’t shock me. I close my eyes briefly and raise a shoulder. “It’s very new.”
Her jaw drops like she’s totally baffled by this information. “Oh my God! So, it’s really true. You’re sleeping with Hunter Johnstone!”
My eyes widen, and my face feels like it’s turning beet red. “Who told you that?”
Iris shakes her head with a laugh as Janice fans herself as if it’s the hottest thing she’s ever heard.
“You just did,” Iris explains. “Don’t let this one bait you. She did it to me, too, when I went out with Hunter.”
My entire gut drops to the ground. Knowing someone you’re with dated others before you is fine, but being part of the conversation doesn’t feel good.
Janice nudges Iris. “Be good to this little sweetheart. Katie here thinks when you sleep with a guy, wedding bells will ring.”
“No, I don’t,” I say, but she doesn’t seem to hear me.
“Listen, honey, sex means nothing, and you shouldn’t assume anything. Some guys lose interest as soon as they get some, especially if they had to work hard for it,” Janice states matter-of-factly.
“Why do you have to make it sound so crude?” Iris playfully hits her hand.
Janice places her hand on her hip. “Because men are crude. They’re sex-brained maniacs who will leave you after two weeks and move on to the next able and willing warm body. Don’t get things twisted.”
“Not every guy is like that,” I defend the man species by not clumping them all together.
She tilts her head down at me in a condescending way. “So, you still have your fairy-tale bubble in place then? Don’t worry; Hunter Johnstone will pop”—she acts like she’s popping a bubble around my head with a needle—“that little bubble of yours, sweetheart. Just wait. It’s bound to happen. Two weeks, and he’s out!”
Iris and I meet eyes, and I’m stuck on what to