Worth the Risk_ A Contemporary - Megan Hart Page 0,133

how ’bout yourself, pretty lady?"

Lila repressed a grimace. "Oh, you know. Busy, busy."

Ned stepped out from his mailroom domain and hitched his pants up past his waist. He had really outdone himself this time. Kelly green linen pants, inadequately held up with a brown leather braided belt. Faded pink Izod polo shirt, collar standing up to brush his ears. Black loafers with tassels. He’d even added a watch today.

"Do you like it?" He must have seen her noticing it. "It’s a Bolex."

"A Bolex?"

"Yeah, you know." Ned gave her a conspiratorial glance. "It’s like a Rolex, but it’s a Bolex. I got in New York when I went to the National Mail Handlers Convention."

"It’s…really…nice." Lila mustered as much enthusiasm as she could. She handed him the pile of envelopes she needed to send out. "Here you go, Ned. Thanks a lot."

"So, when are we going to go out again?" Ned took the pile and began nonchalantly tossing each letter into its appropriate slot. "We had such a great time the last time."

"Boy, we sure did." Lila wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole. Or better yet, swallow Ned. "But…."

Ned suddenly turned from his letter sorting—the smarmy smile wiped clean from his face. It had been replaced by an expression of intense sincerity. Lila stifled a groan.

"I tried calling you a couple of times, but you didn’t get back to me."

What could she say to that? She didn’t have the heart to tell him the truth—that the one time she had agreed to go out with him had been a mistake. She’d gotten his messages, but had wimpily forgone returning his calls. She had hoped he’d get the hint.

"Sorry," she said. "I’ve just been.…"

"Busy, I know."

"I’m really sorry," she repeated. "I don’t know what else to say."

"You could say you’ll go out with me again," Ned said in the hopeless voice of a man who expects to be shot down.

"Oh, I wish I could. I really do." Lila gritted her teeth. "But I’ve just started seeing someone."

"Oh."

She would rather have had someone hit her on the head with a frying pan than have to look at Ned’s face. Lila felt terrible. Ned was nice. He was just too…well…Ned.

"I sure did have fun with you, though." Lila struggled to sound sincere. "Bowling, the stuffed-animal exhibit at the state museum. A lot of fun."

"Lila, you don’t have to patronize me," Ned said with a nerd’s quiet dignity. "I know you didn’t want to go out with me again. It’s okay. A woman like you never wants to go out with a man like me."

The similarity to her own words to Tom made Lila step back. "Oh, Ned."

"No, Lila, really, it’s fine. I’m used to this. I just thought.…" Ned trailed off for a moment, sounding wistful. "I just thought you were different. You’re always so nice to me."

Oh, brother, Lila thought. How to respond to that? She couldn’t tell him that she was just being nice to be nice, not being nice to be…well…nice.

"Ned, I’m sorry." It was the third time. "I really am seeing someone now, or else I’d love to go out with you again."

"I said you don’t have to patronize me!" Ned snapped loudly. Two bright spots of color had appeared in his pasty cheeks. "I’m not much to look at, I know, but I’m not dumb!"

Lila’s heart sunk into her stomach. Now she really didn’t know what to say. Anything she could come up with would just make matters worse. "Ned…"

"Just go." Ned’s voice rang with coldness, and he ducked back into his sanctuary. "I’ll see you around. Good luck with your new boyfriend."

He sneered the last word before he turned his back on her and started again to sort the mail. Lila left the mailroom and hurried to get back to her office before she started to cry. She felt terrible about what had just happened, and the fact she was now on the other side of the table did not escape her. Was this how Tom had felt when she had said almost the same thing to him?

Darren took one look when she entered the office and shut the door. "Does this mean we’re not going to lunch?"

Lila slumped into her chair and rubbed her temples. Darren’s words finally registered and she looked up. "No. Why?"

Her assistant frowned and pulled up the other office chair. She had never seen him look so serious. He looked worried.

"Corporate Carl really let you have it, huh?" He sounded