Free Naughty Tonight by Alyssa Brooks Page B

golden eyes suddenly aflame. Burning with dread. “You got an offer?”
    She just couldn’t tell him. Not when he looked at her like that.
    “Nah.” She forced a grin. “Just wanted to spook ya .”
    Ms. Husband Hunter preened on his arm—so far, not so good—with a glass smile that Kim knew would be shattered in an instant if she knew the real Jackson—Mr. No Commitment.
    Only Kim did. Only Kim loved him still because she knew why. The toll his parents’ vicious war they called a divorce had taken on him, his view of love. It’d been awful for him…he’d been used like a pawn. Constantly cornered into choosing sides.
    “Spook me? Real funny. Listen, Ms. Parker will have to come back next week, about Thursday, for design approvals.” Of course she would.
    Well crap, Kim knew what that meant.
    Staring down at the planner, determination waning, Kim bit her tongue against reminding him those proofs could easily be emailed.
    “Yeah, okay.” Ribbit , ribbit . “Same time?”
    “Why sure,” Veronica beamed as if she’d just been promised forever rather than an appointment. “I’m open anytime that day.”
    Kim bet she was.
    “That’ll work,” Jackson confirmed. Once again she swore those eyes darted to her chest then quickly back up and he gulped. “Lock up for me, would you?”
    Veronica arched, rubbing her body alongside his to whisper in his ear. Laughter ensued, making Kim flush hot as Jackson made a show of slinging an arm around the woman’s waist and tugging her closer, as if to prove which woman he wanted.
    Not Kim.
    Why? Why wouldn’t he give her the time of day? Why did he avoid looking at her boobs as if she had hair growing all over them?
    Wetting mauve lips, Kim glared at him, utter longing in her heart. She knew his every facial expression, his every like and dislike. His good side. His bad side.
    And she knew Ms. Parker would not be coming in next week. By the time the sun rose and Ms. Parker found herself dumped, they’d be out another client.
    Why not her, dammit ?
    “ Kimmy ? You okay?”
    Courage waning, yet another chance dissolving into thin air, Kim placed her hands flat to the desk, leaning forward just a little so her neckline plunged, revealing even more of her breasts. “There’s gonna be a great party at Mel’s tonight. I was hoping, you know, you’d come with me.”
    Asking a guy out while another woman dangled on his arm…wholly discouraging.
    That guy not even realizing and said woman giggling at you? Absolutely mortifying.
    “Yeah, yeah. We’ll be there. Hey—” Nose scrunching, eyebrow arching into a peak, he leaned closer to her. “Wait a sec. Are you wearing lipstick?”
    The way he said it she might as well have stupid tattooed across her forehead.
    “What’s gotten into you?” Heat crept up her neck as he shook his head in wonder and barked with laughter, reaching out and pinching her cheek. Hard, almost as if to punish her. “See you in a few hours. And I want to meet him.”
    Well, that could be easily arranged, now couldn’t it?
    As Jackson and tonight’s choice of lover departed the building, Kim felt herself crumpling. Devastated…
    With the back of her sleeve she dodged tears then smeared off plastic-tasting lipstick, not caring that she was ruining her stupid shirt. Damn Jackson, he had noticed her. He just didn’t want her—that much was crystal clear.
    He. Didn’t. Want. Her.
    Years she’d wasted years pining over Jackson, following him around like a damn puppy dog. Always at his side but never in his arms. Passing up perfectly good dates, even ready to give up her dream job just to give them a chance. Why? For pizza and beer, four- wheelin ’ on the weekend? To be one of the guys?
    And then she was angry. Downright pot-boiling pissed.
    Jackson didn’t want her? Fine. She got it. But someone else would. She was done waiting for him to come around.
    Tonight, she celebrated. Philly.
    * * * * *
    “Lipstick.” Waltzing down the sidewalk,