Free Hysterical Blondeness by Suzanne Macpherson Page B

there.” Patricia squiggled away from his grip.
    “Since you’re just frittering away your extra-long lunch, we’ll add a quick cup of espresso to that. You look drunk.”
    “One glass of wine.” She shrugged.
    “Didn’t your mother ever tell you alcohol can impair your judgment?”
    “My mother told me too many things,” she snapped.
    “Well, you should have listened.” He took her arm again and headed her toward the stairs. She assumed he was heading them to the coffee bar situated across the walk from Via back up on six.
    “You are being a twit, Patricia. Brett Nordquist is an egotistical self-involved blowhard.”
    “Egotistical and self-involved are the same thing.” Patricia skip-walked to keep up with Paulie.
    He kept a hold on her. “Did you know thathe’s been dating Lizbeth Summers for over a year?”
    “So what?” Patricia was being snotty now. Paul was being a big macho Italian pain in the butt.
    “She wants a ring, and he won’t give it to her. They’re in some weird standoff right now.”
    “Sounds like the end is at hand. If he really loved her, he’d want to marry her.”
    “Oh brother. Who would have figured you for a Pollyanna?”
    “That’s me, sunny side up.” Patricia trudged up the last stair.
    “Did he ask you out on a date?” Paul asked.
    Patricia was surprised he’d guessed. “None of your beeswax. What are you anyhow, my brother?”
    He kept herding her toward the escalator and guided her on like a kid. She’d jerk away from him, but with the small amount of tipsy she was experiencing she’d probably take a header down the escalator, so she let him hold on to her while they switchbacked up more floors.
    “I’m going to get some coffee into you and sober you up. Did you eat anything for lunch, or just make a fool of yourself instead?”
    “Shut up, you big Italian sausage!”
    “Great comeback, Patricia. Italian sausage.” Paulie laughed at her.
    They got off on the sixth floor and he steered her to the Java Jive. Paul put her in a chair and ordered two espressos and an espresso brownie for each of them.
    “Damn it, Paulie, in case you hadn’t noticed, I’m dieting. You put this brownie thing in front of me and I’m a weak-willed chocoholic.”
    “Eat up. You need sugar.” He set their tiny white cups and saucers down beside the brownies, then sat across from her.
    “Now, listen. Drink that, and listen. Brett is most likely just using you to make Lizbeth jealous.”
    “Maybe he’s sick of her and wants a change.” Patricia took a big bite of her brownie.
    “Oh, come on, this is Lizbeth Summers we’re talking about.”
    “Maybe she bored him to death.”
    “You’ve got brownie bits on your lip.” Paul took a napkin and dabbed her lower lip. He stared into her eyes. Then he got all flustered and moved to drink his espresso.
    Patricia stirred two teaspoons of sugar into hers. It always tasted like medicine to her, butshe loved the buzz. And a teaspoon of sugar helped the medicine go down. Two did an even better job. She sipped some of it and shuddered. “Whoa. Strong today.”
    Paul had gotten very quiet and just sort of glared at her while he drank his espresso.
    When the caffeine hit her system, she started to feel sympathy for Paul and his supposed mission. “Paulie, I’m sorry, I know you’re just trying to protect me. But I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself. And I hate to tell you this and break all your illusions about me, but I actually have a thing for Brett. ” She whispered that last part because they weren’t completely alone, and after all, he was their boss.
    Paul groaned and rubbed his forehead.
    “Not only that, I don’t care if he’s using me to make Lizbeth jealous. It might be my only chance with him. Up until this blonde point in time Brett didn’t know I existed.” Patricia sat back and picked up the rest of her brownie. She hoped Paul understood her. “And by the way, I won’t be home for dinner. I have a date