Free Book Bitch by Ashleigh Royce Page B

downstairs to get some lunch from the deli. Want something?” I asked.
    “What are you getting?”
    “I think just a sandwich.”
    “Okay. Get me one .”
    I went to the deli and had Marty make me two of his specials. With lunch bag in hand I met up with Lindsey and Katie getting out of the elevator just as I was going back to the office. “Hey, what’s going on?” I asked.
    Lindsey filled me in on what I was missing in the other part of the office, telling me what the other agents were working on. Katie remained quiet. I turned toward her. “So how are you settling in?”
    “Just fine.” Her curt answer wasn’t what I expected.
    I returned my attention to Lindsey. “How’s Connor?”
    She chuckled. “He’s perfect. Thanks again for introducing us.”
    I didn’t have to ask any more. I knew they had hit it off. I said goodbye to Lindsey and Katie when the elevator doors opened, they turned to go into the coffee shop in the lobby of the building.
    When I walked by Rose’s desk, she stopped me before I went in to Rebecca. “Preston Price is in there.” She rolled her eyes. I laughed.
    “Should I wait out here?”
    “I’ll ring in and see what she wants you to do.” Rose dialed Rebecca’s extension. She whispered into the phone, “Do you want Alex to come in? He has your lunch?” She listened. “Okay. Thank you.” She hung up and looked at me. “She said to go in.”
    Even though I had the approval to enter, I knocked lightly on the door to announce it, just in case they were talking about something I wasn’t supposed to have knowledge of. Preston Price was sitting in the seat I normally took. I walked over and handed Rebecca her sandwich.
    “Thank you,” she said, putting it down on the side of her desk.
    I turned toward Mr. Price and dusted off my fake agent act. “Mr. Price, how wonderful it is to see you again. Had I known you were coming, I would have waited to pick up lunch. Would you care for half of my sandwich?”
    The pretentious author giggled. He looked at Rebecca. “You are certainly training him the right way, Rebecca. He’s quite charming.” He resumed his glance at me. “I do appreciate your offer, Mr. Ryan. And although you look rather… delicious, I have lunch arrangements in just a bit. I only stopped by to tell Rebecca that I should have the latest revision to you by the end of the week. I’ve been very diligent about keeping up with the deadlines you’ve been setting for me.” With that, he rose out of the chair. I stepped back to allow him to pass.
    Rebecca stood , too. She walked around her desk to escort him to the door. “I’m glad to hear that we’re on track, Preston. As soon as I look over the corrected manuscript, I’ll call Gail. Maybe we can get this out on the shelves by the holidays.”
    Preston got to the door and turned. “Imagine thinking of Christmas now, in June.” He let out another giggle. Once he was out and in the elevator, Rebecca closed her office door. She turned toward me. Our faces were inches apart. “You’re wonderful. You played him like a piano, stroking all of his keys.” She kissed me, but it was quick. I wanted more, but knew we were not in the right place for that.
    “ I’d like to stroke your keys. What are you doing after work today?” My hope was that I could spend some time with her to figure out what we had.
    “I have to meet a client for dinner. I’d invite you along but he’s a bit odd about meeting new people.”
    “Oh no, that’s okay. I understand. I don’t have to shadow you on every appointment. I just thought we could talk, you know, get to know each other better.”
    She rested her hand on my cheek. Her skin was soft. I inhaled the scent of her hand cream. The phone rang and interrupted the moment.
    “Yes, Rose?” Rebecca listened. “Okay, put him through.” She hung up and waited for Rose to patch the call through. Her dragon-lady persona returned as she asserted herself toward the caller. I sat at