Free A Bad Bit Nice by Josie Kerr Page B

wiggled her eyebrows. “So tell me more about this boss of yours. Likes, dislikes, felony convictions. Gimme the scoop, lady.”
    Em laughed loudly, grateful for the change in topic. “Let’s see. He’s not a smoker that I know of. Likes Irish whiskey. Has a standing mani/pedi appointment. And when we were in Los Angeles, he picked up four pair of bespoke jeans.”
    Ashley whistled. “I like this man more and more already.”
    “Oh, and I found out yesterday that he was a champion Irish step dancer when he was in school and was almost in a touring production of Riverdance ! Y’all could form a dance company if this real estate/internet security stuff doesn’t work out,” Em teased. “In the not-so-good news, he has a tendency to date young. Not icky young, but like college co-ed, recently graduated young.”
    “Hello! Who have I been dating for the past three years?”
     
     
     

Chapter 12   
    Em thought about what she was calling The Kiss the whole time she was out of town. She couldn’t believe she had just kissed him, on the stairs, in front of God and everyone. She didn’t know what had gotten into her. They hadn’t even gone on a real date! At least when she got home, Mick would probably still be out of town, so she wouldn’t have to see him and be immediately mortified at her forward behavior.
    Even after they met for dinner, Em and Ashley continued to dissect The Kiss like a couple of junior high girls. Ashley thought it meant something, that Mick was interested; Em was pretty certain it just showed that she was 42-year-old single woman who was starved for physical affection.
    How long had it been? Eighteen months? If she was honest, it had been closer to three years since she had had a truly physical relationship. She and Tripp hadn’t been intimate the last year they were together even though they put on a good front for public outings. No, she was lucky to get a peck on the cheek or a hand on her lower back when they were at a party.
    Of course, now she knew why. Tripp had been getting his needs met by a variety of women. She wondered how long it really was before Tripp set his sights on Bailey. Of course, Bailey knew that Em had been involved in a long-term relationship with Tripp, so dating him was pretty shitty on Bailey’s part, but hell, Em was pulling away anyway.
    Whatever .
    “Oi! Em!” called a familiar voice.
    Em looked around and saw Rory bustling through the crowd, beaming at her.
    “Fancy meeting you here,” she laughed. “I thought you were still putting out fires in Portland.”
    “Things got settled down very quickly when I threatened to enforce the PITA upcharge.”
    “The PITA upcharge?”
    “The Pain in the Arse upcharge—if the client is a pain in the arse, our services cost a lot more. It’s very useful,” he laughed.
    Em was getting ready to split off to take the train when Rory stopped her.
    “I’ve got my car here. Let me drive you home,” Rory said. “It’s the least I can do to thank you for pulling my balls out of the fire and securing an additional contract to boot.”
    Em fussed, but soon relented as she saw a late spring storm erupt in the sky. The last thing she wanted to do was walk home in a downpour. Soon they were traveling from the airport toward the Victorian in Rory’s low sports car.
    “Can Mick even fit in this car?” Em asked. Rory barked a laugh.
    “He can, but he gripes the whole time. A few times I’ve either had too much to drink or I’ve left with someone and Mick’s taken the car back to the house. He always swears he’s never going to do it again, but guilt gets him every time. He doesn’t want to leave the car out in a parking lot overnight.” Rory grinned and shrugged.
    Em chuckled to herself, imagining Mick’s big body and long legs crammed into the low-slung vehicle. Rory was a pretty big guy himself, but he wasn’t nearly as tall as Mick; his was more of a broad, thick-chested build.
    Rory turned made his way