“He’s sexy when he shouldn’t be.”
Sexywas a word Naomi heard thrown around a lot, and like any word used too often, it had started to lose meaning. Because of the nature of her work, she usually heard it describing something orchestrated and deliberate, built with the singular intention to tantalize.
Ethan wasn’t like that.
He was like a current. Powerful and fluid in ways that had nothing to do with wanting her but that pulled her in all the same.
“Oh.” Clara slid the seat forward and back in tiny increments. “Is that all?”
Naomi should have insisted they take separate cars from the office.
She flicked the side of Clara’s thigh. “What do you mean, is that all?”
“Ow.” Clara reached over to pinch her arm in retaliation, but Naomi warned, “I’m driving,” and Clara sat back with a huff.
“You think everyone is sexy,” the brunette said simply.
“Not everyone,” Naomi protested. She didn’t think her current mail carrier was sexy. Now his predecessor, on the other hand...
“That’s true,” Clara said, thoughtful as she wiped the lens of her sunglasses on her skirt. “Lately it’s narrowed down to everyone mean.”
Well, sure. It was easier to keep mean people at arm’s length.
“That’s just it, though.” Naomi smacked the steering wheel with her palm and accidentally hit the horn. She waved in apology at the car in front of her until he flipped her the bird. Rolling down her window, she yelled, “Well, fuck you too, buddy,” before turning back to Clara. “That’s the thing about this guy. He’s not mean. He’s nice, like aggressively nice, and kinda funny, but not really on purpose, and... it’s confusing.”
Obviously, Clara didn’t understand why Ethan was so dangerous. How could she explain that he possessed near-lethal levels of persuasive powers? There was something about his shoulder-to-waist ratio. Despite his average height—maybe below average, honestly—he was so broad. Actually, what was a bigger word thanbroad?Expansive?
“Wait a second.” Clara sat straighter in her seat, which frankly shouldn’t have been possible since she had like finishing school posture already.
Naomi pulled up to a stop sign. “What?”
“You really like this guy.” An annoying singsong quality permeated Clara’s voice.
“On a professional level.” With Naomi’s résumé, it was reasonable to useprofessionalto mean she wanted to fuck him.
“No,” Clara chewed her bottom lip. “On a... hand-holding, picnic-in-the-park, do-his-whole-astrological-chart-to-see-if-you’re-compatible level.”
“That’s the grossest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“I never thought I’d see the day.” Clara grinned. “You totally have a crush.”
It was one thing for Naomi to acknowledge her feelings privately, but another entirely for Clara to be able to see them and give them a name.
“That’s it. Get out of my car.” Naomi Grant did not have crushes. She crushed other people. No, wait, that wasn’t right. Ugh.
“We’re barreling down the freeway,” Clara said, admirably nonplussed.
“I’ll slow down.” Naomi hit the button to unlock the doors. She was nothing without her intimidation factor.
“I bet you miss the days when I was actually afraid of you.” Clara clapped her hands. “Ahh. This is so exciting. I can’t believe I’m about to meet your crush.”
“It’s not exciting, and he’s not my crush. It’s a business arrangement. If you imply otherwise again, I will have no choice but to go full Krav Maga on your ass.”
Clara pressed a hand to her heart. “I’m honored that you’ve chosen me to share in this experience.”
“Clara, I’m serious. If you so much as think the wordcrushinside that coffee shop, I swear I’ll show up to your wedding fully nude.” Naomi ground her molars.
“Oh, fine. Maybecrushis a little adolescent. We’ll call him the apple of your eye. The fodder for your daydreams. The—”