A Heart to Trust by A.L. Brooks (romantic books to read txt) 📗

“Nah, except get out of my room so I can get all naked and stuff.”

He laughed and turned his back. “You got it. Want a beer while you get ready?”

“No, thanks. I don’t want to drink too much tonight. You know what I can be like if I overdo it.”

Carl’s laughter echoed down the hallway as he walked away.

As it was, it took her twenty minutes to shower and change, but she was happy with the result when she was done. Her hair looked awesome, which was always good. She’d spiked up the center, and the pink sections blended nicely with the black. This weekend, she’d maybe switch to purple; she hadn’t done that color in a while.

Olivia would probably have a fit when she saw it, and Jenny chuckled at the thought.

Carl whistled as she walked back into the living area. “Looking very sharp, Ms. Quinn.”

She buffed her fingernails on the lapel of her jacket. “Why, thank you.” She eyed him up and down. “Decided to put a shirt on after all?”

He grinned. “Just for riding on the subway. I’ll let Solomon rip it off me as soon as I get to his place.”

Jenny pretended to cover her ears. “Whatever. I’ll see you tomorrow, then? Are we still on for a picnic?”

“Absolutely. Tamara confirmed for her and Roz too.”

“Awesome.” She gathered up her wallet, keys, and phone, and left with a wave.

The party was in full swing when she arrived; the official start time had been 7:00 p.m. and it was now around 7:45 p.m. To one side of the large space was a DJ stand, and a few people already moved—badly—to the music. On the opposite side was a long bar, three deep with people, and a little further down from there was a large, very popular buffet table.

She took a moment to look around and see if she recognized anyone. There were a few familiar faces from what used to be TC Productions, others who had clearly been given a role in the new company. But there was no one she knew well enough to stroll over to and converse with, so she stuck her hands in the pockets of her pants and walked toward the buffet. She hadn’t eaten anything since around one, and she decided to start there before drinking anything. Though she only planned to drink light beer all evening, she’d still need something to fill her belly first.

She’d just loaded up a good plateful of burger sliders, some crudités, and potato chips when Chrissy excitedly grabbed hold of her arm.

“You look amazing in this suit!” Chrissy shouted above the music. “Wow!”

Jenny cheeks heated. “Thanks.” She stepped back a little to appraise Chrissy. “You look very nice.”

The dress was a tad revealing, but Chrissy seemed to be that kind of woman. Her makeup was even more glossy than usual, and she’d piled her hair in an elaborate twist. It was all a little too overdone and not Jenny’s taste at all, but she’d never tell Chrissy that.

“Mm.” Chrissy leaned forward to look at the contents of Jenny’s plate. “The food looks great.”

“I haven’t tried it yet, but it smells good and looks good, so the chances are—”

Chrissy snagged one of the burgers from Jenny’s plate and took a bite. Her eyes lit up. “Oh yeah,” she said around her mouthful. “Great!”

Jenny’s jaw clenched; Chrissy was being a little too familiar. Sure, they’d become work friends, but eating off Jenny’s plate? Seriously? “Want me to get you some?” she asked pointedly.

“No, I’m good, I’ll get some in a sec.”

Jenny tilted the plate away from Chrissy, hoping she wasn’t being too obvious. She was ravenous all of a sudden, and the food disappeared in double time.

After wiping her mouth on a napkin, she motioned to Chrissy that she was off to find somewhere to deposit the trash. When she returned, Olivia stood next to Chrissy, and Jenny’s steps faltered as she took in the sight before her.

Olivia looked incredible. The teal, shimmering dress clung in all the right places, but not too closely. Just enough to give a hint of the shapes beneath; the gentle curve of her breasts, her waist, her hips. Her legs—God, those legs—were bare, and the low-heeled sandals she wore made her feet look dainty. Her makeup was subtle, in complete contrast to Chrissy’s, and her hair was held back in a plain mother-of-pearl barrette.

“Hello,” Olivia said politely when Jenny joined them.

“Hi.” Jenny swallowed. Come on, we don’t like her, remember? Stop being all tongue-tied and pathetic.

“The suit looks good on you.” Olivia’s cheeks pinked a little. She took a sip of her wine and looked away.

“Thanks.” Jenny caught Chrissy’s eye, and they both raised their brows. “I’m going to get myself a drink. Be back in a moment.”

Chrissy nodded then turned to start up conversation with Olivia.

It took as long as expected to get served at the bar, but she wasn’t going to complain given all the drinks were, at least for now, free. She took her bottle of Coors back to where Chrissy and Olivia still conversed. Well, if you could call it that. It was more like they threw sentences at each other that in no way connected or elicited the desired response.

“Oh, hi, you’re back!” The relief in Chrissy’s eyes was clear.

They tapped glass to bottle; Olivia obliged too, but awkwardly.

Thankfully, in the next moment, Derek appeared. He carried a bottle of beer and tapped it against each of their drinks. “Nice to see you all here. Maxwell hasn’t made it?”

Jenny shrugged. “He said he would be here. He’s probably talking to someone somewhere.”

Derek nodded, then turned to Olivia and let his gaze wander down the length of her and back up again.

Jenny saw it, and she knew Olivia saw it too because she shifted uncomfortably on the spot. Ugh, what a slime. Jenny had her issues with Olivia, but no woman deserved to be looked at like that by anyone.

There was a small sound to