Loving the Ladies’ Man by Kristin Canary

Chapter 15

“Knock, knock.” I push Connor’s office door open and step inside.

He glances up from his computer and gives me a smile, but it doesn’t quite seem to reach his eyes. “What’s up?”

I smooth my hands down my skirt and move closer to sit in the chair across from him. It’s Friday afternoon—five days after the disastrous end to his family reunion—and I’m about to leave the office for a long-awaited girls’ night out with my housemates. Since getting home late Sunday evening, we haven’t seen much of each other. Connor’s been working on project after project.

I know I’m probably being paranoid, but I feel like I’m losing him. When we’re together, it’s like part of him is hidden away again. Or maybe he’s just distracted. Either way, I miss him, and I hope that he’ll loosen up a bit on our date tomorrow night.

“Just wanted to stop in and see you before I head out.”

He’s looking at his computer again, squints, frowns. Then he shakes his head and moves his attention back to me. “Sorry. What did you say?”

“You okay?” I lean forward, longing to reach out and grab his hand. But even though we’re dating, we’re still trying to keep it on the down low at work until we know who is getting the promotion. We don’t want our relationship to affect Lisa’s decision at all. But once she offers it to one of us, we will tell her and sign whatever HR forms we need to.

Since my parents are doing so well—their loan came through, hallelujah!—I don’t need the promotion like I used to. But there’s part of me that thinks I’d like to have it anyway. Like Connor said, I’m coming into my own and it’s exciting to think about what I could do as an associate publisher. I’ve already got some great ideas for how to support the teams I’d be leading.

“Everything’s fine.” Connor shifts in his seat and tugs at his tie. “It’s just that I heard from the second agent I submitted to.”

I scoot to the edge of my chair. “The second one? What about the first?”

“Rejected.”

“What? When?” And why didn’t he tell me?

“A few days ago. It’s not a big deal.” But I can tell by his drooping shoulders, his chest caving inward, that it is a very big deal. “The second one just rejected me too.”

“I’m sorry, Connor.” Who cares what everyone else thinks? I stand up and round the desk to give him a hug. But he’s quick about it and then pulls away.

A tiny shard of doubt pokes me in the ribs. But maybe this is how he handles disappointment. Could be he just needs some time alone to process.

Chewing the inside of my cheek, I go back to the chair and stand behind it, gripping the back. “Did they say why?” They don’t always. Sometimes you just get a form rejection, which I understand, considering I have to do the same thing due to the sheer volume of submissions we receive.

“Something about not having a platform or social media influence.” He shrugs again. “Like I said. No big deal.”

“If you want, I’ll help you find other agents to submit to.”

“I don’t know. Maybe.” He points to his computer. “Sorry, I’ve got a ton of work to finish up. It’s going to be a long evening.”

“Sure, no problem.” My chest tightens. “Are we still on for tomorrow night?”

“Actually, I think I’ll be working all weekend. Rain check?” There’s a flicker of something in his eyes—regret?—and already he’s back to facing his monitor.

“Um, sure. Call me if you get a break.”

He nods while stroking his chin, reading something on the screen so intently I wonder if light beams are going to shoot out of his eyes.

Okay, then.

I shake out my hands as I leave his office, blood buzzing in my ears. Checking my watch, I move quickly into my office to collect my things. Even though I’m itching to figure out why Connor is freezing me out, girls’ night is starting soon, and I can’t bail like I did last time—the night of the earthquake.

So much has changed since that February day nearly three months ago.

When I step back into the hall, I pull up short at the sight of my boss coming toward my office. “Evie, good. I caught you before you left. Can we talk?”

“Um, yeah. Sure.”

“Great.” Lisa ushers me back into the office and shuts the door behind us. She moves the two chairs on the nearest side of my desk apart so they face each other. She sits in one and I take the other. “I’m sorry to be doing this at the end of the workweek, but I just got the final go-ahead from the board.”

Is she about to say what I think she is? I press a fist against my thigh. “No problem.”

“I’m pleased to offer you the associate publisher position. Congratulations, Evie.”

My hand covers my mouth and I want to leap up and pump my fist. But just as quickly, I consider Connor—how this will make him feel. Still, I have to express my gratitude. “Thank you so much, Lisa. I … I don’t know what to say.”

Her head tips. “Ideally, you’ll say yes.”

“I’d like the weekend to think it over, if that’s all right.” I falter for the right words. “It’s just a big decision. A big opportunity.”

“I understand. But I want you to know that I’ve seen a tremendous change in you over the last three months. You’re more sure of yourself, more poised, and you’ve really helped your team to blossom. Instead of catching fish for them, you’ve taught them how to thread a worm on a hook and find their own dinner, so to speak.” Then she shivers, gritting her teeth. “Sorry, that was a rather gruesome visual image. The point is, Evie, you’ve earned this, and I’d love nothing more than to have you beside me working to propel Evermore to new heights.”

“Wow.” It’s all I can say, really. “Thank you. I’ll let you know first thing on Monday.”

“Wonderful.” Lisa stands then sits again quickly. “There is one more thing.”

She hesitates—and you know that feeling you get in your stomach when the hero and heroine in your favorite book are about to break up? You can see it coming before it even happens? That sick foreboding?

That’s how I feel in this moment.

Then Lisa plows on. “I’ve decided that I’m going to let you take the subsidiary rights, marketing, and editorial departments under your wing as direct reports. I’ll handle all the others.”

I blink. “Wait. I thought …”

“The original plan was, of course, to ease you into this and only give you two departments, but you’ve shown such surprising growth that I’m positive it’s something you can handle.” She studies me so intently I begin to squirm like a cockroach under a microscope. “And you and Connor have been working so well together lately that I thought it would be a natural transition.”

“S-so, he’s going to be my direct report?”

“Yes, as will Jorge in subsidiary rights and whoever we promote to your position in editorial.”

My head spins. I’m going to be Connor’s boss. This is not good. Evermore has a very clear “no dating subordinates” policy. Very clear—as in, people have lost their jobs over it in the past.

“Is that negotiable at all?”

“I’m afraid not.” I’ve never known Lisa to be cruel, but there’s a question in her gaze. “It’s not a problem for any reason, is it?”

She knows.

She totally knows.

Is she testing me or something? I don’t want to lie. “Um, well …”

“Great.” Lisa stands again, this time for good. “I’ll be eagerly awaiting your answer on Monday.” She strides to the door, then turns, her eyes serious. “And Evie, I do hope you won’t let anything hold you back from saying yes. You’ve worked too hard and are too talented for that.”

Then she whisks away and I can finally breathe.

Connor.

I have to tell Connor.

Snatching my purse again, I hurry to his office, where he seemed to indicate he’d be all night—but he’s nowhere to be found. I try calling his cell but he doesn’t answer, and I need to be getting to drinks anyway. Briefly I consider texting him, but this isn’t something I want to discuss over the phone.

His car isn’t in the parking lot, and I’m fighting the thought that he lied to me as I drive to the restaurant. Maybe he just stepped out for some air, or to pick up some dinner. This doesn’t mean I’m losing him. He said he was falling in love with me. That means something.

I drive to the nightclub-slash-bar in the Gaslamp Quarter that Kayla picked out for our little soiree and somehow find parking despite the downtown traffic. The boutique nightclub gives me all the glamorous vibes with its wooden accents, plush rugs, and beaded tiered chandeliers. In the place of tables and chairs, there are deep-set couches and overstuffed loungers arranged in semi-circles all across the main floor, which I cross to find my friends in a low-lit corner already sipping cocktails.

Kayla spots me and waves. “Evie!” She’s clearly already a few drinks in because she’s got her happy-drunk smile on. And when I approach, she leaps up and practically tackles me, wobbling on her five-inch spikes that are expertly paired with a slinky silver dress that hugs all her curves.

“Hey.” I laugh, because a girls’ night is exactly what I need after all.

My other housemates send their greetings from the red couch as I lower myself into one of the cream-colored armchairs. I note each of their drinks, which so perfectly represent their personalities. Alexis is drinking a gin and tonic, Shelby a glass of white wine, and Lauren what looks like a Sex on the Beach. There’s an assortment of appetizers laid out on the low wooden table.

A server approaches and places a white square napkin on the side table next to me. “Can I get you something to drink?” Thankfully this isn’t one of those super loud bars where she’d have to shout to be heard. There’s just a light hint of music floating above the rafters, enough to sprinkle down on us but not overwhelm the conversation.

“Another cosmo for me.” Kayla raises her hand from the armchair next to mine. “And whatever else these ladies want, on me. We’re celebrating tonight!”

After I put in my request for a mudslide (because chocolate and coffee liqueur, hello!), I turn to Kayla. “What are we celebrating?” She can’t possibly know about my promotion, so it has to be something else.

“Ladies, I paid off my student loans!” Standing, Kayla holds her arms over her head and shakes her booty. Three guys a few couches over nudge each other and smile appreciatively. “Which means, I could leave the Wicked Witch in the freaking dust if I wanted to.”

“That’s amazing.” Once she sits again, I lean over and squeeze her elbow.

“So when’s your last day?” Alexis consumes the rest of her drink and sits back against the couch. Her lime green hair glistens under the chandeliers.

“You know, the best time to find a new job is when you’ve still got one.” Shelby takes a piece of bread from one of the platters, smears it with orange-colored jam, and places a slice of brie on top. My stomach growls as she oh-so-gently nibbles the end. “Speaking of new jobs, did I tell you all that Eric got one at my school?”

Eric and Shelby have been best friends for who knows how long. Infancy? We all think he likes her, but Shelby just softly laughs off our suggestion and says he knows better than to like her. Which makes no sense, because Shelby is the sweetest woman I know.

“Doing what?” I lean forward and snag a portabella fry, dipping it into some sort of green aioli before tasting it. Mmm. Cilantro and avocado dance on my tongue.

“He is going to be the middle school history teacher.” Shelby teaches at a K-8 school, so this makes sense. “I’m so excited to get to eat lunch together every day.”

Across the table from me, Alexis arches her green brow (because, yes, she dyes her eyebrows too). “Sounds … cozy.”

Kayla snorts and Shelby frowns. But before she can protest, Lauren throws her arm around Shelby’s shoulder. “It sounds amazing! Y’all are going to have so much fun.”

Our server stops by with my and Kayla’s drinks, plus three more. She points to the table of guys a few couches over from us, who lift their chins in the universal “how you doing” greeting. “These are compliments of your fans over there.”

We thank her and lift our drinks to the guys, who fist bump each other. Then we clink our glasses all together.

Kayla sits back in her chair and directs her attention to me. Her drink sloshes a little as she leans forward. “So, Evs,” she slurs. Wow. Kayla rarely gets this wasted (she likes to be in control). She must really be happy—or maybe, like me, she feels a little lost and this is her way of covering that up. After all, she’s been so focused on paying off those loans that she hasn’t thought much beyond this moment. To my knowledge, at least. “We all gave life updates before you got here. Your turn.”

I nudge my finger through the condensation forming on the outside of my drink. “Just before I came, my boss told me she’s giving me the promotion.”

“What? Why didn’t you lead with that?” And Kayla is tackling me again, this time while I’m sitting, so I’m guessing the guys who paid for our drinks are also getting a show thanks to her short dress. But my bestie isn’t fazed one bit as she plops back in her seat.

My other friends are cracking up at Kayla’s behavior and congratulating me and they’re all diving into the food and their drinks as I tell them the story—first about the family reunion and where Connor and I were at as of last weekend. Even though Kayla knows all of this because she grilled me right when I got back, it’s much easier to update the others as a group since we’re rarely all together.

When I get to the part in the story where Lisa told me I’ll be Connor’s boss, Kayla grins. “That’s hot.”

Alexis swats Kayla’s knee. “You’re too drunk to know what you’re saying. It’s not hot.” She turns her eyes back to me, somber. “It’s probably not allowed, is it?”

Then I swallow and I’m suddenly crying and the women are shoving napkins into my hands as tears I have been apparently holding inside stream from my eyes. “I don’t know what to do.” I hiccup despite having exactly zero sips of my drink so far. “I mean, I think the job would be kind of cool, you know? But I like editing too. I’d be happy being an editor for the rest of my life. And if having the job means losing Connor, then I don’t think I want it.”

“No man is worth losing a job opportunity, girl,” Alexis says. “Men come and go, but your work is what gives you value.” She looks at me meaningfully over the top of her beverage. “Mark my words.”

Lauren shakes her head. “So what gives me value is helping size two women become size zeroes? I don’t think so.” She places a hand on her chest. “And you’re so quick to discount love. Why is that, Lexi Lou?”

“Don’t call me that.” Alexis scowls and nurses her gin and tonic like a baby. “I’m just saying that Evie shouldn’t compromise what she really wants for a guy. That’s all.”

“Okay, fine.” Lauren tilts her body toward mine. “So Evie, what do you want? The job … or Connor?”

“Connor, of course.” The answer is easy when she puts it like that.

I laugh, a weight lifted. Because, yes. Jobs may come and go, but Connor and I have something special. I love him, and I’m pretty sure he loves me. That love shouldn’t waver just because we’re having an off week.

Of course I choose him.

“Didn’t you want this job originally to help out your parents?” Shelby crosses her legs and places her hands on her knee. She tucks her short blonde hair behind her ear. “Is that not a concern anymore in the long term, even though they got the loan?”

I shrug. “My mom asked me to have faith, and that’s what I’m trying to do.” It’s true that I sometimes still worry about what will happen when the loan runs out, if the cows stop producing, as my parents get older.

But when I expressed the concern to Connor, he told me he’d help me figure it out—that we were in this together.

My mother’s words from last month float back to me: “We’ll just take it one day at a time. It will all work out like it should. Have a little faith.”

Yes. I am choosing to have faith. In the universe, in God … and in Connor Bryant, the man I love.