Before Her Billionaires by Julia Kent Page A

answer,” she said, taking a step toward her office.
    “Wait! You didn’t see my pictures of our dinner!”
    W h at’s next? Laura wondered. Pictures of the date’s platinum American Express card? His penis? His car? Debbie had specific standards for the “perfect” man that were so different from Laura’s they might as well have been dating a completely different species.
    “H ey , Laura.” A deep man’s voice cut through Debbie’s chatter. Laura turned toward it, grateful. Rick was the IT help desk director, and Laura loved him right now. He was her knight in shining armor, and as she turned to look at him she held back a low whistle of appreciation.
    Rick’s typical work wardrobe leaned toward business casual, and his hair was styled as if his grandmother cut it. With glasses fro m the 1980s and an absent-minded professor look, he looked like the stereotype of an engineer who went back to school in his 40s, got a teaching license, and went on to work in an inner city high school.
    But not this morning.
    A warm flush began in Laura’s belly as her eyes took in the new Rick. Even Debbie shut her mouth and just stared, one perfectly manicured, thin eyebrow arching.
    Tailored suit with white dress shirt, silver cuff links and a lilac tie? Check.
    Black wingtips? Check.
    Contact lenses? Check.
    New haircut that looked like someone at one of the top salons on Newbury street had cut it? Check.
    And a cologne that made women’s knees go we ak ? Oh, yes, sir.
    “Rick!” Laura peeped, unable to cover her reaction. Holy smokes, he was hot. Flaming hot.
    “ O h,” he said, fumbling with his hands, becoming fidgety. “This?” He swept his palm down the side of his body and Laura swore she hear d Debbie groan. His hands looked so soft and strong, nails clearly manicured. The smattering of hair on the backs of his hands glinted as the light caught his gold watch.  
    “Yes,” Laura replied with a hiss. “This.”
    “You like it? My sister took me out for my birthday and insisted I needed a new look now that I’ve been promoted upstairs. It’s not too m u ch, is it?” His brow tightened with a slight frown of worry.  
    L aura looked at Debbie, who was biting her lower lip and sucking on it so hard she was about to swallow it. That lilac tie was the clincher. Imagine that around your wrists, tied to a bedpost, while...
    “No, no,” Laura interrupted her imagination, giving it a little spanking, a light slap to make it stop wandering . “Not too much. Perfect, in fact,” she added with a shaky inhale. “But you— promoted? Upstairs?”
    His face split into a geeky grin. Ah. There was the Rick she knew. “Yeah—can you believe it? Director of IT Resources for the Pacific Region.”
    “Pacific?” Debbie asked, disappointment in her voice. “You’re being transferred?”
    He gave a sheepish smile. “Yeah. I move to San Francisco i n three weeks.”
    Debbie’s eyes crawled up and down Rick like she was picking out a slab of meat. “Too bad. Before you move, make some time for old friends, m’kay? I’d love to go out for drinks.”
    He cocked an eyebrow, the look like something out of a Fast Company magazine profile. “You would? Last month you turned me down. Twice. Said something about taking care of your cat’s toenail fungus that night .”
    Laura snickered. Debbie gave her an Evil Glare of Doom.
    “That’s...that wasn’t me,” Debbie said with a generous dose of laughter. She stood and came over to Rick, placing one manicured hand on his suited arm. “You must have me confused with someone else. Maybe Laura. She has three cats.”
    Laura’s leg twitched, like something hit it. Maybe it was from being thrown under a bus.
    “No,” Rick said slowly, turning his attention to Laura. “It wasn’t Laura.” A shy smile played at his lips. Laura took in his appearance again and grinned back just as he averted his eyes. You can take the geek out of the gamer shirts, but you can’t take the