His Ward by Lena Matthews Page A

was getting the prize on date five.”
    “I’m the prize,” Tionne said with all seriousness. “Not what’s between my legs.”
    Her “I am woman”moment was lost on Kristyn, who let out a derisive snort. “Sounds like you’ve been talking to Misha again.”
    Tionne smiled at the mere mention of his name. “So what if I have?”
    “His old-world beliefs are going to make you an old maid.”
    “Right, because your new-world beliefs have netted you a hubby and a happily ever after.” Even though there was no love lost between Misha and Kristyn, Tionne still didn’t like to hear her friend speak dismissively about him. As far as Tionne was concerned, she could talk bad about him until her jaw went numb, but no one else could. “Yeah, I must have missed that wedded bliss.”
    “You don’t have to be so defensive. I’m just looking out for you.”
    Tionne was getting tired of that tune. “You and everyone else.”
    “Look”—Kristyn leaned in closer and lowered her voice—“since I’ve known you, you’ve gone on lots of dates, but none of your dates have gotten on you.”
    “And what’s your point?”
    “You’re too beautiful to be sitting on the sidelines hoping one day Misha is going to put a ring on it.”
    “I’m not holding out for a marriage proposal.” She was just holding out for Misha, but Tionne knew better than to say that to Kristyn, because the other woman would never understand. She wasn’t trying to land Misha. She was in love with him. And that hadn’t changed, no matter how many dates she’d gone on.
    Kristyn sat up. “Then what are you waiting for?”
    “What makes you think I’m waiting for something?”
    “Because you’re not trying to take the next step. I mean, seriously, it’s not normal to be your age and a virgin.”
    Maybe it wasn’t normal for Kristyn, but Tionne didn’t have a single problem with still having her cherry at the ripe old age of twenty-four. “I’m not going to have sex just because you want me to. And I’m sure not going to have it because Troy bought me dinner a couple of times.”
    “Don’t get so defensive. I’d hate for you to let Troy slip away because of your little commitment phobia.”
    “Don’t get it twisted. Troy wasn’t a catch.” The only reason she’d defended him to Misha was because she didn’t want Troy to end up six feet under. “If you think he’s so great, you sleep with him.”
    “I would never try to step on your toes.”
    “You’re not. Trust”—Tionne paused long enough in the middle of speaking to smile at another coworker who came into the room—“me on that. Troy and I—”
    “Oh, so you’re the one with the four-one-one,” the portly Asian man said as he opened the cabinet. “I was wondering who was in the know.”
    “The know about what, Ando?” Tionne frowned in confusion.
    “About why Troy was handed his walking papers. I’m thinking it had to be something serious, because he was flanked by security as he picked up his stuff, but not just any security. They had the head honcho do it.”
    “Nicholi?” All the blood drained from Tionne’s face. No, he wouldn’t.
    “Yep, yep. Dude must be having the worse day ever, because not only did he get canned, he looked like he found himself on the wrong end of someone’s fist.”
    “Oh my God.” Tionne was going to be sick.
    “Do you know what’s going on? If so, spill.” Ando rubbed his hands together gleefully. “Tell me everything. What did he do? Did he steal office supplies? Sell secrets to a rival company. What? What?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “Come on,” Ando whined.
    “No, I really don’t.”
    “Right. That must have been one bad date,” Kristyn said a little snidely. “Remind me not to get on your bad side.”
    Tionne whipped around and glared at Kristyn. “I didn’t have anything to do with this.”
    “Do with what?” Ando asked, looking between the two women. “What did you do?”
    “Nothing.” Tionne slammed