Out of the Friend Zone

Out of the Friend Zone by Genevieve Jourdin Page A

Book: Out of the Friend Zone by Genevieve Jourdin Read Free Book Online
Authors: Genevieve Jourdin
Ads: Link
because I was too chicken to turn around and look. I felt like a teenager again—not cool since I had been kind of dorky in high school.
    I grabbed a stoneware pitcher from my counter and stuck the flowers inside. “Would you like a glass of wine?”
    “Sounds great.” I jumped when I realized he was standing only a few inches behind me.
    “R-r-red or white?”
    “Whichever you prefer. You have a lovely house; it’s very homey. I meant to tell you that the last time I was here.”
    “Thanks. It’s small, but I like it.” I had invited everyone over after the lame company “team building” day last month, and I never got a moment alone with him, even though only half of the office showed up. By the time I had my second Margarita, and with it the courage to seek him out, he was gone.
    I opened the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of Chardonnay because I needed something cold to snap me out of this sensual spell that Oliver had me under. I vowed to myself that I wasn’t going to use alcohol to boost my confidence tonight; I didn’t think I needed it, anyway. He had been here barely a minute and I was ready to strip off my clothes and…well, I didn’t know what I’d do next, but now that we were out of the confines of work there was no reigning in my hormones. As I reached into the drawer to get my wine opener he was suddenly beside me.
    “May I?” He was holding out his hand so I gave him the opener and the wine. I reached up into the cabinet to pull out wine glasses while he quickly and skillfully removed the cork from the bottle.
    “Very smooth. I usually manage to get some broken cork bits inside.”  
    “I worked as a waiter in a wine bar during college,” he told me as he poured our glasses. I was suddenly thankful that I had received a membership to the “Wine of the Month” club from my sister last Christmas; at least I was pretty sure that anything I chose was going to be good.
    I blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “I worked as a phone sex operator.”
    His eyebrows shot up as he gaped at me. “Really?”
    “Yep.” I affected a slightly breathy voice. “I’m Heather. Have you been a naughty boy?” I hadn’t had all that much actual sex in those days, but my boss had given me some magazines and books to study and I had been a good student. I could do phone sex in my sleep.
    “That is so hot.”
    I sent him a smile and took a sip of my wine. I couldn’t believe I had told him about my college job; I never told anyone about that. My parents still believed I had worked in the office of a furniture store. It had been easier all around to let everyone believe that, even my closest friends. I hadn’t wanted people getting the wrong idea about me, and really, it would be the wrong idea. Face to face with a man I was attracted to left me practically tongue-tied. Luckily, Oliver and I had gotten friendly at work, where I had plenty of things to focus on besides his sexiness. Now, without any pressing business except getting to know each other better, I was having too much time to think.
    “So where…” I said at the same time Oliver started speaking.
    “I hope you...” We smiled and Oliver continued. “Ladies first.”
    “No, that’s okay, what were you saying?
     “I hope you like French. I realize I should have asked first but there is a place that just opened up near my apartment and I’ve been hearing good things about it.”
    “That sounds great.” I was lost for something else to add so I held my drink up in a toast. “To French food.”
    “To women with beautiful French names.” He said it while staring into my eyes and I felt myself melt. We clinked our glasses together and we each took sips without breaking eye contact. Oh boy. My heart rate accelerated and I wanted to chug down my wine and lay a kiss on him. I thought back on my phone sex training. Keep him talking. It was the most important rule of job.
    “So did you find the glitch in Fairelake’s

Similar Books

Snow Blind

Richard Blanchard

In Deep Dark Wood

Marita Conlon-Mckenna

Card Sharks

Liz Maverick

Capote

Gerald Clarke

Lake News

Barbara Delinsky

Her Alphas

Gabrielle Holly