turning over a new leaf. I have more of a reserved faith about your change of attitude.”
Charisma glared at her. “How many leaves do I have to turn over?”
“Let’s see. You’ve pulled a lot of crap in the past.” Michelle looked like she was calculating it in her mind. “Four. Four leaves.”
She glanced over to the mythology section. “Why not the twelve labors of Hercules? Or maybe solving the global warming problem would do the trick?” Charisma bit back. Michelle wasn’tgoing to make this easy, but she knew she didn’t deserve an easy go of it.
“Nah. You’d want to stop and moisturize and reapply your makeup while fighting off mythological creatures and would fail miserably,” Michelle replied.
Charisma laughed. “Thank goodness. But I’m not as pampered as I used to be. I’m on a strict budget. I go to the beauty parlor once a month these days, and I’veeven had to buy some things off the rack.”
“Wow, that’s torture for a fashionista like you. OK, you’re down to two leaves.” Michelle nodded, satisfied with her recalculation. “Are you using Derek for some kind of publicity? Because he’s a friend, and I’d hate to see him get hurt.”
“No. I’m through with that life. I only want to decorate the Slap Shot so Jared can see how useful I canbe to Reed Designs in the future. Don’t get me wrong, Derek’s a nice guy and—”
“Hot. I could see him as a Hercules type.”
“He thinks he is.” Charisma chuckled.
Michelle paused, watching her closely. Then she seemed to make up her mind and said, “You should come to Derek’s lecture.”
“I don’t know.” She bit her lip.
“If you do, I’ll reduce my eye rolls by thirty percentand I’ll throw in an upbeat ‘Hey Charisma’ when you come into the bookstore.”
“It’s a deal.”
Charisma went to the counter and the cashier bagged her books. That might have been the longest conversation she’d ever had with Michelle, even if it had been a little tense.
“The discussion starts at two!” Michelle came out of the store and yelled after her.
Charisma waved in acknowledgementbut kept up her manic walk down the street. There was no way she would be stupid enough to be interested in yet another athlete. She had stopped at the corner, waiting for the crosswalk signal to flash go, when she looked up and saw a billboard of the Pirates with a picture of Derek on it. He was larger-than-life and stunning. She shook her head; the universe was mocking her.
* * *
When Derek returned home from his Portland trip only to find that Charisma had left the gifts he’d sent her with the front desk of his luxury apartment building, he got back into his car and drove over to Jared’s firm. She was scheduled to be at the bar on Tuesday, but he wanted the matter settled now. He’d never had such a difficult time getting a woman to see his point of view andhe had no intention of the stubborn Ms. Reed setting the precedent.
Derek parked his car, grabbed the packages from his backseat, and headed into the building. He could barely eke out a greeting before the receptionist went berserk.
“Oh my gosh! You’re Derek Popovich! It’s so nice to meet you.” The receptionist sprang out of her chair. “I’m a big hockey fan. You’re my all-time favoritegoalie. Two-time Stanley Cup winner and Conn Smythe Trophy recipient. It’s so nice to meet you.”
“Well, thank you.” He glanced at the desk for her nameplate as he set the presents down on it. “Itza.”
“The Pirates were totally robbed by that bad call in the playoffs. I’m sure you’ll get that Stanley Cup back next year.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“Mr. Reed is inhis office.” She clumsily grabbed the phone. “I’ll let him know you’re here.”
“Actually, I—”
It was too late. Itza’s hands flew over the phone keypad and a few seconds later Jared joined him at the front desk.
“Derek.” Jared greeted him with a hug. “How
Charisma glared at her. “How many leaves do I have to turn over?”
“Let’s see. You’ve pulled a lot of crap in the past.” Michelle looked like she was calculating it in her mind. “Four. Four leaves.”
She glanced over to the mythology section. “Why not the twelve labors of Hercules? Or maybe solving the global warming problem would do the trick?” Charisma bit back. Michelle wasn’tgoing to make this easy, but she knew she didn’t deserve an easy go of it.
“Nah. You’d want to stop and moisturize and reapply your makeup while fighting off mythological creatures and would fail miserably,” Michelle replied.
Charisma laughed. “Thank goodness. But I’m not as pampered as I used to be. I’m on a strict budget. I go to the beauty parlor once a month these days, and I’veeven had to buy some things off the rack.”
“Wow, that’s torture for a fashionista like you. OK, you’re down to two leaves.” Michelle nodded, satisfied with her recalculation. “Are you using Derek for some kind of publicity? Because he’s a friend, and I’d hate to see him get hurt.”
“No. I’m through with that life. I only want to decorate the Slap Shot so Jared can see how useful I canbe to Reed Designs in the future. Don’t get me wrong, Derek’s a nice guy and—”
“Hot. I could see him as a Hercules type.”
“He thinks he is.” Charisma chuckled.
Michelle paused, watching her closely. Then she seemed to make up her mind and said, “You should come to Derek’s lecture.”
“I don’t know.” She bit her lip.
“If you do, I’ll reduce my eye rolls by thirty percentand I’ll throw in an upbeat ‘Hey Charisma’ when you come into the bookstore.”
“It’s a deal.”
Charisma went to the counter and the cashier bagged her books. That might have been the longest conversation she’d ever had with Michelle, even if it had been a little tense.
“The discussion starts at two!” Michelle came out of the store and yelled after her.
Charisma waved in acknowledgementbut kept up her manic walk down the street. There was no way she would be stupid enough to be interested in yet another athlete. She had stopped at the corner, waiting for the crosswalk signal to flash go, when she looked up and saw a billboard of the Pirates with a picture of Derek on it. He was larger-than-life and stunning. She shook her head; the universe was mocking her.
* * *
When Derek returned home from his Portland trip only to find that Charisma had left the gifts he’d sent her with the front desk of his luxury apartment building, he got back into his car and drove over to Jared’s firm. She was scheduled to be at the bar on Tuesday, but he wanted the matter settled now. He’d never had such a difficult time getting a woman to see his point of view andhe had no intention of the stubborn Ms. Reed setting the precedent.
Derek parked his car, grabbed the packages from his backseat, and headed into the building. He could barely eke out a greeting before the receptionist went berserk.
“Oh my gosh! You’re Derek Popovich! It’s so nice to meet you.” The receptionist sprang out of her chair. “I’m a big hockey fan. You’re my all-time favoritegoalie. Two-time Stanley Cup winner and Conn Smythe Trophy recipient. It’s so nice to meet you.”
“Well, thank you.” He glanced at the desk for her nameplate as he set the presents down on it. “Itza.”
“The Pirates were totally robbed by that bad call in the playoffs. I’m sure you’ll get that Stanley Cup back next year.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“Mr. Reed is inhis office.” She clumsily grabbed the phone. “I’ll let him know you’re here.”
“Actually, I—”
It was too late. Itza’s hands flew over the phone keypad and a few seconds later Jared joined him at the front desk.
“Derek.” Jared greeted him with a hug. “How
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