A week later she came back home, broke her engagement, and banged Gavin like a gong until he left six months later to spend three years working for an international aid organization based in Belgium.

“The guy was worth you breaking an engagement over. You let him into your underpants while he was still a relative stranger. I don’t know why you don’t see these things are the hugely important exclamation points on you needing to run this dude to the ground and claim him before someone else does.”

“It’s been two years. Someone else probably has.”

“None of them are you. You said he told you he wasn’t seeing anyone and that he was coming back here to the Northwest when he finished things up. For you.”

“I guess I need to see what happens next year then, huh?”

“Honestly, you’re so smart and awesome at stuff I’m just shocked at the depth of I don’t want to over this issue. This guy means something to you. Why are you running from him?”

“Nothing can happen between us right now. He’s half a world away. I could visit him and then what? Love him but from here? Where I can’t even touch him?”

Frowning, PJ took her sister’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “You love him.”

Julie nodded. “But it does me no good. Because he’s there and I’m here. He told me I should see other people. I guess that means he wants to.”

PJ shook her head. “Or maybe he thinks you want to and he’s trying to be nice because he loves you too. In any case, scrap plans to bang proficient kisser and save your ladygarden for Gavin.”

“Ladygarden?” At least the sadness had eased around Julie’s eyes at the joke.

“You got really mad the last time I said ‘pussy.’ I could say ‘vagina,’ but that’s boring. ‘Flesh pocket’? Do you like that better?”

Horrified, Julie recoiled, her eyes widening to the point that all PJ could do was laugh.

“What? I’d rather have a flesh pocket than a Hot Pocket. At least my stomach won’t cramp with the former.”

“Stop!” Her sister managed to get the word out through a gale of laughter.

Her work cheering Julie back up was done, so PJ sat back with a smile and narrowly avoided the cherry tomato Julie tossed at her head.

Chapter Five

“Hey, Asa. Someone here to see you.”

He looked up from the screen to their office manager, Lottie.

“Thank god, something else to do.” He stood. “Who is it?”

“Hi there, Asa. I was in the neighborhood, and since I hadn’t heard back from you and a few weeks have passed, I thought I’d drop in.” PJ Colman stood there, a bright smile on her face.

Lottie hid a smile as she left, but that didn’t dampen his pleasure at the sight PJ made in his doorway.

“Want something to drink?” He looked her up and down. She was more businesslike than the times he’d seen her before. Navy blue high-waisted trousers and a long-sleeved white blouse. Her hair was pulled back from her face, which he liked just fine indeed because her face was really easy to look at.

And yet there was something about her… something that always cried out for his attention. A pop of color at her arm where her sleeve was rolled up and her ink was exposed. The earrings, which at first glance looked like cameos but were really skeletons instead of women’s faces. Just little things that made up a unique package.

“I like that you’re not only giving in right away but offering me refreshments. I’d love something to drink.”

He moved to her, wanting to brush a kiss against her cheek. But she was there on business, so he reined it in, telling himself it was better anyway. Flirting, sure. No kissing. Kissing those lips would be disastrous. He knew he wouldn’t be able to stop until he’d bared every part of her to his touch.

Which would also be disastrous.

That didn’t mean he didn’t want to be around her for the next while. He liked her. “You’re persistent. I know that already. So I might as well give in, take a break¸ and agree to give you a job so we can see how you work.”

He and Duke had talked about it a week before. Her work had been really good, and they did need to expand to new contractors from time to time. Duke also rightly pointed out it didn’t hurt them at all to have a better relationship with Colman Enterprises either. If PJ was the next generation and she wanted them to be part of the customer base from then on, it was smart to support that.

“Well, of course you should.”

He laughed as he led her toward the break room.

“We’ve got soda and water and I think those flavored water things with vitamins. Duke thinks they’re health food.”

“Damn, I want to work here.” She took in the break room.

“You don’t have a break room at Colman HQ?”

“We have a room with a fridge, a sink, and a microwave. My mother has a deep and abiding love of Costco, so she goes all the time and there are waters and sodas in the fridge. But you have ice cream bars. In a special ice cream bar cooler. How is that even a thing I never knew break rooms had? Now I’m questioning everything, Asa. My entire foundation is sort of shaken. If you say you have doughnut delivery I’m probably going to cry.”

“I won’t tell you, then. There’s a Top Pot up the street. I can take you there if you like.”

She smirked. “Are you mocking me, Mr. Barrons?”