Janet Read Online Free PDF Page A

the pay is better. I’m just tired of hearing the same argument with her.”
    I rolled my eyes then watched television beside her on the couch. Normally, I changed out of my work clothes the second I came inside, putting on my comfy pajamas. But my sister’s presence was ruining that.
    There was a knock on the door. Beatriz kept reading like she hadn’t noticed
    I sighed then answered the door. When I saw Scott on the other side, wearing a suit with a purple tie, my eyes widened. I’d never seen him dress so professionally. He must have just gotten off work. His shoulder s looked wide in the jacket. His legs were toned and slim under the slacks. He didn’t smile at me, but his eyes smoldered. I couldn’t read the expression. It was difficult to tell what he was thinking. He hid his thoughts well.
    “Hi,” I said with weak voice. I felt my throat go dry when I stared at him. His chiseled jaw looked kissable. His eyes were the most noticeable feature. They were bright and blue, the spots of white and gray shining.
    “How are you?” He put his hands in his pockets and stood up straight, his posture perfect. He looked into my face without any hesitance or anxiety. He stared me down like he was reading my facial expressions more than listening to my words.
    “I’m good,” I said quietly. “How are you?”
    “I’m great.” He fixed his tie then returned his hands to his pockets. “I just stopped by to see how your sister is holding up. She was pretty sick last time I saw her.”
    I looked over my shoulder to see if Beatriz was listening.
    “Who is it?” she asked.
    I stepped out of the apartment and closed the door behind me. “She’s…fine.”
    Scott stared at me, waiting for me to elaborate. The power of his gaze made me keep going.
    “She’s going through a hard time. I apologize for the blatant way she came onto you. Thank you for taking her home the other day.”
    He nodded. “I hope everything is okay.”
    “Yeah…”
    “How are you holding up, Janet?”
    The way he said my name made my spine shiver. I heard my name spoken a hundred times a day. My boss said it, my friends said it, and my coworkers said. But it never sounded the way it did when he said it. I looked at him, seeing the sincerity in his eyes. “I’m doing okay.”
    “I can only imagine how much work your sister is,” he said. “Don’t let her walk all over you.”
    “I don’t.”
    He nodded. “Which is why I like you.”
    “What?”
    “Let me know if you need anything,” he said, extending his card. “I’d love to take you out for a drink to take the edge off. And I know you aren’t a heavy drinker like Beatriz.” He winked at me.
    I took the card with a shaky hand, unsure what to do with it.
    Scott stared at me, watching me hold his business card. “I look forward to hearing from you.” He nodded to me then walked down the hallway. “Have a good night.”
    I stared at his receding back until he disappeared. What just happened? Did he ask me out? I don’t think so…He just gave me his number and said I should call him if I needed a break. Would he have asked for my number if he wanted to take me out? Had it been so long since I’d been hit on that I didn’t know how it worked anymore? I put the card in my pocket and walked inside.
    “Who was that?” Beatriz immediately asked.
    “Girl scout.”
    “But it isn’t spring.”
    “She wasn’t selling cookies.” I sat down and scared at the television screen. A mystery show was on but I wasn’t really watching it. Scott’s face was floating in my mind. The more I thought about it, the more I realized he hadn’t asked me out. Scott was a gorgeous guy. And if he wore a suit like that, he obviously had a successful job. There was no way he was interested in me. My sister was mortifying, and he was totally out of my league. The card sat in my pocket, forgotten.

5
    The gala came closer as the week came to an end. I found a dress on clearance in Saks Fifth Avenue.