Read Online Too Close to Touch by Georgia Beers - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Georgia Beers
Tags: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, eBooks, Lesbian, BSB, bold, Life gets complicated when love turns out to be nothing like you expected - and the woman you want is too close to touch., strokes, e-books
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pretty comfortable with each other.”
Mick snorted. “See? She’s even got a beard for appearances at work.”
“You don’t know that. Jesus. It could be anybody. Why are you so quick to crucify her?”
“Why are you so quick to defend her? Have you told her you’re gay?”
“No. Why would I tell her that?”
“Why wouldn’t you?”
“It’s not exactly a standard topic of conversation at work for me and my new boss that I’ve barely known a month.”
“You could work it in.”
• 57 •
GEORGIA BEERS
“‘Work it in’? Yeah, okay. ‘Hi, Gretchen. Here are the sales reports from Syracuse you asked for. By the way, I’m a lesbian.’ God, what is your problem, Mick?” Kylie blew out a frustrated breath. After a few long seconds, she softened her words by adding, “Are you PMSing?
Because I am.”
A beat passed, then Mick chuckled and Kylie could almost hear her letting the anger dissipate. She sent up a silent thanks; she hated arguing with Mick, especially when she wasn’t sure what they were arguing about.
“Having a glass of wine?” Mick asked.
“You know it. Having a beer?”
“You bet your ass.”
They were quiet, only the sounds of their respective TVs audible over the line for many long minutes. Kylie wished there was something she could say to change Mick’s opinion of Gretchen, wished she could get her best friend to give her boss another chance, but then wondered why it mattered so much to her. She was too tired to analyze it all.
With a sigh, she said instead, “I miss Rip.”
“I know you do, sweetheart.” Mick’s voice was gentle. “Me, too.”
• 58 •
TOO CLOSE TO TOUCH
CHAPTER SIX
The Þ rst of June was approaching rapidly. Gretchen was not in panic mode yet, but if she couldn’t Þ gure out Jim’s system of sales numbers within the next day or two, she was afraid she soon might be. The mode was not one with which she was familiar and she certainly had no intention of starting now if she could possibly help it. She shook her head in bewilderment, clicking here and there on the computer, wondering how the hell his records were organized. The guy’s Þ les were all over the place.
Not one to ask for help, Gretchen weighed the pros and cons of Þ nding out if Kylie had any idea how to locate the bottom-line totals she was searching for. She had numbers for the individual sales reps but couldn’t seem to come up with any for ofÞ ce supplies, travel expenses, shipping, or any of the other items she would need if she wanted Margo Wheeler to approve next year’s budget. She certainly didn’t want Kylie to think she was having any trouble, but she was down to the wire, plus, chances were, Kylie knew a thing or two about Jim’s Þ ling logic…or lack thereof.
Ready to succumb to the inevitable, Gretchen swiveled her chair around to peek out the window in Kylie’s direction. Much to her dismay, her view was obstructed by a large woman in khaki pants, a burgundy polo shirt, and work boots. She was holding a box and talking to Kylie.
Mick Ramsey.
“TerriÞ c.” Gretchen glowered at the intimidating Þ gure. “Just what I need to top off a banner day.”
Inhaling deeply to steel herself against a possible ice storm, she
• 59 •
GEORGIA BEERS
headed out to the hall and approached Kylie’s desk. Kylie’s bright blue eyes ping-ponged from her surly friend to Gretchen.
“Hi,” she said to Gretchen, and her smile seemed genuine.
Gretchen nodded once in Mick’s general direction. “Ms.
Ramsey.”
“Ms. Kaiser,” Mick responded in kind. No eye contact was forthcoming from her either.
Gretchen turned her attention to Kylie. “I need your help.” Even as she pushed the words out, she wondered if Kylie had any idea how hard they were for her to formulate.
“Sure.” Kylie stood.
Mick backed up a step or two to allow Kylie to exit her cubicle, and said quickly, “So, this weekend, right?” Gretchen noticed that her eyes never left
Mick snorted. “See? She’s even got a beard for appearances at work.”
“You don’t know that. Jesus. It could be anybody. Why are you so quick to crucify her?”
“Why are you so quick to defend her? Have you told her you’re gay?”
“No. Why would I tell her that?”
“Why wouldn’t you?”
“It’s not exactly a standard topic of conversation at work for me and my new boss that I’ve barely known a month.”
“You could work it in.”
• 57 •
GEORGIA BEERS
“‘Work it in’? Yeah, okay. ‘Hi, Gretchen. Here are the sales reports from Syracuse you asked for. By the way, I’m a lesbian.’ God, what is your problem, Mick?” Kylie blew out a frustrated breath. After a few long seconds, she softened her words by adding, “Are you PMSing?
Because I am.”
A beat passed, then Mick chuckled and Kylie could almost hear her letting the anger dissipate. She sent up a silent thanks; she hated arguing with Mick, especially when she wasn’t sure what they were arguing about.
“Having a glass of wine?” Mick asked.
“You know it. Having a beer?”
“You bet your ass.”
They were quiet, only the sounds of their respective TVs audible over the line for many long minutes. Kylie wished there was something she could say to change Mick’s opinion of Gretchen, wished she could get her best friend to give her boss another chance, but then wondered why it mattered so much to her. She was too tired to analyze it all.
With a sigh, she said instead, “I miss Rip.”
“I know you do, sweetheart.” Mick’s voice was gentle. “Me, too.”
• 58 •
TOO CLOSE TO TOUCH
CHAPTER SIX
The Þ rst of June was approaching rapidly. Gretchen was not in panic mode yet, but if she couldn’t Þ gure out Jim’s system of sales numbers within the next day or two, she was afraid she soon might be. The mode was not one with which she was familiar and she certainly had no intention of starting now if she could possibly help it. She shook her head in bewilderment, clicking here and there on the computer, wondering how the hell his records were organized. The guy’s Þ les were all over the place.
Not one to ask for help, Gretchen weighed the pros and cons of Þ nding out if Kylie had any idea how to locate the bottom-line totals she was searching for. She had numbers for the individual sales reps but couldn’t seem to come up with any for ofÞ ce supplies, travel expenses, shipping, or any of the other items she would need if she wanted Margo Wheeler to approve next year’s budget. She certainly didn’t want Kylie to think she was having any trouble, but she was down to the wire, plus, chances were, Kylie knew a thing or two about Jim’s Þ ling logic…or lack thereof.
Ready to succumb to the inevitable, Gretchen swiveled her chair around to peek out the window in Kylie’s direction. Much to her dismay, her view was obstructed by a large woman in khaki pants, a burgundy polo shirt, and work boots. She was holding a box and talking to Kylie.
Mick Ramsey.
“TerriÞ c.” Gretchen glowered at the intimidating Þ gure. “Just what I need to top off a banner day.”
Inhaling deeply to steel herself against a possible ice storm, she
• 59 •
GEORGIA BEERS
headed out to the hall and approached Kylie’s desk. Kylie’s bright blue eyes ping-ponged from her surly friend to Gretchen.
“Hi,” she said to Gretchen, and her smile seemed genuine.
Gretchen nodded once in Mick’s general direction. “Ms.
Ramsey.”
“Ms. Kaiser,” Mick responded in kind. No eye contact was forthcoming from her either.
Gretchen turned her attention to Kylie. “I need your help.” Even as she pushed the words out, she wondered if Kylie had any idea how hard they were for her to formulate.
“Sure.” Kylie stood.
Mick backed up a step or two to allow Kylie to exit her cubicle, and said quickly, “So, this weekend, right?” Gretchen noticed that her eyes never left
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