Ray of Love (Lifestyle by Design Book 3) Read Free Page A

they wouldn't think of using me to get something from you."
    Ray grinned widely and nodded in agreement. "That's exactly my point, Faye. I trust Clarise, Jessa and Victor implicitly. If the two of us could handle it, I don't see a reason why they couldn't."
    "The difference is that if we end up hating each other, you and I won't need to see each other's faces ever again. They don't have that choice. They work for you," she reasoned.
    "If you did end up hating me, why would they hate me, too?" Ray countered. "I hardly think of them as juveniles with no minds of their own. In fact, they're very sensible, intelligent people. They'd understand that whatever might or might not eventuate between the two of us has nothing to do with their relationship with me. Whatever happens, I'm sure we would all cope and adjust."
    Faye propped an elbow on the table and rested her chin on her palm as she mulled on Ray's words. The points he made were good. But she still had some reservations.
    "Okay, I can see your point on that. But I still think it would be very uncomfortable for all of us if we dated," she said to him.
    "So why tell them? Why not keep it to ourselves for the time being? We can go out on a date without them knowing about it, can't we?"
    She looked at Ray with wide eyes. "But I tell them everything."
    "Everything?Every single detail of every single date you've been on?"
    "Well, the important and exciting bits, at least," she answered as she smiled at the thought of how she could make her friends squirm when she tried to extract details of their dates from them. But when it came to her, there was no need for them to force anything out. She volunteered most of the information. If she didn't say anything, they wouldn't prod. They would simply think there was nothing for her to say.
    Could she really keep a secret from her best friends? Especially one as fascinating as going out with their boss?
    But Ray being their boss was precisely the reason why she was willing to keep it a secret. It would save her having to worry about what they thought and vice versa. And if it turned out to be a big fat mistake, it was better they didn't know she went out with Ray in the first place.
    "I think it would be okay —" she began.
    "Of course, it would be okay," Ray interrupted eagerly.
    She chuckled as she continued, "I think it would be okay as long as I can talk to them about going out with you without them knowing it's really you."
    "What do you mean?"
    "I can give you a nickname. What about John? So when I share things with them about you, I'll call you John. Would that be okay? I don't want them to know we've agreed to go out on a date until … well, whenever the time's right."
    "Yeah, that's okay." Ray leaned back in his chair with a smile of triumph and boyish glee.
    "There's another thing, Ray," she added with a stern gaze, still feeling slightly apprehensive. "I'm not ready for anything serious right now. I would love to enjoy your company but that would be all for the foreseeable future."
    Ray stared at her with a look that seemed to read her soul. After long seconds, he smiled. "Okay, I understand."
    Faye let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. Having made a decision to go out with Ray, she suddenly felt buoyant. She curled up her lips invitingly. "So, Ray, do you like going to the movies?"
    "As a matter of fact, I do," he answered with a blinding smile.
    "There are a couple of movies I've been wanting to watch. I was wondering if you'd like to see one with me."
    "I'd love to." His eyes were smoking hot and his grin sexy as hell. "When?"
    "Hm, how about next week? Tuesday night?"
    "Perfect. I must say, this haircut really is a chick-magnet. Thanks for the tip, Faye."
    Their soft laughter filled the already electrified air around them.

    *******

    "It looks like we have to find somewhere else to eat," Jessa remarked as they scanned their usual Monday lunch haunt and found it full.
    "Sorry, my fault," Faye said. "Finishing