The Year of Living Shamelessly Read Free Page A

mouth with the tip of her tongue, and ignoring the fact that it tasted worse than cold medicine, she returned the glass to him. “Here, Ryder,” she said hoarsely, hoping it came across as husky, “you might need this tonight.”
     
    She wanted to stay with him, but the magazine articles she’d glanced over during the day warned her about crowding her man. The “Give Him Space” article promised that if she was the first to leave, he would follow.
     
    Reluctantly, Katie started to move away, letting her hips roll as much as her precarious balance allowed. She sensed Ryder behind her and she hoped he was watching her sexy walk. She felt the tension radiating from him. Follow me , she silently urged. Chase after me. You know you want to....
     
    She counted to one hundred, probably quicker than she should have, and paused, pretending to look for someone. Ryder didn’t collide into her. Then again, his reflexes were superior. Katie looked over her shoulder, her come-hither look withering to nothing.
     
    Ryder was nowhere to be found. He wasn’t behind her, and he wasn’t watching her, stunned and gawking. He wasn’t even where she had left him.
     
    Damn, that “Give Him Space” writer had some explaining to do. She may have missed a golden opportunity by taking that advice. She looked around, not caring if she was obvious, but she couldn’t find Ryder. Knowing her luck, he’d probably left. Double damn.
     
    Craning her neck, she caught a glimpse of frizzy red hair. That had to be Hilary. Peering into the shadowy corner, she saw her friend sitting at a table wearing a beige thermal shirt and a light green cardigan sweater that dwarfed her petite frame. Next to Hilary was her other friend, Melissa. Melissa’s long brown hair was pulled back into the usual ponytail and she wore a college football jersey over a white long-sleeved T-shirt.
     
    Dressed casually, Melissa and Hilary could easily be overlooked among their festive and boisterous coworkers. Katie frowned when she realized they were huddled around a forgotten table, people watching. She hurried over, as quickly as her heels would allow, determined to get her friends in a party mood.
     
    “Wow!” Melissa’s eyes widened when she noticed the knee-high, laced-up black leather boots. “Did you get those boots around here?”
     
    “No, I borrowed these from Winter.” The goth student worker in her office had loaned Katie a couple of items that promised to make grown men weep. Winter forgot to mention that they would cause some weeping on Katie’s part, too. She sat down gratefully next to her friends and gave a sigh of relief. “Why are you guys hiding in the corner?”
     
    Hilary popped a Christmas cookie into her mouth. “Hiding is such a loaded word.”
     
    Katie wasn’t deterred by Hilary’s comment. Her friend was all about details, proof and rationalizing. “Remember why we’re here?”
     
    “Because you forced us to come?” Hilary responded.
     
    “And you promised to be my designated driver for New Year’s Eve if I came to this party.” Melissa turned to Hilary. “Do you know how hard it is to find one for that night?”
     
    “We are here,” Katie replied, “because you, Hilary, want to make your move on Jake, remember?” Katie couldn’t fathom why someone with a high IQ would want to date her brother, but there was no accounting for taste.
     
    “I can make a move on Jake anytime, anywhere,” Hilary said as she washed down the sugar cookie with a frothy, peppermint pink drink. “I don’t need to do it today.”
     
    “But you do need to make the attempt someday, so why not tonight?” Katie argued. “And, Melissa, you wanted to meet someone special. You can’t do that waiting in the shadows. No one will see you!”
     
    “I know,” Melissa said with a sigh and propped her chin on her hand. “It’s just that . . . if he were Mr. Right, he would find me no matter what.”
     
    “Nice fairy tale,” Hilary said,