Falling Into You (Geek to Chic) Read online

  ***

  “Fuck. Do they not believe in paper around this place?” Roni mumbled as she rummaged through the desk looking for even a scrap of paper. She had logged into the computer hoping to quickly find the magical list from Jemma of what needed to be completed. She found nothing. Actually she found that she could barely run the email program. Now she was looking for a paper copy of the list or a calendar or anything to tell her what she should be doing. Really, she was smarter than this. Ok, so computers weren’t her thing like they were Derek’s but she had never been intimidated by one until now. Seriously the amount of icons on the screen was awe-inspiring. If she knew what she was doing, she could probably launch a nuclear strike or something. She laid her head on the desk with her hands over head in defeat.

  “If it isn’t Clumsy Barbie.” A familiar teasing voice said above her. “Is my boy alive or did you trip and push him out the window?” He was laughing now. She looked up to see the person she already knew the voice belonged to, Alex.

  “Well, if it isn’t Super Asshole, or do you prefer Neanderthal in a suit?” She teased back. “And so far, today I have not injured… well, that’s not true, but I don’t think the hot water actually burned him through his jeans.“ She didn’t feel the need to mention the latte bombed laptop.

  “You burned him? Since you mentioned jeans I am assuming children are no longer in the future for him. Should I go buy him a suit of armor so he can be around you safely?” She wanted to hate him, she really did, but he was kind of funny.

  “You underestimate the power of my clumsiness. Armor is no match for my abilities” Roni sat up straight, pushed out her chest and put her hands on her hips in a mock superhero pose. Alex exploded in laughter. “Now that you know not to mess with me,” she winked and held out her hand, “I’m Roni by the way.”

  “Good to know what I am up against,” he smiled, shaking her hand. “I’m Alex, or you can call me Super Asshole if you prefer. I think your friend may have knocked my jaw out of line with that hit last night.” He rubbed his jaw with the back of his hand in mock pain. “Is she always so feisty?” His eyes blazed with interest. Very interesting considering that he was the last guy she could see Izzy spending any amount of time with.

  “She isn’t normally so quick to strike. You must bring that out in her.” She tilted her head in question and continued. “So what was it your Neanderthal brain made your mouth say that got you in so much trouble?”

  “Now here I was under the impression that you girls shared everything. I didn’t say anything that I haven’t said a hundred times before to pretty girls. I would like to add that the other 99 times I have used that line I received a much better reaction.” Alex added the last part a little defensively. Obviously Izzy’s reaction, wounded his fragile male ego.

  “Ah, you see that was your mistake.” Roni stated, his eyebrows going up in question. “She knew it was nothing but a line. A line you have used on countless girls before her and will use on countless girls after. My girl knows when she is being played. Ever since right after college, she has been able to sense a player from a mile away. I bet you set off her player, alarm in two seconds flat.”

  “So she didn’t have a player, alarm before that point? I guess I’m a few years too late.” He tried to play it off as a joke, but he seemed to be annoyed that he had no shot with Izzy. “Anyway, what are you doing here besides using your super power to take down my Derek?”

  “’Your Derek’? Who are you? His first wife? Derek is in his office, safely away from my super power. We ran into each other at Starbucks, and his assistant called saying she had a family emergency so she had to take some time off. I needed a job, he needed an assistant and low and behold, here I am trying to figure out this overly complicated computer system. Doesn’t Jemma keep paper copies of her duties or his schedule somewhere?” She tried to keep the desperation and pleading out of her voice but she failed.

  “No, she doesn’t believe anything should be printed. Jemma is hypersensitive about security and believes paper would lead to a breach somehow. She takes all of her notes on either the laptop or her iPad. She never seems to leave her desk without the damn tablet. Let me take a look I am sure I can guide you in the right direction.” She scooted her chair back so he could reach her keyboard. He hit a few keys and poof up came her email, Derek’s schedule and a very detailed list of tasks. She had some big shoes to fill it seemed. Derek’s assistant was the most organized assistant in the world.

  “Ok, now shows me how you did that. Any other programs I need to be able to run, or better yet any I should not touch? I would hate to accidently take down the entire company’s computer system.” She smirked.

  “Tell me your clumsiness is limited to personal injury and not computer demolition?” Alex asked looking horrified.

  “She did manage to latte bomb my laptop this morning, so maybe we should limit her to paper and pen.” Derek said, strolling out of his office hands in his pockets, smiling and shaking his head.

  “She neglected to mention that part of your morning. Although she did mention she attempted to neuter you via hot tea.” The two of them were laughing hysterically now. Roni crossed her arms and tried to scowl at them.

  “Careful boys, I may have another ‘accident’ any minute now.” Roni warned.

  They both held their hands out in surrender. “Did you manage to find the items you needed?”

  “Thanks to Alex yes. Seriously, what is all this crap on the computer? I think I like the idea of going to pen and paper.”

  “Don’t worry half the stuff on that computer you will never need. Plus, you are only filling in so I won’t expect you to do any of the extra stuff that Jemma squeezes into her schedule somehow. I do believe that I promised you lunch though…” Roni’s phone rang interrupting Derek. He nodded for her to answer and turned his attention to Alex.

  “Izzy what’s up?” Roni noticed the second she said Izzy’s name, Alex straightened and turned to her. “No, I’m fine. Sorry I should have sent a text. I actually got a job today and started right away. It is a temp job, but it has its benefits.” She smiled at Derek. “Sure, that sounds great. I will see you then.” She ended her call and looked up to see both men staring at her. “Izzy had a half day at work and was wondering where I was. She’s like a mother hen at times, always worrying.”

  “Did you guys make plans? We can do lunch another time if you need.” Derek looked defeated as he asked the questions.

  “No, no we can do lunch now. She wanted to celebrate my getting a job by going out to dinner or drinks tonight.”

  “Better idea, we all go out tonight to celebrate your new job and the fact you have not killed off my boy yet.” Alex interjected. Derek glared at him.

  Roni just started laughing, “Yeah, not sure that is a good idea. I would hate to see her bruise the other side of your face or your ego again.”

  “I’ll take my chances. Derek, I’ll text you later to find out the details of where we’re going.” With that Alex was gone.

  “Does he always assume people are going to do what he wants?”

  “Yes, always has, always will. Might not be so bad. I personally would like to see him get slapped again. It really should happen more often.” Derek laughed. “Come on, let’s get lunch and decide how we are going to keep our friends from killing each other tonight.”

  With that, she turned off the computer, grabbed her bag and they were off. Today just kept getting more and more interesting.

  ***

  “You have to be kidding me? Why? Why would you do this to me? I have been your friend for ten years! Ten years, Roni!” Izzy was pacing the house like a caged tiger. Roni knew Izzy could be dramatic, but this was beyond her typical outburst. “I don’t want to hang out with the Super Asshole on a Friday night!” Roni stared at her friend, who was now stomping her feet as though she was a two year old who’s favorite toy had been taken from her.

  “Izzy, calm down. I have never seen you like thi
s. You won’t be hanging out with just him, I promise to be the buffer between the two of you.” Roni soothed her friend.

  “You know that’s not going to happen, right? You are going to be off trying to not kill Derek with your clumsiness while simultaneously trying to make goo-goo eyes at him. Meanwhile, your best friend, aka me, will be taken into custody for murder one when I kill the bastard.” Izzy practically yelled.

  At this point Roni had no choice but to laugh at her friend’s antics. Roni loved Izzy and could not even begin to understand how her sweet, gentle, shy friend could hate, with all her being, someone she met for less than five minutes. Between snorts of laughter Roni asked, “What on earth did that man say to you?”

  Turning a shade of red that was not found in nature, Izzy huffed out a frustrated breath and said, “Nothing, never mind. I will entertain the Neanderthal, while you go get the man of your dreams. But you own me BIG TIME!”

  “This is why I love you! No matter what murderous intentions you have to stifle you are still there for me.” Roni hugged her small friend. “Now, let’s go make me look incredible and see if we can’t tap down the whole ‘I want to kill the world’ look you have going on.”

  Finally a burst of laughter came from Izzy. The girls headed to their rooms to get ready for a night out. Roni was so excited! Yes, she would rather have Derek all to herself for this evening, but maybe with other people around them he would be safe from her clumsiness. One could hope anyway.

  Chapter Six

  “Tell me again why you would want to invite yourself out to be around a girl that the last time you saw her, she left her hand imprinted on your face?” Derek was completely bewildered by his friend’s behavior.

  “I am trying to help you out. Girls are far more comfortable going out with a new guy if it is a group outing. You should know this by your age.” Alex seemed to believe his own bullshit, but Derek was far from sold.

  “So let me get this straight. You are giving up a Friday night, a night you could be hooking up with some poor unsuspecting woman for a night between the sheets, just so you can help your ex-nerd buddy land the girl of his dreams?” Derek said his voice laced with heavy sarcasm. “Wow, I am such a lucky guy to have a friend like you.”

  Alex gave him the bird and pulled his night blue Porsche 918 Spyder into the small parking lot of the downtown brewery Derek and Roni had chosen for the evening. Derek knew his friend had his own agenda for the night. He only hoped that it did not interfere with his own.

  Lunch between Roni and Derek had gone perfectly. The two sat for a couple of hours talking about everything from their favorite seasons in their college days. She managed to make it through the entire lunch without causing him physical pain. Well, until he dropped her off at her car back at Starbucks. She opened the car door at the same time he tried to. He now had a nice bruise on his knee to remind him of her. He liked that she was clumsy. It made him feel more comfortable around her. His nerd days might be behind him, but Derek was still learning to accept that he had outgrown that awkward stage. Roni was beautiful, smart and funny. Her almost landing him in the hospital every ten minutes were what allowed him to see them as equals instead of way out of his reach.

  Derek was so lost in his thoughts he had not even realized Alex had parked the car and was walking into the brewery without him. Oh shit! He had to move to catch up or have Alex be alone with Roni and her friend. Derek bolted from the car. He grabbed Alex by the arm right before he reached for the door. “You are to be on your best behavior tonight! No crude jokes, or bad pickup lines. In fact, it would be best if you said nothing. I don’t want a repeat of last night.” Alex only laughed.

  Derek pushed Alex aside, scanning the room to find the girls. Once he located them near the back of the brewery he made a beeline for them. Each and every time he had seen Roni over the last six months she had made his heart stop. Tonight was no different. She was dressed casually again in jeans that looked like they were made for her and a red sweater. Her hair was up in some twisty thing, leaving her long neck exposed. The thoughts that ran through his head had him wishing he could causally adjust himself.

  “Hey there.” His voice had turned husky even to his own ears. He put his hand on her shoulder so he could touch her, even in this small way. Six months of wanting her were hitting him in one hard wave of lust. Roni and Izzy sat at a booth, each on one side of the table. He slid in next to Roni placing and arm around the back of the booth kissing her chastely on the cheek. She even blushed for him. Perfect.

  “Hey there yourself. We ordered the sampler tray of beers since they have the new beers out for the spring season.” She smiled at him nervously.

  “That sounds great.” At that moment he noticed Izzy and Alex had already began glaring at each other. “I guess I should introduce myself formally, I’m Derek, and Super Asshole over there is actually my friend and business partner Alex.” Derek held his hand out to Izzy who turned a warm smile on him.

  “It is nice to meet you Derek. Super Asshole, I mean Alex,” she smiled, “can have a seat I promise not to slap him…. as long as he plays nice that is.”

  “Oh honey, I can play real nice if you give me a chance.” Alex drawled. He flashed her his best panty dropping smile, which landed him exactly nowhere if Derek was reading Izzy’s face correctly.

  “Well feel free to go home and play real nice with yourself anytime.” Izzy deadpanned back at Alex.

  Both Derek and Roni burst out laughing. Derek could tell that Alex had finally met his match. It was about time a woman called Alex out on his bullshit lines, Derek thought.

  Alex leaned in close to Izzy’s ear, whispering something that Derek could not make out over the music, which made Izzy’s cheek blush and her eyes light with flames of hate. With that Alex sat down next to a woman who clearly wanted to end his life in a very painful way.

  “Alex, seriously? Can’t you just be human for a little while? I saw a brief glimpse at the office today that made me believe you were in fact human and not some mutated ape. Let’s try to show Izzy that side as well, huh?” Roni spoke to Alex as though he was a misbehaving child.

  “I promise to be human once this one,” he pointed his thumb over toward Izzy, “jumps off her broomstick.”

  “With each word out of your mouth, I am more and more grateful I slapped you instead of doing what you suggested.” Izzy stated once again speaking without emotion. “Now move I have to go to the bathroom.” She shoved Alex out of the seat and practically ran for the bathroom.

  Before Roni could follow, Alex sighed, looking defeated. “I’ll go talk to her and smooth things out. I promise to be… human.” With that Alex followed behind Izzy.

  “Seriously, I have never seen her behave like this. It is like Alex has this power to flip her bitch switch with only a few words.” Roni thought out loud.

  “I have never seen him like this either. Usually if a girl doesn’t show interest right away, he is on to the next. I think he likes the fact that Izzy wants nothing to do with him. He sees her as a challenge or something.” Derek contemplated back at Roni.

  “Well, if she comes out with blood on her hands, don’t be offended if I help her hide his body.” Roni smiles up at him.

  “I would completely understand. Hell, I may even lend you a shovel. Enough about them, how was the rest of your day?” He scooted a little closer to her. Her slight floral fragrance engulfing his senses. Six months was a long time to want one woman.

  To his great joy, she scooted closer and smiled. Turning to face him, she laid a hand on his chest, “We were only apart for a little bit. I spent that time trying to talk Izzy into coming out with us tonight. What did you do?”

  “Tried to talk Alex into staying home. I see that at least you were successful.” The waitress arrived with the sample tray of beers at that moment. “So which one are you going to try first?” He reached for a dark brew at the same time she reached for the lightest blonde on the tray.

  “I’m not
one for the heavier darker beers. They give me an instant headache.” Roni said, scrunching up her noses at his drink.

  “Well, this works out perfect, because the pale beers feel unmanly to me.” Derek laughed at Roni’s scowl. He placed his head in between the dark and light beer glasses dividing the sampler in half. “This side is mine and that side is yours, deal?” He watched her slam her current double shot size beer and grab the next with a smile.

  “Deal.”

  They sat and tried each of the beers commenting on the taste of each. He had to admit that coming to the brewery was entirely her idea. He wanted to take the girls somewhere nice to impress her. Roni put her foot down saying that they needed to relax and the perfect way to relax was good beer, good food and pool. How can a guy say no to that?

  They were now sitting so close to each other that a piece of paper couldn’t have fit between them. He liked her this close. Although, he would like to get much closer to her by the end of the night. He began contemplating how Alex might have the right idea about public sex. He wasn’t sure he could wait to get Roni home. The rational, mature side of Derek knew he had to wait, they had really only met a few days ago. While the horny teenager in him was scoping out dark corners he could take her to.

  His body was screaming for more of her touch, more of everything from her. In an attempt to appease his needy body, Derek placed a hand on her thigh rubbing it slightly. At that moment she smiled and made an almost purring noise leaning in toward him. His eyes went to her lips just as her pink tongue darted out to lick her top lip. Placing his hand on the back of her head Derek pulled Roni toward him, lowering his head capturing her lips with his. So desperate for her after six months of longing, he skipped the traditional gentleness and went straight to the deep bruising kiss. She moaned quietly, her hands fisting into his shirt. He slid his tongue between her lips to play tag with her tongue. As their tongues wrapped around each other, their bodies pulling to get closer the world fading, all hell broke loose. “You stupid mother fucker!” Derek vaguely registered a female voice yelling out.