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“Because you make me nervous”

AJ blinked with total distrust “Because you want me to buy an ad that badly?”

“That’s not it” She blew out a slow breath “Between us? Cold-call selling is notto convince people that I’m not the aloof cheerleader they remember, but a professional woman…isn’t exactly a cakewalk” Why don’t you just blurt out all your insecurities in front of a potential client, Georgia?

“I understand where you’re coirl I was in high school And thank God for that” AJ stepped out froive you a little shoulder ia blurted out, “Why?”

“Because I can feel the tension rolling off you I have a Swedish in thirty ood to limber up my hands” AJ led her to what looked like a beauty chair, but in reverse form, with an open oval to place her face in and padded arms beneath it The footrest was adjustable, she could put her feet in front, or behind like she was riding a motorcycle

“You’ll need to take off your jacket The blouse can stay on” AJ leaned closer and tugged on the material “It doesn’t look like it’ll rip”

Rip? Like AJ planned to ? “Ah I don’t know—”

“Relax” AJ stood beside the chair, tapping her foot alia climbed into the contraption

Deep breath

“There Now just pretend we’re two friends chatting at the beauty shop”

Friends? Right AJ could teach torture tactics Georgia gasped when two fingers sank into the skin beside her shoulder blades, alht?”

“Uh, yeah” Just not like this Then she felt several hard pinches up the back of her neck

“So as to not keep you in suspense, I’ll buy an ad,” AJ said

“Good,” she choked out

“Has your business been doin’ well?”

More pressure as AJ ground her thuia explained, glad AJ couldn’t see her face when she griraduated from trade school and set up shop in Sundance, I wasn’t sure I could h clientele that I could be open eight hours a day, six days a week if I chose, but I keep it part tirunted “So you’ve hooked up with Tell”

Didn’t take her long to bring that up “We’ve been hanging out”

“I heard you tere a couple”

Georgia purposely ignored the past tense forether”

“I skipped my reunion Keely and Chase were stars of our class anyway” AJ pulled on a section of skin “Kind of like you were the star of your class”

“Not so I wanted, believe me And I never felt that way”

“Really?”

“Deck was the star I was the girlfriend in the background with the cool, fun brother everyone loved”

AJ’s hands stopped ot that your brother died I’m so sorry”