Brilliant move, Bellamy.Hire Penny, the woman you can’t stop thinking about, and then act surprised when it backfires.
Camille in HR should probably draft a new policy after me: “The Don’t Hire Your Crush Clause.”
Penny found Caleb’s group near the bar, which was for the best. If she’d come to me first, I wouldn’t have let her network with anyone, keeping her all to myself.
A few more people joined the conversation with Jill and me about zoning and development. I tried to listen but was less than invested, watching Penny instead as Caleb paraded her around, puffing out his chest as if introducing his new protégé.
Our gazes collided the moment Jill laughed and set her hand on my bicep, fingers curving around and staying there too long.
Penny’s head snapped back to Caleb. She laughed loudly at something he said. Over the next several minutes, we eyed each other across the space like chess players calculating our next moves. If I smiled too much at something Jill said, Penny followed suit with Caleb. All the while, we stayed away from each other despite the magnetic pull between us.
If she wanted to ignore me to talk to him, fine. I could stand here and talk about riverfront projects all night long and pretend it didn’t bother me.
I was terrible at games, though.
“Archer.” Relief hit when someone tapped my shoulder.
I turned to see Sophie Kingston, warm grin, hair up, glasses halfway down her nose.
“Hey, stranger.” I broke into my first genuine smile of the night.
We hugged, and I hoped Penny saw the whole thing. As Keaton’s wife, and Griffin and Hudson’s stepsister, Sophie split her time between the city and Holly Creek. She ran a marketing consultancy and we often crossed paths at various events.
“Who are you here with tonight?” I asked.
“A few people from Architectural Abode Digital. I’m working on their rebrand and product launch. It looks like I’ll be in your territory for a while. Might have some questions for you about the profession.”
“Perfect. Let me introduce you around.” The offer came out smoother than I felt. Anything to escape Jill, who really was a lovely woman, but not my type, always tossing her hair back. And anything to get me out of the head games about Penny.
Several handshakes, discussions, and business card exchanges later, Sophie and I paused by the bar with a glass of wine each.
“Keaton says you’ve been quiet on the group chat. Even missed a hockey game with the guys. What gives?” Of course she’d ask. My friends never missed a chance to meddle.
At that exact moment, Penny glided past, catching my eye with a twerk of her smile.
“Ah.” Sophie’s gaze followed mine, voice low. “Is that the woman Keaton told me about? Penny, Brianne’s stepsister?”
“How did you know?” My jaw flexed—caught.
“I can see it in your eyes. I have instincts about these things. And I also read her name tag.”
I exhaled. “She’s working for me now. That’s all.”
Her brow lifted, teasing. “In that case, you can hold a boundary or you can hold her gaze. You can’t do both.”
“Now that she’s in my employ, I’m holding the boundary.” I’d rather be holding her, but…
“Your eyes say otherwise.”
“I suppose you’re going to tell Keaton about this?”
“I learned some time ago not to keep secrets from him.” We were all shocked to learn she’d been hiding from her past, that she was the West brothers’ stepsister and one of the heirs to the West Games legacy. With the truth out now, she and famous brewmaster Keaton had a small fortune at their disposal.
“Look, I have it under control.” I finished my drink, setting the glass on the bar. “Tell Keaton I’m fine—managing the situation. Not letting this become Brianne all over again.”
“Will do.” She downed the last sip of her wine, then leaned in for another quick hug. “Don’t forget Friendsgiving in a couple of weeks. At Richard’s place. And bring Penny, if you dare.”
“I don’t.”
