I grunt one more time and escape into the hallway.
I can’t befriend Autumn. I can’t befriend Emma. And I sure as hell can’t befriend Wren, because apparently my body has decided she smells like heaven and my dragon wants to roll around in her scent like a damned puppy. My dragon wants to roll around with her full stop, ideally with my cock inside her.
Fuck no!
I can’t!
Drake is going to kill me.
I’mgoing to kill me.
I head back toward the reception, where Sally is probably already lining up my next collection. I can focus on work. That’s something I’m actually good at.
Unlike making friends.
Unlike being nice.
I’m so fucked.
Drake is going to have to find someone else. I’ll resign and find another job. No! I need to pull myself together. I refuse to be a failure. It’s Day Two; I can’t give up so easily. I’ll figure this out. I have to.
8
Wren
I grunt as I hoist the heavy box of files off my desk, my arms immediately protesting the weight. The cardboard corners dig a little into my forearms as I shuffle toward my office door.
It’s all good. I can do with the exercise. I keep promising myself I’ll start tomorrow, but…I never do.
“Oh, my gosh, Wren. You poor thing.” Sally’s voice cuts through the quiet clinic. Her chair scrapes as she pushes back.Within seconds, she’s out from behind her desk. “Let me get the door for you.”
She opens it and holds it wide; her eyes show concern as she watches me walk through.
“What on earth are you doing?” she asks, following me toward the exit. “What’s in those? Why do you even need them? You know it’s the weekend, right?”
I shift the box in my arms, trying to find a better grip. The weight is making my biceps burn.
“I agreed to input some of the older records into the system. I’m working overtime at home this weekend.”
Sally groans. “So you’re not going out then?” She shakes her head, looking disappointed.
“Nope.” I manage a smile even though my arms feel like they’re about to fall off.
“Boooorrrrring.” Sally shakes her head at me. “You’re young and cute. You should be going out…dating and having fun. Not spending your weekend with dusty old files.”
I adjust the box again, and a small noise of distress escapes my throat before I can stop it. The thing is getting heavier by the second.
Sally’s eyes widen. “Oh shit, I’m sorry! Go! Go put that in your car before you drop it. We’ll talk after.”
I nod gratefully and push through the front door. To make matters worse, it’s hot out. Thankfully, my car is parked close by. I make it there, set the box down on the bumper with a sigh, and pop the trunk open. I hoist it back up, and the box slides inside with a satisfying thud.
I’m just closing the trunk when I hear the rumble of an engine. My heart does that stupid flutter thing before I even turn around.
I know the sound Grim’s SUV makes. I don’t even have to turn around to know that it’s him pulling into the parking lot.
My heart rate kicks up a few notches, as always.
I’m going back inside to get the next box. Maybe he’ll be gone by the time I come back out. I always feel uncomfortable around him.
