Before I could change my mind, I blurted, “I’m ready.”
Rhys’s hand stopped moving in my hair. “Are you sure? You know this doesn’t have to happen today.”
I shook my head. “No. No. I can do this. I’m ready.”
Rhys studied me for a moment before inclining his head. “All right, come on then. Let’s do it.”
I picked up my laptop and iPad. Straightening, I asked Rhys, “Everything is set up, right?”
He nodded. “Yeah, you just have to connect the HDMI cable to your laptop, and you’re good to go.”
“Good. Good,” I muttered, wiping my suddenly wet hands on my pants, then froze. Shit, that was just what I needed—a wet spot on my slacks. Everyone would focus on it during the presentation.
When I looked down, everything was fine. Black slacks. I’d forgotten I’d worn black slacks.
“Seriously, you look like you’re gonna keel over. We really don’t have to do this today. The meeting is—”
“Now,” I finished for him. I was doing this. I could do this.Just don’t look in Gabe’s eyes.I cursed that reminder. “Come on,” I prompted Rhys, who was studying me like he could see into my mind. I sincerely hoped not. The last thing I needed was him teasing me about having a thing for his brother.
Which I didn’t.
* * *
We walkedside by side to Gabe’s office, which I actually hadn’t been in yet. Rhys didn’t bother knocking; he simply opened the door and walked in.
“I can always count on you to knock.” Gabe’s tone was dry, but I couldn’t help smiling because even with the hint of irritation in his voice, there was affection.
“Well, you were expecting us, so if we caught you in a compromising position, that would be your fault,” Rhys said, and he lowered himself to the two-seater leather couch in one corner of the office instead of one of the two chairs in front of the large wooden table Gabe sat behind.
“Rhys.” Gabe sighed, and there was a wealth of exasperation in that one word. The alpha got on his feet, and like it always did, it hit me just how everything he was…commanding, broad, big…Nope, don’t even go there.
I refused to think of how his arms would feel wrapped around me or the fact that he could definitely lift me up like I weighed nothing.
And the white shirt he wore seemed to draw more attention to those muscled arms of his. Until meeting the man, I never knew I had a thing for tall, broad, leanly muscled men. The differences between him andDannywere almost exaggerated.
A hand on my shoulder jolted me out of my thoughts, and I looked up to find Rhys standing in front of me. “You okay?” he asked in a whisper.
Fuck! Just what I needed—drooling over my boss and forgetting where I was.Way to aim for employee of the month, Kian.
“I’m ready,” I said.
“Do you think you’ll want to step away from the door and get set up?” Rhys’s voice was soft like he was addressing a cornered animal. I groaned internally. This was definitely not the impression I was trying to make.
“Of course.” I stepped away from the door and almost ran straight into Gabe. His hand went to my left shoulder, and I felt the touch to my soul. My eyes flew up to meet his, and he was looking at where our bodies were joined.
Fuck, why did I have to go and have thoughts about our bodies being joined?
If I wasn’t already swoony for him, Gabe asked in a soft voice, “Are you okay?”
I found I had to swallow, and even then, my throat felt too tight to try and force anything out.
“Fine.” I nodded and took a step back. Having him so close was not good for my already fragile equilibrium. The alpha made me feel things I never had, and it scared the crap out of me and left me off-kilter, trying to decide if I wanted to burrow into his body or run as far and fast as my legs could carry me.
Gabe took a step back and inclined his head. “Good, well, ready when you are.” He walked back to the couch, and I was finally able to breathe, but then my senses were overwhelmed with what could only be his scent.
Dammit, I should have so taken Rhys up on postponing.
I nodded and felt Rhys’s hand on my back to lead me towards the flatscreen TV on a rolling stand that had clearly been moved in here for this exact purpose.
