“You’re going to have to talk to me at some point. Like it or not, we’re partners for the day.”
“Did you rig this deliberately to try and piss me off?”
I took a moment to answer and sipped my coffee, sensing it would be a minimum three-cup morning to deal with all the bullshit. “I’m glad you think I have so much power, Brenner, but the truth is, I’m a mere mortal.” I smirked. “Though many have called out to God when they were with me.” Damn, I was good.
“Unreal,” he muttered. “I’m sure they have. But hell is another dimension of the afterlife.”
I couldn’t help it and busted out laughing. Sara stopped speaking about partnerships, and the entire room turned to look at us. While Brenner’s face flamed, I shrugged. “Sorry.”
“Care to share what was so funny?” Sara encouraged.
I smirked at Brenner. “No. Sorry. It was personal. I don’t think Brenner would appreciate it.”
A multitude of brows rose high, and Brenner glared blue daggers at me before a wicked grin kicked up his lips. “Oh, Idon’t mind. To paraphrase, Weston insinuated that being with him is out of this world, and I said hell is also.”
Snickers and laughter abounded, and I didn’t like how Brenner had turned the narrative around. “All right, can we return to the tasks at hand?” I called out. “I’m sure we have a lot of work for the morning.”
“Suck-up,” Brenner whispered.
A bit disconcerted by our interruption, Sara placed the perky smile back on her lips and picked up her script. “Our first assignment is for each of you to face each other and give five strengths and five weaknesses about yourselves. Your partner will write them down, and at the end of the weekend, we’ll revisit them and see if you have a change of heart about any or all of them. You will have thirty minutes to complete this.”
Chairs squealed and shifted as people began the task. I followed suit, but Brenner remained frozen, staring at the tabletop.
“Is there a problem?” I asked.
“This isn’t going to work. We should be reassigned to different people.”
“The hell we are,” I growled. “And be the only ones who can’t do the assignment? You know they’ll report that to the senior partners. I’m willing if you are.”
It was the truth. Maybe Brenner would stop being the uptight dick I knew in law school, and we could start acting like adults. Not that I didn’t like to push his buttons, but I was curious to see what his answers would be.
That annoyed face reappeared. “I guess you’re right.”
“How much did it hurt you to have to say that?” I joked.
To my surprise, Brenner laughed, and an unexpected and shocking wave of heat rolled through me. My breath caught, andI grabbed my almost empty cup of coffee and finished it. What the fuck was that? I could barely get it up for Isobel, but Brenner laughing set my balls on fire.
“I, uh, need another cup of coffee.” Without waiting for him to respond, I jumped out of my seat and ran to the back of the room, where the machines were. I took a second to settle my racing nerves. Obviously, I was still worked up from the previous night and the two women Grady and I had been talking to. Either that or the hangover I was fighting.
Brenner’s dark head was bent over the table as he wrote. He hadn’t shaved this morning, and a rough stubble covered his jaw…and why the fuck was I noticing that?Jesus.Nowmy libido woke up to make an entrance?
My hand shook, and I drank some of the new coffee I’d poured and refilled it. In a goodwill gesture, I decided to bring some to Brenner. Not knowing how he took his, I brought it to him undoctored.
“Here.” I slid the cup to him. “I figured we could both use some fortitude.”
“Thanks.” He peered inside the cup. “How did you know I took it black?”
“I didn’t. I drink it that way.” My grin was halfhearted. “I’m sure if you didn’t like it, you’d let me know.”
He rubbed his chin. “We only have around twenty minutes left. I’ve started my list. Better move on it.”
“You got it, boss.” I took up the pen provided. It wasn’t hard to list my strong points. As for the weaknesses?Hmm…might take a while. I gnawed on the end of the pen before scribbling out some things.
“Finished? I don’t want to run out of time.”
Of course not. Brenner wasn’t a rule-breaker. Some things never changed. “Yep. Let’s go.”
Brenner folded his arms. “Since you always claim number one, you go first. Besides, I know you love talking about yourself.”
