What?
The door is open and I see Patrick standing with a frown on his face, his whole focus on Loop who feels closer to me than he was a moment ago. “Patrick, where have you been?” The question escapes before I can stop it. His absence had been bugging me, a fraction of my brain kept wondering where my Intruder was.
I stand from my desk, I’m not comfortable having two men standing over me. Patrick’s eyes move to me and the frown is gone but a look of confusion still paints his features. “Hey Elle, I had to go fix one of the trail information markers. Did you miss me?” I bite the inside of my cheek at his question, I shouldn’t have been missing him, I should have been happy to have my space to myself again. I should have been happy to be alone again. But I wasn’t and I don’t know what to do with that, so I plan to ignore it.
A throat clears to my side and I jump slightly, bumping my desk and knocking my blue light glasses to the ground. “Oh, fuck, sorry. Loop, this is Patrick, he's our new tour guide for the Farm. Patrick, this is our accountant Hyrum Lupovich, everyone calls him Loop. He stopped by to pick up some paperwork.” Patrick offers Loop a welcoming smile and sticks his hand out to shake and for a brief moment, his hand just hangs in the air and Loop just stares at him, his jaw clenched. “Hey man, nice to meet you.” It seems like Loop has to force the words out but he extends his hand for what might have been the shortest handshake I’ve ever seen.
This is so awkward and I don’t know why. “Alright, well, I better get heading out.” Loop turns his focus and body back to me, effectively blocking Patrick out of the conversation. I don’t like that but since he’s saying good-bye, I decide it’s not worth it to say anything. “Have a safe drive back to the office.” I come around my desk to walk him out and am surprised when Loop wraps his arms around my waist in a hug.
What the fuck?
We don’t hug anymore. I freeze in shock and he must feel my discomfort because he lets me go but, again, is standing really close.
Too close.
Loop checks his watch before looking back at me,“You know, it’s about that time. Do you want to grab some lunch with me?” Now, his hand is on my arm.
What the hell is going on today??
“Oh, um, no. Thanks but I need to finish up some stuff then head out to prepare for tomorrow.” My gaze slides to Patrick and I swear I see something flash in his eyes but he still remains silent.
Add that to the list of stuff going on that I don’t understand. “Alright, rain check. I’ll catch you later Ellie belly.” He squeezesmy arm before dropping it and heading out the door, he doesn’t even acknowledge Patrick as he walks by.
I hate that stupid nickname.
“Ellie belly?” Patrick sounds and looks disgusted, like he ate something rotten. It’s so unlike his usual chipperness, I can’t help it, I chuckle.
Chapter Nine
PATRICK
There’s a tension in my shoulders and a fury brewing in my stomach asLoopputs his hands on Elle. I can clearly tell she’s uncomfortable and a primitive part of my brain urges me to rip his hand off her arm. It calms slightly when she declines to go out with him for lunch but my stomach does a sickening flip at that terrible nickname. I can’t help scoffing after the door closes. “Ellie belly?” I could not imagine Elle would actually be okay with being called that, by someone that the Farm employs no less.
I look at Elle with a curious look and the most amazing thing happens, she chuckles.
She chuckles.
It’s the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard. I couldn’t stop smiling if I tried. “No. Absolutely not, don’t ever think of using that name. Ever.” A small smirk teases her lips before she catches herself—scowling to show how serious she is—and she points a finger at me in warning. I raise my hands, acting like her finger is a weapon. “I would never El…..anor.” I let the guess of her name slip out, taking on a teasing tone, hoping to keep this slight playfulness between us. Elle narrows her eyes at mebut it’s different than when we first met, a small bit of softness glittering in those beautiful brown orbs.
“You’re so wrong.”
“I’ll find it out one way or another.” I’m determined to learn her name. I’d never use it, she hates it for a reason, and I would never intentionally do anything to make her uncomfortable. I just want to know any and every thing I could about the middle Warren daughter. I’d never experienced this type of pull towards another person and I didn’t see a reason to try and fight the possibility for friendship.
“No you fucking won’t.” She grumbles out.
I allow myself to take a moment to take in her outfit, she’s in her typical top and skirt combination but it’s more playful that what she usually wears. A bright pink skirt hugs her hips and a small sliver of skin peaks out between the waistband of her skirt and the knot of her top. Her shirt causes a surprised laugh to jump out of me. Across her chest is written “Heavy Metal” with literal heavy metals dotted across the rest of her chest.
It’s so nerdy and not something I would expect of her but it works.
I can feel my pants tightening as my dick twitches to life, which isnotokay. I take a step back from her, trying to keep my body under control.
SNAP!
Oh no. Oh no oh no oh no oh no.
I look down and see Elle’s glasses under my boots.
Crap on a cracker.
