Despite the chill nipping at my nose, I felt warm inside—a mix of exhaustion and excitement from my first day at Price Industries, and the exhilaration of Emmett’s attention.
We’d only spent a little time together, but the tension between us was thick.And that elevator ride…
I wondered if he felt it too and what it might mean for my future at Price Industries.My phone buzzed, an incoming call from Marco pulling me from my reverie.Earbuds already secured, I swiped to answer and my music faded into an enthusiastic greeting from my best friend.
“Helloooooo, bella!First day all done?”
“Yep.I’m on my way back now.Should be home in about five minutes.”
“Ok!I’ll have the wine ready.I want to hear all about it.”
Marco had always been a supportive friend—from the very first day we moved into the dorms, when my mother was berating me for packing too many books.“Smart girls are sexy,” Marco had said, giving us a wink as he passed.My mother didn’t miss a beat, telling methatwas the kind of man I needed to find while I was at school.
“Order Chinese, too?
“You got it, babe.”
Marco couldn’t stand my mother.Not that I blamed him.She’d only gotten worse over the years.I’d “selfishly” insisted on prioritizing my education and career over marrying Hugh and supplying her with grandkids.
ShelovedHugh.I still hadn’t told her we’d split up.
“Thanks.I’ll see you soon.”
By the time I approached Marco’s building, the snow was falling hard, and the winter chill had seeped into my bones.I couldn’t wait to tell him about my day.I needed some perspective.I was at Price Industries to do a job—to get experience that would help me build the future I had been striving for ever since I was a teenager.
I wasn’t there to ogle my boss or fantasize about his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and big hands.I gave myself a mental shake before I started thinking about what those hands could do.
I stepped into Marco’s apartment, my cheeks burning from the cold, and closed the door behind me with a soft click.I was greeted by the warm scent of vanilla candles and Marco’s signature body wash.It was a comfy, safe smell.Marco stood in the kitchen, a bottle of wine in one hand and his phone in the other.He looked up as I entered.
“Baby girl.”He set the wine down and came over to give me a tight hug.“You look stressed.Bad first day?”
I shook my head, causing it to rub against his chest.“Exhausting, but exciting.You won’t believe who I’m actually reporting to.”
“What do you mean?”He leaned back to peer down at me.“I thought you were reporting to Mr.Price.”
“I was.Iam.Just not the Mr.Price I thought.”
He squinted one eye closed.“Huh?”
I giggled.He looked like a doofus.
“I am reporting toEmmettPrice.He’s the Head of Special Projects and also Thomas Price’s son.”
“Oh, shit.”Marco raised an eyebrow.“So, how did it go?”
“I could have made a better first impression.Well, second impression, I guess.”
“Okay, this is getting juicy.We need wine.Sit.”He gestured toward the couch and went back to the kitchen.I shrugged off my coat and hung it in the closet before kicking my shoes into my bedroom.My whole body breathed a sigh of relief as I collapsed in a heap on the couch.
“Food will be here in twenty,” he said, flopping down next to me and pulling my large plush blanket off the back of the couch to cover us up.He knew how I liked to be cozy.“Now, spill, sister.”
I groaned and covered my face with my free hand.“I made a total ass of myself.You’re never going to believe this.Emmett Price is the same man from the dorm lobby freshman year.”
“Huh?What man?”
“You know—entitled asshole guy.”
Marco’s hand flew to his mouth.“You mean the one who stood so close your poor little panties were soaked just because he was so hot and said, like, two sexy words to you?”
