Let her keep that one small joy, at least.
Chapter Seventeen
Harrison
Mind games. That’s the only explanation. Delaney is angry at me because I asked the questions that HR should have asked when she started here, and now she’s trying to punish me. People looking to exploit our financial success have hurt our family in the past. Okay, maybe not our family so much as me. Still, I have no desire to go through it again.
I’ve been home from the conference for two weeks, and each day, Delaney finds a new way to torture me. Whether it’s a tight pencil skirt with too high heels or a flowing floral dress with sandals, she somehow exudes delicate sweetness and irresistible sexiness at the same time. That’s just with how she’s dressing. Never mind that everything else about her also drives me crazy.
What really digs at me is how sheiswith everyone else: Everyone but me. I’ve watched her smiling face brighten our workspace and listened from the privacy of my office, as she has a kind word for each person who stops by her desk.
It hasn’t escaped me that many more people are frequenting our part of the building than they ever have in the past. Especially men. Men who work in the mill portion of our building and have never—not once—been up here before.
We’ve always had an open-door policy and never made a big deal of this being the C-suite area. The problem is that men are now walking right through that open door to flirt with our administrative assistant. That and her being so damn nice to each person—each man—who comes in drives me insane.
Yet she’s barely looked at me, let alone spoken more than absolutely necessary to me, not after our reintroduction. Admittedly, that probably wasn’t my best moment.
I drop my head onto my desk. I’m not a fan of feeling conflicted like this.
“What’s this?” Delaney’s voice, excited and filled with warmth, floats in the air. My ears perk up at the sound drifting into my office space.
“Thought you could use a pick-me-up. You seemed a little tired when we met with the Andersons this morning, and you didn’t eat breakfast despite the amazing food at the diner. You need some calories and protein in you, for energy.”
Holden.
My head whips up, tension grips my shoulders, and my ears home in on the conversation.
“Did you just tell a woman she looked tired?” Delaney’s voice is chastising, but playful at the same time.
“Noooo. I said youseemedtired. The usual spring in your step seems less… springy.”
“You should quit while you’re ahead.” Delaney chuckles at my brother, and I hate it. It’s even worse when he laughs back.
I rise from my chair, and before I know it, I’m leaning against the doorframe of my office, watching Holden—perched on theedge of Delaney’s desk—throwingthatsmile her way. The one that rarely fails to get him what he wants.
I don’t realize I have a death grip on the wood until my left hand slips, and the crisp edge of the molding jabs under the nail of my middle finger.
“Shit,” I hiss.
I pull my hand away and shake it as if that will help the pain. After I inspect my injury, I realize I’ve gained the attention of both Holden and Delaney.
“You okay there, brother?” Holden asks. He sounds sincere, which makes this all worse.
Holden and I screw with each other. It’s what we do—our dynamic. I love him. I’d go to battle for him, but most days I want to kick his ass. Today is one of those days.
“I’m fine.” No, I’m not. My finger hurts like hell.
I push off the doorway and stroll over to them, forcing myself to appear more relaxed than I feel. That’s when it catches my attention that Holden’s holding a pink smoothie from our favorite smoothie café in neighboring Meadow Creek. There’s one on the desk in front of Delaney, too.
“Is it break time already?” The sarcasm in my voice is barely evident, but it’s there.
Delaney frowns, and Holden smirks.
“It is for us.” Holden is quick with his answer. Delaney won’t make eye contact with me, instead choosing to look between Holden and her drink.
I fold my arms across my chest.
“Hmm. Did you buy smoothies for all the employees?”
