Delaney’s cheeks turn bright red, but then her eyes narrow. She picks up the smoothie and makes an obvious show of taking a drawn-out sip from it. It drags my gaze to her mouth, and now I’m screwed because I remember exactly how she kisses withthat mouth. How she parted those pink lips and let me kiss her after she’d just come all over my face.
Fuck.
I force myself to stop thinking about that night, as if I ever could, and that’s when I realize Holden answered, and I missed it. He’s staring at me, waiting for a reply.
“What?”
Holden, still cool as a cucumber, smiles at Delaney. I want to shove him off the side of her desk.
“I said nope, I just got one for my partner in crime, here. For her help last evening.” His gaze doesn’t stray from her while he speaks.
What the fuck? She was with him after hours yesterdayandthis morning? Doing what, exactly? I’m about to ask, but I somehow hold the words in.
“Probably not the best idea to bring special things for just one employee, don’t you think?”
“Oh, sorry. I figured it was okay since you bring Ellie one almost every Thursday.”
My face heats. “That’s–”
“What? Different?Special?” Holden taunts.
It is, but he doesn’t know why, and I’m not about to tell Ellie’s story. It’s hers to tell.
“Piss off.” I shove him off Delaney’s desk, and Holden chuckles. He knows he’s won this one.
“Harrison! What is wrong with you?” Her words are scolding.
So, ticking her off is how I get her to acknowledge me. Noted.
“Are you okay?” she asks Holden. I hate the way she looks him up and down, and I pray she’s just looking for injuries.
“I’m fine. Takes more than that to hurt me. Don’t you worry.” He takes a few steps backward, toward his office, and fixes his eyes on mine as he speaks to her. He can barely hold back hisgrin. “I’ll see you at lunchtime.” He spins on his heels and is gone before she can answer.
“What was that about?” Her voice betrays her annoyance.
Oh, good. Her attention is back on me, even if she looks so mad I expect steam to pour from her ears.
“He was being an asshole.” I shrug, feigning nonchalance even though I’m ready to burst inside.
She rolls her beautiful emerald-colored eyes at me.
“He was not. He was just being nice.” She picks up her pen and scratches something on a sticky note. Without looking up at me, she mumbles, “You should try it sometime.”
“What was that? I couldn’t hear you.” She smacks the pen down on the desk and glares at me.
“I said you should try being nice sometimes.” Defiance fills her eyes.
“You know I’m your boss, right?” There’s a soft, teasing lilt to my voice.
“Henry’s my boss. Plus, you don’t want me working for you, so…”
I stare at her, the silence almost deafening. Do I really want to do what I’m about to do? Hell, yes. Is it smart? Probably not.
“That’s what I’m here about. I need you to start working for me half-time.”
She looks back toward Holden and Hayden’s office, and when she turns back to peer at me, her brow furrows.
“But what about Hol?—”
