I’m respected, and that’s enough.
But I want what they have…desperately.
As the shouts of the other brothers and happy laughter fill the room, I realize, maybe for the first
time, everything that I’ve missed out on.
And I have no one to blame but myself. And that stupid little voice.
“So you’re the new girl. Shove over. My ass needs more room.”
I spin in my chair and find another woman staring at me. She’s wearing workout clothes, her
auburn hair in a ponytail like mine. She’s tall, even taller than me. And while she’s curvy, it’s clear
she’s also packed with muscle. Dumbly, I slide my chair a little closer to Holly and Micah. With a
sigh, she drops into the vacant chair beside me.
I’ve taken someone’s spot, I’m sure, but no one seems bothered. There are at least ten empty
chairs at this massive table, and everyone seems to be shifting around, moving into new groups, then
breaking up and moving again. It’s chaotic but clearly familiar to all of them.
I meet Cara’s eye across the table, and she gives me a wink, then leans into Declan sitting beside
her. He throws a casual arm across her shoulders and shouts at Colton in the kitchen, “Save some for
the rest of us, asshole. Holly will murder you if you finish it.”
Colton, looking like he’s about to argue, meets Holly’s suddenly hard eyes. With a slow gulp, he
carefully lowers the ice cream scoop back into the container. “Yep. No, there’s lots. I saved you
some, Holly. Let me get you a bowl.” Moving slowly, not meeting her eyes, he scoops out a big bowl
of ice cream and carefully carries it to her, putting it gently on the table in front of her. The light green
color and dark spots register as the smell of mint hits my nostrils.
Colton turns to me. “Hey, Maya. Would you like some?”
I like him a lot. He’s been nothing but kind when our paths have crossed at work. All of them have
been, actually. They’ve created this easy, relaxed corporate structure I am not used to. I’m not sure I
ever called Mr. Williams by his first name. So this is weird. But with Colton, it feels a little more
natural. I see a lot of him since he likes to stop by Cara’s office all the time. Their dynamic is strange,
and more than once, I saw her try to twist his nipple. But who am I to judge?
I glance at Holly, who’s got the bowl clutched to her chest, her entire fist wrapped around the
spoon as she shovels in a massive mouthful. Her low groan makes me blush again. There’s
something…primal about it. It must be really good ice cream. I nod at Colton, who heads to the
