‘I overslept’ I mutter, trying to shove past the man to disappear into my own office so I can block the pair of them out for the rest of the day.
Callan is having none of it, instead, he throws an arm in front of me, ‘does your oversleeping have anything to do with a certain blonde bombshell’ he asks.
I stiffen, because that’s exactly why I’m late, my face must give something away because my best friend howls loudly with laughter.
‘I knew it, I f*cking knew it! I knew he had a thing for her.’ Spinning around he holds out his hand to my brother, ‘pay up asswipe, that’s fifty bucks you owe me.’
Grumbling, Gage steps out of his office, rummaging in his pocket and pulling out a crumpled bill that Callan snatches out of his hand triumphantly.
‘I don’t know what you are on about, I don’t have a thing for anyone’ I snarl back, which just earns me two smirking faces.
‘Suuuuuuuure’ Callan agrees, reaching out and patting my shoulder, ‘and I wasn’t sliding the sausage to that chick I met in the bar last night.’
I shake him off, growling in aggravation, ‘you two need to get a f*cking hobby because making s.hit up about me is wearing thin.’
Callan’s smile just grows wider as he studies me, ‘so you don’t have a thing for Tessa’ he asks softly.
I stiffen but force myself to shake my head, ‘no, I don’t’
My best friend shrugs, ‘OK, so you won’t care if I ask her out’ he continues, watching me carefully as my jaw ticks. ‘You have no feelings regarding me taking her out on my dad’s boat, sailing at dusk so we can eat fresh caviar under the stars? It doesn’t bother you at all, that I’d show her the skyline from the water, crowding her from behind as I rest my hands on her hip. How I’d tease her hair from her neck and press my lips to that sweet milky skin . . ‘
‘You f*cking touch her and I’ll kill you’ I snap, unable to stop myself, my face flushing as both my brother and our best friend cackle loudly.
‘See!’ Callan crows, pointing at me, ‘he’s absolutely gone for her.’
Gage nods, grinning widely, ‘I never thought I’d see the day, but It’s true, my big brother has handed his balls over to a woman.’
Snarling angrily, I shove my laughing friend out of the way, stomping toward my office. As I pass Rosie’s desk, I glare at her angrily, the woman cowering from me slightly, ‘coffee, black, one sugar’ I order, before shoving through my door and slamming it hard behind me, making the whole frame shake.
I drop into my chair, f*cking Callan, my fists clench tightly at the thought of his hands anywhere near Tessa, not in this f*cking lifetime.
A soft knock echoes from the door and my head snaps up just as Penny peeks through the door.
‘What?’ I snap furiously, glaring at her.
‘I . . I just bought your coffee’ she whispers, scurrying into the office and placing it on the corner of my desk.
Sighing heavily, I rub my forehead with my thumb and forefinger, I’m being an asshole and I know it, and not even to the person who I should be growling at.
‘Thank you’ I mutter, leaning forward and picking up the mug and taking a sip, ‘it’s good.’
She gives me a tentative smile that doesn’t reach her eyes before nodding and practically running from the room, shutting the door quietly behind her.
Dammit, now I owe Penelope an apology! I figure I’ll let myself cool off first because if I see those two idiots again, I’ll no doubt upset the woman even more. Turning on my computer, I bury myself in work for the next few hours. When I next raise my head from the screen, I glance at my watch, surprised to see that it’s almost one pm. Pushing back my chair, I grab my empty coffee mug and head out of my office, figuring now is as good a time as any to say sorry to Cynthia.
Stepping out of the door, I frown as my gaze falls on the receptionist’s empty chair, stalking over to the kitchen, I’m surprised to find it empty as well.
‘Oh look who decided to come out of hiding’ Gage announces as he steps into the tiny space behind me, a mug in his own hand.
‘Where’s Caliet?’ I grumble, stomping toward the coffee pot and pouring myself a fresh cup before adding a healthy spoonful of sugar and stirring it in.
‘IRIS’ Gage replies with force, ‘has gone down to sugar and nice to get the lunch order.’
I grunt in response, ‘she never asked me what I wanted’ I mutter, mildly annoyed that I now have to wait to apologise.
My brother snorts, ‘after four months I’m pretty sure the woman knows what you eat big brother’ he retorts.
I skulk around for a few minutes until India returns, taking my sub with a muttered thankyou before waiting awkwardly by her desk until she’s taken both Gage’s and Callan’s lunches to them.
Coming back into the reception area, she blinks, surprise evident at finding me still here.
‘Umm, do you need anything Mr Hawthorne?’ she asks uncertainly, ‘another coffee? Is there a problem with your lunch? I can go back and get . . ‘
‘No everything is fine’ I cut across her rambling, ‘I just wanted to apologise for snapping at you earlier. You didn’t do anything wrong, it’s just those two dicks getting under my skin and you walked into my office at the wrong moment . . ‘ I shake my head, aware I’m rambling, ‘anyway, I shouldn’t have taken my bad mood out on you and I’m sorry.’
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.