Boss I Love to Hate: An Office Romance(40)

In typical Mary fashion, she pouted, pleading her case, and in typical favorite-uncle fashion, I rubbed my nose against hers.

“Okay, just this once.”

“Hey, Mary,” Sonia said, her face relieved, her hair a bit frazzled from the car.

Mary immediately jumped out of my hold, and Sonia was the new object of Mary’s affection.

She propelled into Sonia’s arms. “Watch a movie with us.” And then, with her pout, she pushed out her lip further for emphasis. “Please. Please. Please, Sonia.” Mary had perfected the cute baby voice, one that didn’t come out as whiny but sweet.

“Oh, honey, I can’t. I have to get up early for a wedding tomorrow.”

“Pleeeeeease,” Mary strung out the word, not giving up yet.

Sonia begged me with her eyes for assistance, but there was no way you could deter Mary when she was on a mission.

“Pretty please. We have the popcorn ready and pillows and blankets all laid out, and we’re watching Beauty and the Beast, which is my favorite movie in the whole wide world. Please, Sonia. I’ll never ever ask you for anything again. Ever.”

That was a lie that I’d heard a million times before.

Then, Mary went in for the kill. She squeezed Sonia tighter, arms wrapped around her neck, and kissed her cheek like Woody Woodpecker, kissing and alternating with pleases.

When Sonia sighed, I knew she was a goner “Okay. Just for a little bit.”

Mary claimed victory. With a loud squee, Mary was on her feet, running toward the family room, screaming, “Sarah! Sonia is staying!”

“She definitely should go into sales.” Sonia rubbed the back of her neck and pushed out her lip in a pout of her own. “I have to get up at eight to make a nine o’clock hair appointment.”

“Come on.” I threw an arm around her shoulders, bringing her close, taking in her scent again. “The movie is only a couple of hours. Plus, Mary will fall asleep before it ends.”

She huffed audibly loud and rested against me. “I didn’t have a chance, did I?”

“Nope.”

Mary could lay on the charm hard, and I’d seen no one who could resist. Except for Charles, her father, but that was only on very few occasions.

“I’m tired.”

“Me, too.” I dragged us into the living room where pillows from the couch and from their bedrooms were laid across the carpet up to our knees.

“This will make me fall asleep for sure.” Sonia yawned and plopped down on the floor on top of a bed of pillows.

“Don’t worry; I’ll wake you up when Mary is fast asleep.”





Chapter 10





Sonia





I snuggled closer. The soft feel of cotton pressed against my cheek. The clean fabric-softener scent filtered through my nose, and I nuzzled against it. When my hands moved against the firm surface beneath me, I lifted an eyebrow, forcing one eye open.

Then, my head snapped back. “Shit! Shit! Shit!” I jolted to a sitting position from the floor, watching Brad stretch in front of me.

The pillows and blankets were scattered all around us.

That cotton was his shirt; the firm surface was the span of his forever-pack, which was now slightly exposed, as his shirt was pushed up to below his nipple—by me.

My cheeks heated. I wouldn’t doubt it if the heat spread to my forehead.

I guessed I was trying to get underneath the covers.

“What time is it?”

The room had cleared. Sarah and Mary must’ve gone upstairs to sleep in their respective bedrooms, leaving Brad and me all alone.

I hovered over him, reaching to the other side of him to get to my eyeglasses and my purse on the hardwood. He watched me with amusement as I straddled his middle, unable to get to my glasses because I couldn’t see a damn thing.

“Time. I need the time.” After putting my glasses on, I plucked my phone from my purse and screamed. “Omigod, it’s eight thirty! I’ll never make it.”

When I stood, Brad followed.

“Calm yourself. The wedding is not until one.”

I smacked him with my purse. “I have a hair appointment at nine! You were supposed to wake me up. Last night.”

“You look fine.” He tousled my matted hair. “You can just go like this.” The heavy smirk that was signature to Brad was on display.

“Screw you.”

He laughed, and a slice of six-pack showed when he lifted his arms to stretch. “Only if you want to, but I think Charles might not approve.”

“Brad!” I whined. “Not funny.”

I’d never make it. Get my hair done at the salon and be late, or do my hair myself, look like the help, and be on time. I wanted to cry.

I flipped around, grabbed my shoes, and stormed off to the entryway.

“I’m kidding, Sonia.” He shuffled behind me and took hold of my shoulders, moving me to face him. “Breathe.”

When I shook him off, his hands framed my shoulders again.

“Brad, I have to go!”

“Breathe, Sonia.”

I blew out a breath and puckered my mouth into a pouty fish face.

“There. Feel better? And, now, go brush your teeth. I think we have some extra toothbrushes upstairs.” He scrunched his nose as though my breath stank.