Boss I Love to Hate: An Office Romance(73)

“Jean?” Brad stared at the flowers, breathing unsteadily. “Who the hell is Jean?”

“Jeff’s girlfriend.” I popped out my hip. Did this guy have short-term memory loss or something? “I guess I plugged my number in her phone and pinkie swore with her that we would have dinner?” I narrowed my eyes. “Can you confirm that this happened?”

He laughed, looking more like himself. “Well …”

“And, in my drunken stupor, did you ever once …” I shoved the flowers in his chest. “… think to stop me? Or think, Goodness, this can’t be a good idea.”

His smile widened—damn guilty culprit—and he grabbed the roses between us and tugged at them, bringing me closer. “Actually, I did try to stop you, and you waved me off.”

“Well, you should’ve tried harder.” Annoyance settled deep in my gut.

I’d trusted him that night, and he’d promised. I’d almost guaranteed him that I’d act like an idiot that night. Either that or feel sorry for myself. He was supposed to be the one to keep me in check.

He peered down at me with that look again, the look that made me feel queasy and light-headed. I felt like I was underwater, and my lungs constricted.

“Well …” I didn’t know if I was expecting a response. I just needed to break the silence between us, the weird locked look we had going on.

“I’ll try harder next time. I promise.” He leaned in closer, his breath a hot whisper against my face. “Sonia …”

The way he uttered my name was as though it were a new word he’d discovered. My heart began to beat louder in my chest, in my ears, at my temples.

“I need to tell you something …” He leaned in closer, pulling me in by my elbows, the roses now crushed between our chests. “I’m not used to this sort of thing, but I need you to know that …”

The world stood still.

I breathed in and forgot how to exhale. He erased the space between us. My eyes flickered to his mouth. One more millimeter and our lips would meet. Again. But, this time, I’d be sober. Then, suddenly, there was a knock at the door that had us both peering up, and Charles walked in.





Brad

Talk about the worst possible timing ever.

Sonia jumped back, almost falling in her heels. She then proceeded to step back farther, but it was too late. My brother wasn’t an idiot. He could sense the sexual tension between us. He’d seen us a moment before. And, forget Sonia’s flushed cheeks, my semi-boner also gave it away.

“Hey.” I waved a hand in an awkward greeting and ran it through my hair. “Welcome back stateside.”

His eyes flickered between Sonia and me, and in that instant, I knew he already knew. That Mason had gotten to him first.

“Thanks. So, what’s changed since I’ve been gone?” There was a careful undertone in his voice, careful not to give away that he knew because he did. Charles knew everything. It was why his daughters couldn’t get away with anything.

“Hey, Charles.” Sonia teetered on her heels. “How was your, uh … honeymoon?” She shrank into herself.

“Sun was shining; wife was happy. What more could I ask for?” Charles threw Sonia a smile, but then his eyes slid to me, and his smile slipped.

Charles was the scary brother, never emotional, even-keeled. When he got mad, it was a brewing silence, the kind of anger that was silent but deadly. All you wanted to do was talk yourself out of the mess until he said everything would be okay.

Sonia shifted forward and clutched the roses in one hand and tried to hide it behind her.

Isn’t she cute?

“Can I order you lunch? I’m about to put in an order for Brad at Sunrise Diner. Did you want anything?” Her eyes skittered around the room, landing anywhere but on my face, and all I could think about was how close I’d been to kissing her, to tasting those beautiful, succulent lips again.

“No, I think I’m good,” he answered her, but Charles’s focus remained fixed on me.

Then, he flipped like a light switch, eyes light, and addressed Sonia, “But can you make a posting on our website and submit a newspaper post for Kristin?”

“Kristin?” I asked, wondering what had happened to Mason’s secretary. Maybe she wasn’t coming back because of his annoying ass.

“Yeah.” Then, like a coin toss, he was back to brewing Charles, his eyes steady on mine. “She’s decided to stay at home with her new baby, and she won’t be coming back to work. We’ll need to find a replacement immediately.”

“Will do.”

Sonia was almost to the door when I called out, “Thanks, Sonia.” Because I wanted the last word with her. And I’d officially lost my balls.

The door shut, and Charles and I were left alone. My big brother and me.

“So, is there something you have to tell me?” Charles adjusted the chair facing my desk and plopped down.

Tell him? There was so much I wanted to tell him, but I didn’t want to risk sounding like a pussy, looking like a pussy, and worst of all, I didn’t want him to disregard my need for Sonia, just as Mason had.

I scratched at my temple. Why did it feel like I was in the principal’s office?

He lifted an eyebrow, and the silence choked the air out of the room. Charles did that. With one stare. Maybe it was the fatherly stare, that innate look that frightened not only the children, but adults, too.