Page 10 of The Fix Up

The phone rang, and it took him a few beats to realize it was his personal line and not his desk phone. He fumbled the iPhone out of his pocket, knocking a clump of nachos into his lap in the process.

“Parker,” he said, reading his buddy’s name off the screen as he lifted the phone to his ear. “I was just talking about you. Well, your dog.”

There was a long pause, and Ben thought he heard his best friend give a snort of dismay. “If Daisy is your idea of a good topic of workday conversation with business executives, I shudder to think what you’ll come up with for cocktail party banter. Squeaky toys? Root canals? The mating habits of woodland beetles?”

Ben sighed. Normally, Parker’s ribbing wouldn’t bother him. Hell, he’d probably dish some right back at him. But this day was turning out to be anything but normal. He looked at his watch, and it dawned on him he’d missed his regular workout date. “Sorry I couldn’t make it at lunch,” he said. “My gym time is going to be a bit limited for the foreseeable future.”

On the other end of the line, his best pal snorted. “It’s your first day as CEO and you’re already turning into your dad?”

Ben grimaced, wishing the words didn’t make him want to stab himself in the eye with his letter opener. “That’s kind of the point, isn’t it?”

“Then it’s my job to balance you out. I just signed us up to volunteer with that charity group that teaches boxing to underprivileged kids. You’re welcome. And you’re sparring with me and Mike and Justin at noon tomorrow, so don’t bail again.”

“Fine,” Ben said, glancing at his calendar. He should probably protest, but beating the hell out of a punching bag or one of his sparring partners was the only thing that kept him sane sometimes. He kinda liked having a hobby that kept him in shape and kept him from descending into total pocket-protector geekdom.

“So are you wearing ugly golf pants and barking orders at strangers yet, or have you not fully transitioned into becoming your dad?”

“I’m working on it,” Ben grumbled.

“You don’t sound so sure of yourself.”

“Oh I’m sure of myself. One hundred percent.” Words said as much to convince himself as Parker. “I’m actually looking into hiring someone to help me out a little.”

“You mean like a life coach or something?”

“Or something,” Ben agreed, trying not to feel too glum that Holly had turned him down. Hopefully he could find someone else.

I don’t want anyone else.

Ben cleared his throat. “Look, I’ve gotta go. I have to get ready for this big event with the Kleinberger execs. But I’ll do my best to make it tomorrow.”

“Twelve thirty,” Parker said. “Be there.”

Ben hung up and shoved his phone back in his pocket. He turned back to his computer, eager to return to the sea of numbers and data that always gave him comfort. He’d just flicked his screensaver off when he heard footsteps.

His secretary’s voice came from the intercom. “Ben? There’s a Holly Colvin here to see you.”

A satisfying jolt of energy coursed from his gut to the rest of his extremities, and he took his hand off the keyboard long enough to punch the intercom button on his phone.

“Really?”

“That’s what she said.”

Hot damn. “Thanks, Carol. You can send her in.”

He turned back to his computer, determined to finish one last calculation. He could hear footsteps behind him, but he had to tally up the figures for the?—

“No,” the voice said behind him. “Are you kidding me? No. Just—no!”

* * *

Holly stood in the doorway,studying her new client. At least shehopedhe’d be her new client.

Please say the offer is still good…

Right now, though, she had more pressing concerns. Ben had kicked off his shoes, which revealed one brown sock with red and blue stripes and one black sock with gray checks. The only thing about them that matched was the fact that both had holes in the toes.

His shirt was even more wrinkled than it had been in the furniture store, which was saying something. There was a smear of something orange on his sleeve, which she guessed might be cheese from the half-eaten plate of nachos on the edge of his desk. His hair was rumpled and his glasses were slightly askew, though those details gave him a sexy professor vibe she wished wasn’t so damn hot.

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