Page 9 of Chilled and Thrilled

Something deep inside me seems to clench, pulling into itself, as I’m smacked with yet another reminder of how attracted to him I am. Everything about the man is perfect, and while I’ve decided to get past these feelings by any means necessary, my body obviously hasn’t gotten the memo, because seeing his face is enough to make my panties wet.

Like… really wet.

Bram only hums, craning his neck to make sure there’s nobody heading for the crosswalk before we pull into the parking garage. “Humor me.”

Confused, frustrated, and horny, I slump back in my seat, staring straight ahead as my surprise carpool driver claims the reserved parking spot with his name on it. We don’t speak as we get out, the heavy thud of our doors echoing off the ceiling in the cavernous cement space.

“Are you going anywhere for Christmas?” he asks as we set off again, walking side by side toward the street.

My heart sinks. “Yeah. To see family.” It’s a lie. This Christmas, just like every Christmas since I turned eighteen, will be spent alone. Unfortunately for Bram, he is thevery last person I want knowing that. So we’re going to keep with my long-established custom of lying my ass off whenever this topic comes up. “What about you?” I ask politely. ”Honor mentioned that you have plans.”

I’m pretty proud of myself for keeping my tone casual. Not like I’m about to puke on his shoes all over again at themental image of Bram and Rebecca cozied up beside the Christmas tree in matching pj’s.

“Yes. Spending it with friends.”

We don’t speak again, and Bram sticks close to my side all the way across the street. He opens the door to the office and stands back, allowing me into the lobby. Nearly the moment I set foot on the shiny marble floor, a male voice calls down to me from halfway up one of the sweeping marble staircases.

“Sophie! Glad I caught you.”

Behind me, I hear what sounds like a low growl, as the tall, handsome blond man descends the marble staircase toward me. Holden Ellinger, the E of E&V, looks more suited to male modeling than architecture. Most of the women in the office are nursing crushes on him, but beyond the obvious appeal, he isn’t my type.

“Hey, Holden.” I pause, hyper-aware of Bram hovering just behind me. “What’s up?”

He stops in front of us, smile widening. “Vincent called in sick, and we have a pitch at two. Would you mind looking at the print, see if there’s anything you can do to help? Join Team Ellinger for the day?”

“Of course,” I agree instantly, eager to get away from Bram. “Nothing I have is pressing.”

There’s a noise of protest from behind me. “I need Sophie today.”

Holden arches his eyebrows skeptically. “It’s the bid for the new library. I feel as though that should take precedence, don’t you?”

“No. I don’t,” Bram grunts. “Besides, that work should have been completed days ago.”

“Well, if you weren’t hogging the only decent printing engineer, maybe it would have been.” His tone drips with amusement. “Come on, Bram. You have my word she’ll be returned with all limbs intact.”

I glance over my shoulder, and a weight drops into my lower belly when I find Bram already looking at me. “I really don’t have a ton to do today. Stuff has kind of fizzled out in the run-up to the holidays…” I trail off, staring at him, unsure of how to proceed.

He’s being so weird today. What the hell is going on? I thought we were back to normal after the incident. Does he think I’m losing my shit, and this is some kind of platonic show of protectiveness? Gag.

After an age, Bram nods stiffly and tears his eyes from my face to look at his business partner. “She’s my employee, Holden. Don’t forget it.”

4

BRAM

I’ve been pacing for fifteen minutes. People have been arriving and casting wary looks in my direction through the glass walls of my office, before carefully averting their gaze and going about their business. Sophie’s desk is sitting empty in the corner, and every time I see it, I get a little closer to losing my mind.

She’s working, not on a date, and yet it doesn’t seem to matter how many times I remind myself of that. The newfound knowledge that my feelings for her are not as unreciprocated as I’d believed, has taken the lid off whatever control I had over them.

As if to remind me what a piece of shit I am, my phone rings and I snatch it from my pocket, gazing down at my daughter’s name on the caller ID.

“Hey, kid,” I say as I resume pacing, listening to the sounds of an airport terminal through the phone.

“Hey, Dad,” Honor responds brightly, “just wanted to call you before I board. I’m sorry we won’t be spending the holidays together.”

She’s apologized for that about half a dozen times, and itdoes sting, but I don’t ever want to be an obligation to my kids. Me screwing around for the better part of their lives—chasing success, kinky sex, and experiences instead of love—and ending up alone, shouldn’t be their burden to bear.

I clear my throat, glancing, yet again, toward Sophie’s empty desk. What the hell is Holden playing at? “I’m sorry too. Don’t worry about me, I have plans.”

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