Page 31 of Stick to the Plan
“Colin…I…” My voice is barely a whisper. I’m trapped, captured by his warm eyes.
“Brianna.” My name sounds like warm honey on his lips. Liquid heat pools in my center. How can just my name be so damn hot?
I feel myself lean forward towards him. Our kiss from Friday night replays in my mind. We haven’t talked about it - I took the easy way out andlet Colin suspect I didn’t remember. But man do I ever. That kiss has been playing on repeat all weekend. Every time we sat on the couch together. When we ate together. And yes - even when I was alone in my room.
A loud laugh from the hallway makes me jump and breaks the connection. I swallow and shake the last fragments of lust from my head.
You’re at work, Brianna. Get it together!
“Uh… I’m going to grab some coffee. You want anything from the kitchen?” I grab my cup from the table and head towards the office door. Not waiting for a reply.
“No, thanks.”
I hear Colin sigh loudly as I close the door behind me and lean back against it. Closing my eyes, I take three deep calming breaths before heading off to the nearest kitchenette.
My heart is still pounding as I place my cup on the bland Formica counter. Deciding that more caffeine is definitely the last thing I need with my nerves already frayed, I stand on my toes to search the upper cabinet for the box of tea, usually forgotten up there. The box slips just out of my reach with each attempt. Cursing my short stature, I use the counter for leverage as I try to stretch a little higher.
A well-tailored arm, covered in expensive navy cloth, comes into my view just as I realize there is someone standing close behind me.
Alarmingly close behind me.
With a gasp, I step to my left and turn, simultaneously extracting myself and facing the man behind me. My eyes snap to brown ones filled with amusement. His dark blond hair is parted on the side and slicked over with gel. A light beard has been artfully trimmed to frame his face. Thin lips curve in a cocky grin - no, it’s more of a sneer. Only after a month of Colin’s good humor grin do I realize what that smile actually means.
Christian Accardo - my exfiancé.
“Nice to see you, Ree. How have you been?” He leans forward into my space. My mouth is dry, and my throat has relocated somewhere to my stomach. I lean back again, trying to get some air - he’s so close I can practically taste his heavy cologne.
What is he doing here? I haven’t seen him since I threw his ring in his face almost a year ago. Not long after everything went to hell, he’d gotten a promotion and transferred to another office.
“G-Good” I clear my throat and curse myself for stuttering. Chris’s eyes sharpen, the look of a predator who smells prey.
Seeing Chris after so long throws me off, and my balance is already shaken by the raging hormones lit by Colin. My life is about precision and planning. I don’t take surprises well. There’s no problem I can’t fix professionally, but I need a couple minutes to recenter first. “Busy, but no complaints. Why are you here?”
“Always the good worker bee. I hear you are in deep on this super secret new project. The whole Tampa office is talking about it.”
“Shouldn’t you be at the Tampa office?” I wipe my sweaty hands on my skirt and try to take a step back.
Chris steps with me, caging me back in. His grin spreads, all teeth. “I’m here to see the CFO, but I’m happy to run into you. This project sounds promising. There’s even a pool going on what the product really is. Come on, you can tell me.”
I narrow my eyes as I look at the man in front of me. The tailored clothes, expensive watch, grooming. Everything is artificial. Every part of his image is carefully chosen to send a message. I am important, handsome, charming. You should want to make me happy. It’s all bullshit. Why had it taken me so long to see the truth?
With a deep breath, I square my shoulders and meet Chris’s smirking gaze. Mentally, I count to five and force my standard professionalexpression onto my face. “I really can’t talk about it, I’m afraid. Non Disclosure and all, a businessman like you understands. Now if you’ll excuse me.”
I take a step to the right. Chris reaches out and grabs my left arm in his meaty fist, squeezing hard enough that I wince. His smile strains as he clenches his jaw before the charming mask returns. My arm burns where he grabs it, and my stomach twists in disgust. AColinnd a little fear. “Let go of me.”
“God, why are you being so difficult, Brianna? Do you know how embarrassed I was after your stunt last year?” The words are low and clipped, raising my hair on end. “You owe me, so just tell me what the product is. As an old friend.”
“Christian, one thing we’ve never been is friends.” With one hard jerk of my arm, he releases me. I step back, just as the fresh smell of trees and citrus envelopes me and a warm hand settles on my shoulder.
Blindly, I lean back into Colin’s muscular arm across my back. I am only mildly embarrassed at how grateful I am for his support at this moment.
In our three-year relationship, Chris had never been violent, but that grab on my arm scared me. It is the inherent fear all women are trained to feel, from the first buds of puberty. Always watch your surroundings. Don’t walk at night alone, but if you have to, make sure your keys are between your fingers. It’s a fear that’s cemented as we grow, when they give the girls rape whistles in college, but not the boys.
“Is there a problem, Ms. Chance?” Colin’s voice rumbles at my shoulder. It sounds calm, but lower than normal. His hand tugs, firmly bringing me closer to his side, and further from Chris.
Chris has to tilt his head back slightly to meet Colin’s chilling gaze. After a quick assessment, he turns to face Colin fully. “No problem, just catchingup with a…close friend.” Chris’s smile spreads with innuendo as he looks at me. Colin’s arm turns to steel around me.
“Chris Alccardo, Director of Finance in the government division. You must be the famous Colin McLeary.” Chris holds his hand out to Colin, as he introduces himself.
