Page 102 of No Rings Attached
“No problem,” Grace responded before turning to me and mouthing,keep herbefore she left, and hell if that didn’t already feel like the plan.
Ellie sauntered toward me, hips swaying like she knew my eyes were locked there. She scooted around my desk toward me and dropped papers on my desk, leaning just enough that her shoulder brushed mine. A casual touch—but my whole body lit up.
We’d been finding excuses to touch all day. Too much. And yet, not enough.
“I bet I know a few ways that would get you talking,” I teased.
“Drew, we’re at work,” she whisper-yelled when I muttered something filthy, her blush betraying her.
I scrawled my signature on the forms and handed them back. But she didn’t take them. I followed her gaze to my drawing. Her tiny gasp—half surprise, half pleasure—dragged me back to last night, to the sound she’d made when she fell apart under my mouth.
My jaw tightened. I wanted to hear it again.
She pointed to my sketches. “These are beautiful. Did you design them yourself?”
I nodded. “They’re similar to older designs we sold a long time ago. Let me grab those books I was telling you about.” When I stood, I brushed against her, and the way her finger trailed across my hip as I moved to the bookshelf nearly made me groan out loud.
Ellie bit her lip as her gaze redirected to the open door. Her shoulders relaxing at the confirmation that no one else was in sight.
I reached up to grab the books off the top shelf, cataloging Ellie’s look of appreciation when I turned around. The faint blush staining her cheeks told me I hadn’t imagined she’d been ogling my ass.
These books were one of a kind, and I was excited to show her. I placed them on the desk, and with the utmost care, I opened the first book and turned the pages until I found the design I was looking for.
Ellie retrieved the paper with my doodles and held it side-by-side to the picture of the ruby ring gracing its page. “Drew, wow! You’re really talented. Your rendition is similar, but elevated. It’s antique looking with a modern twist.”
I shrugged. “When I was younger, I used to take jewelry making classes, but eventually switched to business.”
“Why? You’re so good at the design part.” Ellie’s brow creased as her eyes grazed between my drawing then back to the original.
“We already had enough amazing designers. They didn’t need one mo?—”
“I beg to differ,” Glamma swept in like a one-woman Broadway show, Coco trotting at her heels. Her bracelets jingled as she declared I’d given up designing too soon.
She put her hand on my arm. “He’s too modest, Ellie. His heart has always been in design, but he let too many people steer him in the wrong direction.”
“Like who?” Ellie asked.
“His professor at college convinced him that he’d be in a better position to help the family by changing his major. That man is a moron.” Glamma pursed her lips.
“I love my job.” I protested. “And being in this position has allowed me to expand our company in a way that’s beneficial for all of us.”
“Like we need more money, Drew,” she scoffed. “That’s not what life is about. Do what makes you happy. Just ask Ellie.”
“Ask Ellie?” I repeated, looking up.
Ellie froze, a deer-caught-in-headlights.
Glamma leaned a hip against the desk and reached across the table to take Ellie’s limp hand.
Ellie opened her mouth, then shut it. “How did you find out?”
“I just know things.” The response was one that always made me questionhowGlamma knew the things she did. “You have nothing to be embarrassed about, sweetheart.”
“I’m not exactly embarrassed, but people sometimes have weird reactions and questions when they know,” Ellie whispered.
“Are you two going to loop me in?” I asked, keeping my tone neutral. Clearly, this secret was emotionally charged for Ellie.
Ellie bit her lip.
