Page 39 of One Little Mistake
Easton: I know what you’re doing.
Easton: You can’t hide forever. We need to talk.
Looking forward to our banter, I sit with the phone in my hand the entire way home. Disappointment fills my chest when she doesn’t reply, and I know I am really and truly fucked.
* * *
Lexi has successfully avoided me for three full days, and my irritation has everyone on edge. The murmurs around the office that started to die down last week are back in full force. She’s met me every morning for my workout with Colton at her side. I’m ready to kill the fucker.
The three of us are in the elevator, and the only reason I’m not losing my shit is knowing that Lexi’s desk arrived last night. I won’t make a big deal about it, but I’m nervous to see her reaction. When I got it back from The Ironworks, I decided it needed a few more details, so I took it to my shop. It absolutely had nothing to do with nerves.
Approaching my office, I’m pissed off that Colt is still with us. I didn’t exactly want an audience for this.
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” I bark.
He wraps an arm around Lexi’s shoulders and smirks. “Yup, but first, I thought I’d make some lunch plans with Lexi-con here.”
“We have a meeting, so you’ll have to take a raincheck.” Of course it’s a flat-out lie, so I hurry to my office before Lexi can call me out on it and rush through the door. At least that was the plan, but I’m met with resistance and have to force it open.
Pop. Pop. Pop, pop, pop.
The second I push open the door, balloons start popping, and glitter rains from every direction.
One balloon snaps the next, and it’s a chain reaction of popping glitter bombs. That asshole must have filled my office with thousands of them. Maybe more. They cover every inch of the office, and the indoor fireworks display goes on for a solid three minutes.
I stand rooted to my spot in shock. I hear Colton pissing himself with laughter. Of all the stupid shit he’s done over the years, this is his most elaborate prank yet. And though I won’t admit it, I’m impressed by the sheer man-hours he had to have committed to pulling this off.
“What in the ever living …” Halton’s voice trails off as he rounds the corner where a rather large crowd has gathered.
I stare open-mouthed as the last of the popping sounds subside. A fine cloud of glitter dust still permeates the air, though, and I realize every single one of us looks like they just got a lap dance.
Considering the shit show literally happened in my face, I have to assume I have it the worst. Blinking out of my stupor, I use the back of my hand to wipe my eyes and realize I have glitter an inch thick on every exposed area.
“You had better get the fuck out of here,” Halt’s low voice carries through the eerily silent office.
Glancing up, I see even Halt has a smirk on his face, but everyone else who got to the office early looks like they might be sick waiting for my response.
When did I turn into the office curmudgeon? When my eyes land on Lexi’s, I know I want more. So much fucking more than to spend my life in an office I’m obligated to and making everyone’s life around me miserable.
Throwing a playful wink her way, I school my features and turn to face Colton. Like a battle in the Old West, we study each other, waiting for the opponent to make a mistake. There isn’t much that flaps Colt, but knowing I’m coming for him will slowly eat away at him until he can’t take it anymore.
“I’m coming for you, Colt. Consider yourself warned. We are on.”
His eyes sparkle with mischief. He knows he has lain down the gauntlet, and I just ran away with it.
Lexi’s desk will have to wait until Peter Pan cleans up his mess.
Sensing my sudden shift in mood, Lexi retreats. “Okay, well, I’m going to run to Mason’s office and get a few things done before we leave tomorrow.”
Dexter and Trevor are having a joint bachelor and bachelorette party. In Vegas. That means approximately twenty adults and an indeterminable amount of children will be flying out at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning. I need to talk to Lexi before this trip. I’ve allowed her to avoid me long enough. The chase begins now.
Chapter 16
Lexi
“Lexi-loo, where are you?” Julia’s sing-song voice carries throughout the small apartment.
Didn’t I lock the damn door?
