Page 70 of How to Resist Prince Charming

After he shot out of the meeting room, shutting the door behind him, the remaining five members shared a look between them.

“Well, what do you think that was about?” Charlie was the first to ask. “That’s the first time he left the room to take a call.”

Farris had been surprisingly open about all his dealings concerning their new overseas venture. And strangely enough, his forthrightness and enthusiasm had been contagious. Most of Tom’s co-workers were jumping into this project with both feet. Tom was still holding himself back, but he had to admit, it really did seem like things was going to work out.

“Boss Boy better not be keeping anything from us,” Pat growled.

This was the first time Tom had heard anyone call the kid that in over a month. The label sort of startled him.

“Hey, I have an idea.” Standing up, Ben leaned toward the conference phone and picked it up.

As he began to dial a few numbers, Tasha gasped as if realizing what he was doing. “Don’t worry,” she assured the others. “He won’t be able to hear us. We’ll only be able to hear him.” But she still whispered and looked slightly pale as she glanced worriedly toward the door.

Braxton’s concerned voice filled the small phone speakers about as soon as Ben pushed the right button.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” He paused a moment and then responded, “I’m still at work. Why aren’t you? I thought you had to go in until nine tonight.” Then he let out a breath. “You got the job? Oh, my God. That’s amazing. I knew you would but...wow. Congratulations...What? No, I didn’t pull any strings. I swear...Hey! All I did was give him your name. You did the rest. This was all you, babe.”

Tom glanced at Ben, thinking he’d hang up now that he knew it was a personal call and had nothing to do with Farris Industries. But Hendricks, and everyone else in the room, looked even more intrigued.

“So, he really is dating someone exclusively then,” Tasha murmured.

“I think this means we need to celebrate big. What do you say? Want to hit Paris again?”

“See.” Tasha lifted her eyebrows, looking smug.

Through the phone, Braxton Farris chuckled. “Okay, okay, fine. If you want to be a buzzkill about it, then I guess we can just order in some Chinese takeout instead. I should be done here in an hour. Hour and a half tops.”

An hour and a half?

Tom groaned, wanting to weep. Around him, his co-workers looked just as disheartened.

“You mean you’re at my place...right now?” The kid sounded shock. “Well, go ahead and go inside... Crazy woman. That’s why I gave you a key, you know. To use it.”

“I guess that answers the question whether he’s into women or men, at least,” Charlie murmured, grinning.

Tom rolled his eyes. If he wanted to listen to a soap opera, he’d just stay home and watch TV all day.

“It’s not weird,” Braxton murmured, his voice lowering a notch to a husky tenor. “I kind of like knowing you’re in my house without me there. It’s sorta hot. You know you’re going to go through my underwear drawer.”

Around him, his co-workers chuckled, but Tom groaned. “Christ, turn that shit off,” he ordered.

“Oh, hell no,” Tasha argued. “I want to figure out who this girl is.”

“Okay, now is definitely not the time to tease,” Braxton growled into the speakers. “Because...I don’t want to return to my meeting with a woody.”

Tom made a face, thinking now Ben would certainly shut the intercom off so they could all be saved before their punk boss’s conversation turned x-rated. But no. If anything, the four around him leaned in closer to hear more.

The morons.

“No, don’t worry about it.” Farris was saying. “You’re never an interruption. Besides, I think the guys needed a break anyway. They’re all probably thanking you right now for the reprieve.”

“Yes, thank you,” Charlie leaned forward to address the phone. Tom snorted and wiped his face, almost ashamed that these idiots were some of his closest friends.

Braxton suddenly groaned. “Oh, hell, no. You did not just say that. Damn. Okay, you know, there’s nothing we can do here tonight that we can’t do in the morning. I’ll be home in fifteen minutes. Just...stay that frisky until I get there.”

Tom could almost hear the kid’s smile through the small speakers. He sounded so jubilant it reminded him of a long ago time when he’d been dating Maxine. The thrill of getting to see her again had always filled him, knowing that when he did see her, she’d let him do things her father would disapprove of.

“See you soon,” Braxton murmured. There was a pause as if he’d hung up. Ben leaned over to take the phone off the intercom but just before he pushed the button, their boss more quietly added, “I love you.”

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