Page 90 of Collision

Chapter twenty-one

Ben

Well, shit.

This is hell.

This is hellfire with a side of sinful torture that burns my veins and has me shifting uncomfortably in my seat as Mikaela moves around the space handing out invites.

Do not stare. Do not stare. Yep. You’re staring. And possibly drooling. Smooth.

Mikaela ducks her head as she moves between the desks, ignoring the glances she’s getting from every straight male in the room, and placing the small black cards into peoples outstretched hands, and I can’t take my eyes off of her.

The electric blue of her shirt is striking against her skin and the material ripples over her in silky waves. She’s buttoned the blouse up almost fully and still, the way it clings to her body, it’s incredible. Her hair is parted to the side and tucked behind her ear, easy waves falling past her shoulder and down her back and as she walks my eyes trace over her hips and the perfectly peachy curve of her ass. Those trousers...Shit.

Clearing his throat, Jamie gets to his feet and claps his hands together, the way he does every week to start the meeting, and I tear my eyes away from her to pretend I’m paying attention.

She continues her circle of the room in silence, smiling over to Max and a few of the other assistants who whisper to her as she passes.

“Okay, so as you all know,” Jamie begins, “Wilcox Writings has officially been in business for five years next Saturday. It’s been a long road to get here, a lot of set backs, a lot of personal pain and discovery, and a hell of a lot of patience on your part, so, to thank you all, we’re throwing a party.”

There’s a cheer around the room, the assistants whooping and clapping as their bosses roll their eyes, and I glance up as Mikaela takes the open seat beside where Jamie stands. My eyes run over her again as a small grin tugs at the corner of my lips.

She’s wearing the heels I bought her last week. The same heels she swore were too much and that I shouldn’t have brought. The flash of red beneath her a beautiful reminder that my girl looks good in designer. She looks good in anything.

“Of course every employee has a plus one should they wish to use it and I am so grateful that you all put this into your calendar when Ben and I came up with this hare-brained scheme weeks ago -”

“When you came up with it,” I interject with a grin. “I will not be held accountable for anything that goes wrong. I simply signed the cash away.”

The blonde from my first week giggles and bats her eyelashes at me, seemingly over my bad manners, and I watch Mikaela straighten a little in her seat; flicking her hair over her shoulder.

“Anyway,” Jamie laughs, “there will be no industry talk. Of course our authors have all been invited, as well as the freelance designers and those we call in regularly, but this is a celebration. For all of us.”

His eyes drift to his sister and she nods solemnly.

Of course.Five years.

“Doyouwanttotalk about it?”

I’d followed Mikaela into the office kitchen half an hour after the meeting ended and now I’m blocking the door with my body so that no one can come in after us, and she’s fidgeting with the coffee machine.

“There’s not much to say about it, Ben.” She smiles to herself and shakes her head, before reaching up to the shelf where the office staff store a stupid amount of coffee cups.

“Five years isn’t a long time, Mik, but it is a big milestone.” I move a step closer as she sighs and turns to me.

“I’m fine, Ben, really.” She presses her lips into a smile and I nod. “I’m not avoiding talking about it. If I need to, I promise I will. And it’s not even the anniversary yet. We’ve still got two and a half months until I break down over it, okay?”

I roll my eyes and step closer again.“Mikaela.”

“Benjamin.” She furrows her brow in her best impression of me and I can’t help the smile that breaks through my defences.

“I could take you to see her tomorrow?” Hope dances in my chest. Since that morning at the cemetery I’ve wanted to return. Elizabeth Wilcox was family to me and I miss her. But I also know how difficult it is for Mik to let me close to her like that. “If you would want that?”

Mik’s face softens as she steps forwards, placing a hand on my chest and leaning in quickly. I bend down to her height, trapping her lips for the shortest of moments and sighing as I close my eyes.

“I’d like that.” She leans against me and I wrap an arm around her. “Thank you.”

Mikaela

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