Page 31 of Hold On Me

I pick both up and head out to her desk, which is gratefully still empty. Placing them side by side, I head back into my office and close the door with a smile. That should make up for me being an absolute tool yesterday.

A gentle knocking at my office door brings me out of my spreadsheet stupor. “Come in.” The door opens slowly, and before I can see who’s on the other side, I know it’s her.

“Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Elias.” Her voice is soft, slightly unsure, and I hate not hearing my first name from her.

With a frown and a wave of my hand, she enters the room and closes the door behind her. This is it. She’s going to quit. She’s going to tell me she can’t work with me and to find someone else.

“Thank you.”

What the fuck? My jaw gapes open slightly and my head tilts in confusion.

“For the doughnut and the Post-it. You did leave them on my desk this morning, right?”

“I did. I forgot. You’re welcome. And please call me Ben. I told you, I like hearing my name on your lips.” A blush rushes over her cheeks and down her neck as she shifts on her feet.

“You signed the NDA.” It’s not a question, but I answer her anyway.

“I did. You don’t have to tell me, though. I just wanted you to have the option.”

Her eyes meet mine, surprise and intrigue written all over them, which brings a smile to my lips. I like surprising her.

“I don’t get you. You’re so confusing. One minute you’re all innuendos and sexy flirting and the next you’re shouting at me for talking to people. You’re making my head spin?—”

“Knock knock. How we doing in here? I thought I’d make an appearance and make sure my girl’s doing a good job.” Hank walks in, a smile on his face that crinkles his kind eyes. “Am I interrupting something?”

As if an electric shock has coursed through her veins, Penelope jumps from her spot and dives into her dad’s arms.

“Hey, Dad. Deemed to grace us with your presence today seeing as you were MIA yesterday.” Her teasing tone takes away all the tension as Hank grins back at her.

“Pops needed me yesterday. Plus, I know how you work. You do better without me under your feet all day.” He tips his head in my direction. “And I know he would have defaulted everything to me instead of giving you a fair shot. I was helping you both by not being here.” He pointedly looks at me to challenge him, but I’m still running over Penelope calling me out for my weird behaviour.

“Besides, I’ve got a week before my surgery and only a few days till Thanksgiving. Mama needs me to help out with everything, and you know no one can say no to Mama. Oh that reminds me—” He turns to face me and a dread fills my stomach. “Mama told me to tell you to be there at ten. No arguments.”

I’m about to argue when he tilts his head at me and shoots a ‘really?’ look at me, and I shut my damn mouth.

“Can I bring anything?” Gritting my teeth together, I spit the words out and sigh when he shakes his head and laughs.

A quick look at Penelope and I notice her lip is between her teeth again, nervously nibbling away at it. Obviously she isn’t looking forward to this family get-together either. Being an honorary Brady is becoming a pain in my arse.

17

PENNY

“Is that okay, Pops?” Standing back to admire my handiwork, I look over my shoulder to find the Brady patriarch gazing at my work while holding two pumpkin pies that I know he has made from scratch. There were no trips to Wegmans bakery for him. The idea makes me laugh as I know how much pride Pops takes in the food he makes.

“It looks beautiful, hun. Now go out there and make sure those boys of mine aren’t doing anything they shouldn’t and your dad isn’t drinking all my good bourbon without me.”

He winks and ushers me out of the kitchen as I sigh loudly. My excuse for being away from the madness of football and boys in the living room has been snatched away from me and now I have to face all the Bradys, my dad, and my boss.

I haven’t spoken to him about anything but work since my dad invited him. I spent yesterday being shadowed by Dad to make sure I knew everything before his knee surgery. I think he felt bad about bailing on my first day and was trying to make it up to me. But instead of feeling at ease, all it’s done is make me a nervous wreck. Ben hasn’t tried to speak to me about our little ‘spat’. And I’m kind of glad to be honest. I don’t know what I was thinking blurting out how confusing his actions had been. Icouldn’t help it though. One minute I was burning up from his flirting and the next I was furious from his scolding and then he was back to all sweetness and smiles. Emotional whiplash is a thing, and I was definitely suffering from it. Still am if I’m being honest. I hate not knowing where I stand, and with this guy, I’m completely unaware.

Pushing the door open and fixing a smile on my face, I step into the living room to noise and laughter. Angie spots me first and winks. Jameson is next and waggles his brows. That’s odd. And then my eyes lock onto dark chocolate ones, and I understand the waggle. He’s wearing a crisp white T-shirt, grey sweats, and sneakers, and looks like a delicious drink of water to a very thirsty woman.

Shit.

He obviously got the memo I emailed him about the Bradys being a dress down, wear stretchy pants kind of family for Thanksgiving. He’s also the only person in the room with a seat available next to him, and I curse every single member of the clan right now as I eye up my options.

I could sit on the floor I suppose, but would that make it obvious that I’m avoiding sitting next to him? Would everyone think I was hiding something? Oh for god's sake, I mentally tear myself a new one. Just sit the fuck down.

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