Page 143 of Full Mountie

“I know,” he says, leaning in. He hovers there, not quite kissing me, for agonizing seconds before stepping back.

From around the corner—dangerously close—Gavin calls out my name. “Beth?”

We leap apart and I stride back in the direction of my desk, bumping right into the PM as he rounds the corner.

He looks at me with a frown, then slides his gaze past me and his frown deepens. “Lachlan?”

“Yes, sir.”

“I thought you left a while ago.”

I clear my throat. “We were just discussing Violet’s baby shower. Lachlan was under the mistaken impression he wasn’t coming, but of course he is.”

Gavin nods slowly. “Okay. Maybe not the most pressing conversation?”

“Right. I should get back to work.”

I slide past my boss. From behind me, I hear him awkwardly tell Lachlan that of course he should come to the shower.

And now I’ve made another complication.

Fantastic.

I’m still woundup about this by the time lunch comes around, so I use the excuse that Gavin didn’t bring anything either to run out to a sandwich shop. I need fresh air.

I need perspective.

I get a sandwich, but no perspective.

I feel all tight and confused inside, and I think I’ve got that mostly locked down until Hugh shows up at my desk at three and finds me furiously blinking back hot, stupid tears.

I will not cry, I will not cry…But then I take one look at his worried face and know that’s a losing battle.

I jump up and head to the copier room again, this time with a fistful of work because I need an excuse to be hiding back there lest I’m caught again.

Hugh is hot on my heels.

“You don’t need to follow me,” I mutter. “I’m fine.”

“You just burst into tears at your desk.”

“Burst is an overstatement. I got momentarily overwhelmed. I’m fine now, and I have work to do.”

“That can wait a minute.” His hand comes down on top of the photocopier lid. “Look at me. What’s going on?”

“Lachlan and I had a weird fight this morning.” I sniffle and Hugh grabs a box of tissues off the supply shelf. He rips it open and hands me one. “Thanks.”

“What was the fight about?”

“Jack Benton guessed that we’re together.”

“The three of us?”

“No. Just Lachlan and me. I mean, he…” I huff out a breath. “He called Lachlan ‘my Mountie’. And I didn’t deny it. Lachlan was furious.”

“Aw, beautiful.” Hugh pulls me into his chest. “He is your Mountie. I get it. I wouldn’t want to deny that, either.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, weeping into his chest. “I don’t know what language to use here.”

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