Page 6 of Wrapped Up in You
Me: Fuck all of you.
“Crew, you there?” Todd clears his throat on the other end of the line.
“Yeah, I’m here. So is Serena. She’s talking to Mary. I’m still not exactly sure why she’s not with you,” I say with a hint of disdain. The more I think about this, the further down the rabbit hole I go, thinking about all the reasons why Todd is foisting Serena off on me when he very clearly has some kind of attachment toward her.
“I’ll leave that up to her on the reason. Just know you’re doing me a solid, and the favor isn’t going unnoticed. Don’t forget about lunch,” Todd follows up.
“Already got Mary on that. Gotta go. She’s walking in.” I don’t want a response, so I put the phone back on the receiver and pick up my cell again to finish reading the messages that I’m sure are piling up.
Luke: Shit, I’m out of the loop. Someone break it down for me.
Matthew: Todd roped Crew into training a newbie at the firm. He’s been pissed about it since the very beginning. Then he meets her, can’t figure out what her relationship is with Todd, and today, she starts with him. Did I mention he can’t keep his eyes in his head? You know, the usual.
After that last response, I open my desk drawer, toss the phone inside, and while I’d prefer to slam it closed, I don’t, partly because the last thing I want to do is draw Serena’s attention from Mary. Instead, I let it close lightly, stand up from my desk, smooth my clothes, and walk toward the woman who has me chewing on the inside of my cheek to keep my cool.
“Mr. Garrison,” Mary says as she realizes I’m standing on the threshold of the door. She hurriedly stands up and is about to make formal introductions, which aren’t necessary.
“Mary, I see you’ve met Serena?” I help her out.
“Yes, I was about to walk her into your office, but it seems you have this handled. Please excuse me. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.” Mary skirts around us, taking off to what I can only assume will be the employee lounge to grab a bite to eat.
“Shall we?” I ask, attempting to keep the conversation cordial and friendly, a damn hard feat with the way she makes me feel.
“Yes, please. I have my tablet and am ready to get to work.” Serena holds up her bag, showing me she’s all set up from hertime with HR. We all get a standard-issued tablet, though there’s nothing standard about it when Jude is the computer/hacker guru of our group. No expense is spared when it comes to our personal and business lives.
“Alright.” I extend my arm for her, allowing her to precede me in the office. My hand automatically goes to her lower back, and I wish like hell there weren’t any fabric between us, wanting to feel her smooth skin. Serena stutters in her step for a moment, and when neither of us mentions anything, she slowly sinks back into my warmth.
Once we’re inside my office, I close the door behind us, and Serena doesn’t miss a beat. She notices the chair I set up near my desk, but what she doesn’t know is that she won’t be using it.
“Take a seat in front of the computer. We’ll go over a few plans for the day, see what you think, and go from there.” I walk with her, but instead of sitting down beside her, I come up behind her. This is a human resources nightmare waiting to happen, but fuck if I give a god damn.
“You’ll have to guide me to what I’m looking for, Crew. Your computer isn’t like what I’ve trained on this week.” Hearing my name tumble off her lips has to be the best damn thing I’ve ever heard.
“That’s because my buddy, Jude, built it. Nobody else has one here. I’ll help you every step of the way.” I place my hand on top of hers that’s on the mouse.
“Oh, well, that makes sense.” We go with the motions as I help her open the plans I’ve been working on for Jagged Edge Builders, Jagger’s business, even if we all own a small piece of the pie, but for the most part, it’s his blood, sweat, and tears.
“Yeah.” It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask about Todd when Serena starts talking shop. I’m left leaving that subject for another time, and as much as I hate it, it’s also nice as hell to see the drive and determination she has to figure out my computeroperating system. She also starts picking my brain and asking the important questions. And fuck if that doesn’t turn me on even more than I already am.
4
SERENA
All morning, we’ve worked. Really, he’s grilled me, challenging me in a way that makes my brain work overtime. It also didn’t help that his body heat, his scent, and his words were so close to me that thinking became harder. We made it through somehow. Excuse me,Imade it through. My senses are on overload, the light touches did nothing to help, and my brain, well, it’s full of information, new knowledge, and some were from Crew and me challenging each other.
“Do you mind if I walk around for lunch?” I ask, standing up from the desk. My lower back aches from sitting all morning. There’s also the fact that I’m eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich today, and I really don’t want to be questioned to death about my food choice, which I will no doubt be, especially should my Uncle Todd happen upon us.
“Sure, after we eat. Mary ordered us some sandwiches and soup. The food should be here in the next few minutes.” Crew looks down at his phone for a moment, putting a crook in my plans.
“Crew.” I’m hesitant to say his name. The unnecessary attention sitting in the pit of my stomach that’s currently battling hunger pains doesn’t help this situation in the least.
A knock on the door makes me jump back, realizing that in the heat of the moment, we somehow gravitated toward one another. Again.
“Lunch is served,” Mary says, using her hip to open the door since her hands are full. “Oh, I didn’t interrupt anything, did I?” Her eyes go from Crew to me. I’m quick to shake my head and walk toward her.
“Not at all, thank you. Did you order yourself something, too?” Crew asks, moving a few plans out of the way on the coffee table he keeps to the left side of his office. I’m actually surprised we’re not taking this to one of the conference rooms. Then again, that could make for some potential gossip to make the rounds.
“I did. Mine is at my desk. I’m going to watch my soaps while I eat.” Mary mentioned earlier today that she has an unhealthy obsession with shows that like to drag on the drama for days, if not weeks. Soap operas will definitely do that. I remember my mom and aunt watching a person in the hospital dying for what seemed like two weeks during the summer.
