Page 35 of Love to Hate You

I shrug. “I just want you to feel a part of the company. But do what you want.”

“Wow. Somebody is in a mood. What’s got you so unhappy?” Sierra asks.

As if in answer, I see Charlie step off the elevator and I can’t drag my eyes off her. She’s in a white, button-down blouse and slim-fitted skirt, jacket hanging over her arm. Her heels come to an abrupt halt when she sees Tanner and Sierra.

And, to my utter dismay, Sierra motions for her to come join us.

I let out a sharp sigh and Sierra looks from me to a reluctant Charlie.

“Ohhh,” she says, her mouth edging up. “Is there some tension between the Interim President and the man who wants her job?”

“Shut up, Sierra,” I say. “You have no idea what’s going on.”

“Touchy, touchy.”

“What’s going on?” Tanner asks.

“Nothing,” I snap as Charlie pauses in the doorway.

The tension between us is palpable as she pointedly ignores me and smiles at them. “Hi. It’s nice to see you both.”

“You, too,” Sierra says and Tanner nods.

They both shift their gaze from Charlie to me and I want to strangle them both for being so damn obvious.

“So, Charlie,” Sierra says coyly. “How’s everything going between you and my pain in the butt brother?”

Charlie finally looks at me– briefly– then focuses on Sierra. “Fine.”

“You don’t have to pretend with me. We all know how bossy and controlling he is and I’m sure he’s hardly been a joy to work with.”

“Sierra-” I say in a low, warning voice.

“We’re…figuring things out,” Charlie tells Sierra.

“We are?” I ask, unable to help myself. “Because you haven’t said more than five words to me all week.”

Stunned by my outburst, everyone looks at me.Shit.I can’t help it and maybe I’m being a baby, but I want to know how she can so easily dismiss what happened between us.

“Will you excuse us?” Charlie asks, all cool politeness.

Tanner and Sierra exchange smirks as they head out and Charlie closes the door behind them. When she turns to face me, her blue eyes are blazing with anger. “Are you insane?”

I march around the table. “Why’re you avoiding me?” I demand.

“This is not the time or the place-”

“Dammit, Charlie, I want to know why you’re ignoring the situation.”

She lets out a sound of disbelief. “You’re ridiculous, you know that? Stop acting like a damn baby and making everything about you.”

“It is about me!”

“It’s about me, too, and you need to respect the fact that we’re at work and now isn’t the time.” She punctuates each word with a sharp jab against my chest and I grab her wrist.

My gaze locks hold of hers and I can’t read what’s in those blue-green depths. Her walls are so high, but I’m determined to climb up them. “Tell me that wasn’t the best fucking sex you’ve ever had, and I’ll leave you alone.”

She swallows hard. “You weren’t my best, Nash. Sorry.”

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