Page 4 of Merry Me Grumphole

Oh yes, her face scrunches up at that. Is it that much of an impossible request?

“And you’ll stop using my full name?” she retorts, crossing her own arms.

“Is that what you want to win,Gwen.” Teasing her name, I’m once more caught off guard. She’s still fucking blushing.

“Pick a different prize,Riley.” She huffs out the order, clearly embarrassed. She’s so easy to rile up and right now, that’s my weakness.

Crossing a leg over the other, I hunch forward to hide how much of an effect this woman has on me. Maybe her using my name isn’t a good idea. I’m going to be thinking about this all day now. Might’ve as well shot myself in the foot with such a simple request.

“Give me a client,” I suggest, feeling desperate to give her something she wants so she can stop making demands. “No, give me the guy that buys way too many staples.”

The one I’ve caught her giggling with.Even if her sweet voice was only a tactic, it still pisses me off.

She gasps, her brows narrowing. “He’s my favorite.”

My jaw clenches a bit at that. Not my business. Maybe I misunderstood then. Fuck, I don’t care. “Doesn’t matter. That’s what I want. Now, what do you want? Hurry, I’m busy.”

Now I’m agitated and taking it out on the one person who perks up whenever I’m near.Perfect.

She recoils a bit too, her face matching mine. “Well, I was thinking about something cool like making you drink so much eggnog that you throw up and embarrass yourself. Clearly, I need to rethink of something with equal value. I will be back, Sanders. Don’t even think about running away either.”

Huffing and puffing, she pushes away from my desk and stomps off. Like a slap in the face, hearing her use my last name again leaves my body hunching over for a different reason.

I’ve upset the woman. She’d come so excited too. This ugly jealousy is always the worst when it tries to rear its head.

This is why I can’t ask her for what I truly want. If Gwen were mine…I wouldn’t want her out of my sight.

Rubbing a hand down my face, I shake my head. She’s a twister, that woman. Always leaves me disarrayed whenever she crosses my path, and I’m always left picking up the mess. This time around, I may need to do a little damage control.

Gwen

Eggnog. What am I, five?

My keyboard clanks as my forehead clatters against it. A few times, I thump my head.

Neighboring employees pause what they’re doing to send me a mixture of concerned and confused looks. I can feel them looking. How embarrassing. Though it’s better they see me like this than if I were to actually experience a meltdown.

I wanted to ask Riley to spend Christmas with me. Overtime at the office, or a stroll along a decorated street. One with a little hand holding maybe. Just some time spent together without either of us attacking each other. After twenty minutes of talking myself into having the courage to ask, I flubbed the whole thing up and ran away like a wolf with its tail between its legs.

What Ineededwas something of equal value to his half of the bet. What I got was a reminder. Sometimes, Riley can be a real dick. My mouth sours at the memory. Once more, my head thumps. Too much time has passed since I darted away and I’m still dying on the inside.

Why am I in love with the guy again? Even after all this time, my heart is still going. A constant reminder that I’m useless around him.

A few minutes tick by before there’s a thump against my desk and I smell the sweet hint of chocolate. Lifting my head, I don’t expect to see the man behind my current headache.

Riley stares down at me, the look of pity in his eyes. He’s got one hand in his pocket, the other releasing a cup.

“Come to poison me?” I ask, frowning at the cup. “So you can steal the rest of my best clients?”

He nudges the cup in my direction. “An apology for being an asshole.”

“A mega asshole,” I correct as I take the cup. His little snort makes my toes curl. Damn it. Still weak for the man.

“It’s your favorite kind. Had to wait in a line and everything,” he explains as he shoves his other hand inside his other pocket. “I even paid a little extra to get a pump of vanilla in it.”

Okay. If Riley wants to apologize every time he annoys me, then I won’t complain.

Or, if he wants to let his feelings slip through that front of his and show that he is a human and not some over-working robot, then I’ll take that too.

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