Page 31

ARI
The Golden Spirit, the bar Joseph invited me to, is filled to the rafters, but lucky for us, several of my new colleagues have arrived already, securing a large circular booth for us all to sit around.
On arrival, Joseph introduced me to everyone, and within minutes I was laughing, which instantly made me feel like part of the team but also dreadful. I should stay away from them all because I can’t be their friend, and I don’t even know what made me say yes to coming here tonight.
“Incoming,” Joseph says, peering over his glass, dropping his mouth to the lip of it.
I follow his gaze and quickly realizewhohe is referring to.
Nathan.Alongside two of his brothers.
They look like they just stepped off a photoshoot.
Collectively they are handsome, but for me Nathan is devastatingly, pantie-soaking gorgeous and all day I’ve found it difficult to tear my eyes off him. Specifically, his strong hands that expertly typed on his computer keyboard, which had me imagining what it would be like to feel them running over every inch of my skin again.
The same feeling I get when he’s close by flutters low in my belly. It’s like a mix of jumping beans and butterflies, and who the hell knows what it is, but it’s something.
Nothing.
It’s nice.
No, it’s not, it’s awful.
Why is my body betraying me?
Why him?
“Prepare yourselves.” Libby, who is our law librarian, speaks up, causing some groans and a ripple of bodies to shift restlessly around the table.
“Joseph.” Nathan greets him with a curt nod.
Just the sound of his voice has my mouth turning drier than sandpaper and I have to lick my lips to wet them. He’s just so… hot.
Ridiculously so.
“Good evening, Mr. Hart,” Joseph replies.
“Call me Nathan from now on,please, Joseph,” he says in his usual smooth and steady voice, but there’s a warmth about it this evening.
The extra emphasis on thepleasehas me stifling a chuckle.Maybe he paid attention to my lesson in manners from earlier.
Joseph nods to acknowledge his instruction, but I can tell by the way he scratches the back of his head, brows pinching together, he’s as confused as everyone else around the table.
Nathan is being… nice.
“Arianna,” Nathan addresses me next, and I feel his stare all the way down to my core, the heat growing there making me feel both aroused and irritated.
Mainly irritated. And, okay, I can admit that I’m attracted to him, but between his gravelly voice and devilishly handsome face, it’s difficult not to be.
“Ah-ha, it all makes sense as to why we are here now,” Cole says, as if amused, rocking back on his heels.
He’s much cheerier than the other three brothers and roguish looking too. Handsome though; there’s no escaping how handsome they all are.
But Nathan’s chiseled jaw and ocean eyes give him a mysterious edge I seem to have a thing for.
This new infatuation I have with him is getting out of hand.
And what does Cole mean?