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Nathan motions to his brother, formally introducing us. “Cole, meet Arianna, my secretary.”
“We’ve met.” Several times in passing, so what’s with all the formalities?
I remove myself from the end seat I’m sitting on and rise to my feet to take the hand Cole is holding out for me to shake. He surprises me when he leans in and taps a kiss to one of my cheeks and then the other. “I think you might be more to him than just his secretary,” he whispers out of earshot. “This is his roundabout way of getting our approval.”
What does he mean, more than just his secretary?
My face burns from embarrassment as I remember the first encounter with his brothers. I was still wearing my clothes from the night before and it’s where his brother, Max, who isn’t anywhere to be seen, handed me my panties.
World, swallow me up now.
The second time I saw them as a foursome was my first day in the boardroom where they struggled to hide their amusement at our situation.
There was nothing funny about it.
Maybe I shouldn’t be working for Hart Law. What the hell was I thinking?
“And this is Eli.” Nathan waves his hand in the direction of his other brother.
Cole lets go of my hand before Eli shakes it, copying Cole in kissing my cheeks one after the other.
Nathan and his brother proceed to say hello to everyone else.
Despite what I’ve seen and heard from my new colleagues, the Hart brothers are much nicer than I thought.
Goddamn it, could they not all be ignorant ogres?Which is what I thought they were.
“Welcome to the company, Arianna.” Eli smiles when he stands back and surveys me then drops my hand out of his.
Shaking his head with a grin, Cole claps his hands together and casts his gaze around the table. “Who wants a drink? Nathan is buying as he’s the one who dragged us here tonight.”
Nathan scowls hard, clearly unhappy with his brother for sharing that private information.
Everyone does their best to keep their sniggers under wraps but fail before they all reel off their drinks order.
“I’m not staying.” I hold my hand over the top of my glass causing a few people to disagree and beg me to stay, but I stand my ground. “I’m leaving as soon as I’ve finished my drink.” I need to create space between me and Nathan.
Nathan gives Cole his drink order, handing over his platinum credit card. “Macallan on the rocks. And nothing for the lightweight.” He points his head in my direction as if goading me.
Does he want me to stay? Surely not. I annoy him, I know I do because his irritation is tangible and bounces off him like a hot summer breeze off a stone cliff most days.
“I’ll help you at the bar, Cole.” Libby slides out of her seat and Eli follows her.
“Did I tell you about that dating app I downloaded, Libby?” Cole’s loud question can be heard over the crowd, raising a few eyebrows because out of the four brothers, Cole is quieter and comes across as a bit of a deep thinker.
I like how Cole and Libby seem close, but I shudder at the mention of dating apps.
I’ve never tried them before, but my friend Maeve is never off the damn things. She’s convinced she will find her future husband on there, and maybe I’m a skeptic, but I don’t think she will. However, she’s someone who never fails to amaze me, so she’ll probably prove me wrong.
Fascinated and slightly confused why Nathan wanted to come here combined with Cole’s comment about being“more than just his secretary,” I study Nathan’s considered movements.
Slowly, as if unsure of Nathan’s dominating presence, my work colleagues finally begin to talk amongst themselves again while Nathan unbuttons his suit jacket then loosens his tie before sliding himself next to me.
It’s unexpected and he’s too close, and yet not close enough.
I reluctantly scooch over to give him space but all that does is make him move closer to me, pressing his firm warm thigh next to mine.
Please go away.