Page 4 of The Dis-Graced

I smile at Luke, who has always had the worst case of time anxiety—and this is NOT an exaggeration. He was screaming mad at thirteen because he was going to be five minutes late for a dental appointment. He totally freaked out, which is uncharacteristic of him. What kid wants to be on time for the dentist?

“You look good, sis.”

“So do you,” I say, which isn’t a lie. My brother is a total fox, which annoyed me to no end when we were growing up, and all my friends were obsessed with him. Meanwhile, I had my own fantasies at play, starring a Mr. Drake Dallanger.

I want more than anything to thank Luke. He could have just abandoned me in my time of need, and I wouldn’t have blamed him. But for some reason, the words stall in my throat, and I realize that by acknowledging his help, I have to address my shame. Something I’m utterly unprepared for.

“You’re going to love working for Drake! He’s laid back, down to earth, loads of fun!”

I smile, trying my best to hide my fear.

The lever to one of the double doors turns, opening to reveal Drake Dallanger and Elliot Conway on the other side.

“Grace, it’s good to see you,” Drake greets me.

The last time I saw him, he was a college kid about to rush a fraternity. At eighteen, he was everything my sixteen-year-old heart desired. It appears, some things never change.

“Likewise,” I say, forcing a smile.

I try not to let my eyes linger on his tight jawline or piercing blue eyes, which takes considerable effort, so I force myself to look at Elliot, who is attractive in his own right but nowhere near the level of hot Drake has reached.

Elliot gives me a wry grin that I suspect is hiding a chuckle behind it. Coming from a long line of lawyers and politicians, Elliot decided to abandon the family trade and go into the tech industry, taking a position as Dallanger Tech’s chief operations officer.

“Ah, Luke, so this is your sister you’ve been telling us so much about.” Elliot’s words are benign, but he makes no attempt to hide his condescending gaze.

My cheeks blush crimson, but there’s little I can do to defend myself. Instead, in the friendliest voice I can muster, I say, “Mr. Conway, I presume. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“I hope you enjoy your tenure here. I told Drake not to work you too hard, but I have a feeling you’ll aim to please,” he says with a wink.

At this point, my whole body goes numb, and it’s a miracle I can even stand upright.

Elliot steps from the office, walks past me, and to the elevator.

Don’t let them see you cry.

“I hope you found the accommodations to your liking,” Drake says, but the words sound as foreign as Farsi.

“I helped furnish the place myself,” Luke cuts in when I fail to respond.

I clear my throat, realizing just how disjointed I’m coming off as.

Pull yourself together, Grace. This is your last shot.

“The accommodations are more than adequate. You have my thanks.”

Drake smiles, revealing two deep-set dimples I remember from when I was just a girl dreaming of him. He steps aside, gesturing for me to enter.

I cross the threshold into his massive office. He’s a minimalist, his modern furnishings and decor each seeming to have a function, leaving a lot of open space.

“I’m sorry, Luke, but I’d like to meet with Grace on my own,” I hear Drake say from behind me.

Oh, yes, please!

But as much as I’d love for our encounter to turn from business to pleasure, with the hot water I’m in, that is NOT an option.

“Okay, I have some reports I was going to get to anyway—”

“Actually, why don’t you head back home to Amanda. You can network in if you need to.”