Page 79 of The Holiday Clause

She pushed him away. “It’s compensation for your work—“ Her phone rang, cutting off her words. She rummaged inside her tote bag, but didn’t give up. “You’re making a big deal out of a totally normal practice.”

“You gonna get your phone?”

“I’m trying,” she snapped. The ringing stopped just as she withdrew the phone. She glanced at the screen and frowned.

“Who called?”

“No one.”

“You’re not gonna tell me?”

She scowled at him. “It’s none of your business.”

“Why so secretive?”

“Why so nosy?”

The phone started ringing again, and she silenced it. She tried to drop it back into her bag, but Greyson snatched it out of her hand and held it above her head.

“Greyson!”

“No more talk about checks.”

“Give me my phone.”

“Say you’ll drop the issue with the checks and I’ll give you the phone.”

“This is so stupid.”

“Agree to drop it.”

“Fine,” she snapped. “I’ll drop it for now, but next time you work for me, I’m paying you in cash.”

He’d see about that. He lowered his arm and stilled—grip tightening around the phone as the screen showed two missed calls from his brother. It lit up again, vibrating with another call. “Why is Soren calling you?”

She yanked her phone out of his hand and sent the call to voicemail. “People call me all the time.”

Not Soren. If they wanted to talk to Wren, it was a general habit that they just stopped by. Which reminded him... “How did the date go?”

She pursed her lips. “Really?”

He shrugged. “Why not?” They could talk about this. It probably seemed good that they did. Keep things real. “Did you have fun?”

“We’re not doing this.”

She put on her coat. Her phone vibrated in her bag. “Sounds like Soren left you a few voicemails.”

She ignored him and buttoned a jacket he didn’t recognize. What happened to the flannel he gave her?

“Are you going to check your messages?”

“Later.”

More vibrating. What could his brother possibly have to talk to her about that required another phone call?

Sorry it didn’t work out. Let’s still be friends.

She’d gone out with Logan, too, but for some reason, that didn’t bother him as much as the idea of her on a date with Soren.