Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 66323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66323 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 332(@200wpm)___ 265(@250wpm)___ 221(@300wpm)
Until Stella.
“You’re kidding.”
“I wish I were, but no. Just don’t make me socialize with her, okay?”
“Okay. Take a deep breath. You have nothing at all to worry about. We’re actually a really welcoming office, so I don’t know why she would treat you that way. I wish you’d said something when you came in.”
“Yeah, well, you weren’t much better, if we’re being honest.”
I narrow my eyes on her, and she just shrugs.
“You’re an intense guy, Gray.”
“Why are you two over here alone? Stop hogging the prettiest girl here,” Danny says as he interrupts us.
“We’ll continue this conversation later,” I murmur in Stella’s ear before she clasps arms with Danny, and they walk over to the bar.
I join Brandon at our table and sigh as I take my seat.
“Have you ever heard of Mrs. Hadfield being rude to a client or anyone who comes into the office?” I ask him.
“Not that I recall,” he says with a frown. “Why?”
“Because she was rude to Stella, and I don’t know why.”
Brandon blows out a breath and shakes his head. “I know why.”
I raise a brow. “And?”
“She probably heard why Stella was coming in to see you. You know how protective Mrs. H is of everyone in the office, Gray. She probably thought Stella was a homewrecker, and the home being wrecked was mine.”
“Still, it’s unprofessional. She knows better than that.”
Before Brandon can reply, Danny and Stella return, each holding two drinks.
“We got you started,” Danny says and sets what looks like a gin and tonic in front of Brandon.
“I hope you like dirty martinis,” Stella says and offers me a glass. “That’s what I usually order, so I got you one, as well.”
“How dirty?” I ask her, and Stella’s eyes narrow in mischief.
Danny snorts.
“Pretty damn dirty,” she replies and eats the olive out of her glass, making me grin.
God, she’s something else.
Stella’s phone vibrates, and she checks it, then stows it in her purse.
“That was Liv. I’ll text her back later. Did you like the coffee I sent over?” she asks.
“You mean the coffee-flavored sugar?”
Stella’s grin doesn’t falter.
“Is that also your usual drink?”
“Yep. I didn’t know how you took your coffee, so I just sent it the way I’d drink it. Too sweet for you?”
“The gesture? Not at all. The drink? Dear God, how do you not live in a perpetual sugar coma?”
“Look at that banter,” Danny says to Brandon, not even trying to be quiet. “It’s so damn sexy.”
Stella and I laugh, still looking at each other.
“Thank you for the coffee, Stella.”
“Thank you for the flowers, Gray.”
“Flowers and coffee,” Danny says and wipes an imaginary tear from the corner of his eye. “I love having a front-row seat to this little romance.”
“Who said it’s a romance?” Stella demands.
“Who said it isn’t?” I counter.
“Touché,” Stella mutters, making the others chuckle.
“Are they—?”
“Getting McMasters to do a tequila shot?” I finish for Brandon as we watch Stella and Danny at the bar. “Affirmative.”
“They only do stuff like this when they’re together,” Brandon says, shaking his head slowly from side to side. “It’s like they just feel safe enough to let go a little and have fun when they’re together.”
“Yeah, enough to accidentally get married in Vegas.”
Brandon smiles.
“That didn’t make you mad?”
“Nah. Aside from me, Stella is D’s person. And let me tell you, Danny’s rarely had someone in his life that he trusted wholeheartedly. Now, he has the two of us, and I wouldn’t deny him that for anything. Sure, I was worried that their fun little stunt in Vegas might postpone our wedding, but aside from that, it didn’t bother me.”
“How long have they worked together?” I ask as we watch our dates laugh with McMasters.
I’ve never seen our boss laugh like that.
“They started at the same time,” Brandon replies. “So, going on five years now. They both moved up from apprenticeships to designers with their own teams. They may seem silly in their downtime, but when it comes to work, they’re both dedicated.”
Danny and Stella try to coerce McMasters onto the dance floor, but the older man just shakes his head and puts his hands up in surrender. The two of them go shake their asses without him.
To our surprise, McMasters makes his way to our table.
“I think you two brought the party with you,” he says as he sits in a chair and sighs in relief. “I don’t remember the last time I had a buzz at one of these stuffy functions.”
“I hate to remind you of this, sir, but you are the host of the aforementioned stuffy functions,” Brandon reminds him.
McMasters just laughs. “Not anymore—so long as you bring those two. What a breath of fresh air. Did you get plenty of food?”
Brandon and I simultaneously pat our stomachs, and McMasters laughs again.
“Good. I’d like to give a little speech about you two and the reason we’re here.”