“There are guys who mistake these things for single’s bars, but they usually cease and desist eventually,” I answered truthfully. I didn’t want to worry him, but I did want him to suggest that maybe someone escort me…
“Why don’t you bring a date then?” he asked, and I hesitated a beat. Okay, not quite what I was hoping for, but close.
“Because I’m not dating anyone at the moment.” I started shuffling through the papers in front me as if there were a reason for it, other than to avoid the subject of my not-very-successful dating history.
“Why not?” Braden asked crossing his arms and raising one eyebrow.
“Why not?” I gave him an appalled look. When you don’t know what to say, repeat the question and look offended. It usually works.
“What happened to the filmmaker?” Oh, shit here we go…
“I found out his most successful production to date was entitled Suzie Loves Gangbangs, Part II.”
“Wait, there’s a sequel?” Adam asked, earning him a raised eyebrow from Lily.
“How about the Green Architect who was all into sustainable energy?” Braden went on, undeterred. He could be like the Spanish Inquisition.
“He couldn’t sustain enough energy to get off the couch.”
“The i-banker from New York?”
“I” was his very favorite word. In fact, He was a poster child for narcissism. This is an interesting approach to running a staff meeting, Braden. Whose dating history should we discuss next?”
“I’m just trying to figure out why an intelligent, attractive, single woman doesn’t have a date on a Saturday night.”
“Maybe I’ll get a cat to keep me company, or ten. Could we discuss something business related now?”
“This is business related. You represent this organization at these events and it sounds like you’re being harassed. I’m the Director here, and so, I’ll have to address that somehow, probably by making sure that you’re escorted.”
Hearing that, everyone shot a surreptitious glance at Mark at the same time. I shut up and looked down at the file in front of me, feeling my face heat up. That was what I had wanted him to say, but I could have done without the public reminder of what a loser I was when it came to romance. Why was nothing ever easy?
Afterward, they really did discuss business. Specifically, they discussed their caseloads. Whenever they got into the details my mind wandered. It usually wandered to Mark. I figured I cold use a mental break, so I let myself daydream about the two of us being alone in the office one night and having sex on my desk. And his desk. And my desk again. It was a long meeting.
Chapter Two
Mark
Friday 5:00 PM
Braden and Adam were in my office discussing a case after the staff meeting when he brought it up. I had been waiting because I knew it was coming.
“You’re quiet, Mark. Got something on your mind?” Braden asked and looked over at me. I was tapping a pen against my desk like a machine gun, but I hadn’t offered much to the conversation.
“He’s probably thinking about his weekend,” Adam cut in with a knowing smirk. I loved Adam like a brother, but I swear, there were times I wanted to beat the shit out of him.
“Going out tonight?” Braden asked me. His tone was casual, but that didn’t mean anything. I could see the set of his jaw, and I had a feeling that I knew what was on his mind.
“Yeah, probably.” I looked out the window at the building across the street. “I’ll hit Happy Hour at the pub with you first, though.” There was a moment of silence and I glanced back at Braden. He just nodded.
“I was wondering if I could ask you a favor.” I waited for it; three, two, one… “Would you mind going with Beth to that fundraiser tomorrow?”
“You want me to go with her?” I tugged at my collar. Suddenly, my tie felt too tight, and had somebody turned up the heat in here? Adam looked amused. What a shocker. He knew that I had been going nuts trying to curb my desire for Braden’s younger sister.
“Yeah, I mean, I would go, but Gabrielle and I have plans, and so do you and Lily I assume?” he asked Adam.
“Uh, yeah.” Adam laughed. “I would guess that Cam and Jess do too.”
“I’m not letting Bruce go as Joan Crawford, but he and Jason probably have plans anyway,” Braden added. “You’re the last single guy Mark.”
“I thought maybe you wouldn’t feel comfortable with me going with her.” I had no idea how to handle this. Braden was really protective of Beth, and even though I’m sure that he could see how much I wanted her, we had never openly discussed it. It was becoming one big-ass elephant in the room.