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I can’t help the laugh that escapes as I pat his arm. “She can be a handful. It’s worse for you since Savannah has always strived to prove herself in the male-dominated tech industry.”
He sighs. “I get it. The girl is insanely talented and smart. She needs to dial back the aggressiveness and accept a compliment when I give it to her.”
As we step through Will’s office door, I laugh again. “Good luck with that. The last time I complimented her, she turned red and ran out the door.” Will looks up from his laptop, his face transforming from aggravated to pure happiness in mere seconds.
“Hey, goddess.” Shoving his chair back, he gets to his feet, striding toward me with muscles flexing beneath his suit as he moves. “This is a pleasant surprise.”
Goddamn, this man is gorgeous in a suit.
Enfolding me in his arms, he pulls me into his embrace, the scent of woods and spice enveloping me, calming all my inner turmoil.
“Hey, handsome.” Pressing my lips against his, I taste the coffee on his tongue, awakening my taste buds. Wrapping my arms around him, I forget about Bryan, focused only on the man in front of me.
The one who owns my heart and soul.
“I thought I’d surprise you and bring you coffee and pastries.” Tearing my eyes away from his penetrating blue orbs, I nod toward Bryan, who is opening the pastries, not paying any attention to us. “Bryan, too.”
“Ah. A sweet surprise. Although, you are by far the sweetest surprise.” He kisses me again before pulling back. Grabbing my hand, he leads me toward the coffees and pastries Bryan set on the round conference table in Will’s office.
My heart flutters in my chest at his words. He has a way of making me come undone at every turn.
Bryan sits down at the table, taking a drink of his coffee. His eyes twinkle as he looks from me to Will. “I’m just glad she’s here. Now you won’t act like a bear with a sore asshole.”
A loud burst of laughter comes from me as Will glares at him. “I’m not that bad, jackass.”
Bryan snorts. “You’re right. You’re worse.”
Will punches him in the arm, laughing. “Whatever, fucker. You’re used to dealing with me.” Grabbing my coffee, he hands it to me, then pulls out the chair across from Bryan, gesturing for me to sit down. Once I’m settled, he pushes the chair in, then pulls out the chair between me and Bryan, dropping his lean body into it. “I’m about to make your day far worse.”
Bryan pauses with the chocolate croissant halfway to his lips. “Worse, how?”
Will glances at me, then turns his attention toward Bryan. He grabs his coffee, leaning back in his chair, crossing his ankle over his knee. “Well, I needed to fill a position in the IT department. Someone knowledgeable about networks and good at preventing hacking attempts.”
Bryan’s shoulders tense, and he grabs a napkin, setting his pastry on it. Running a hand through his hair, he glares daggers at Will. “Please don’t say who I think you’re going to say.”
Will smirks, staring at him, not the least bit intimidated by the anger creeping over Bryan’s face. “Savannah has accepted. She starts—”
“Son of a bitch.” Bryan’s hand slams down on the table so hard that his pastry nearly bounces off the napkin. “Do you fucking enjoy torturing me? Isn’t it bad enough that she and I work together outside the office? Now I have to be tortured by her all damned day?” His hand wraps around his coffee cup, squeezing it until some sloshes out of the top. “She’s high-strung and gets pissed easily. She’ll be at my throat all day.”
“Possibly. But you need to figure it out because you’ll be getting her up to speed—”
“Fuck that.” Bryan jumps to his feet, hands going to his hips. Turning to me, he says, “I apologize, Everleigh. I know she’s your best friend, but she’s insufferable around me.” His breath heaves out of his lungs, his face red. He starts to pace back and forth. “I know she has impressive skills, Will. So do other people. And they wouldn’t piss me off and challenge me at every turn.”
Will is not at all ruffled by Bryan’s behavior or anger. “I know you and Savannah have had your differences, Bry.”
“Had our differences!” Bryan stops pacing, spinning around and pinning Will with a look. “You’ve personally witnessed how we argue and fight over the slightest things. And now you want me to work with her?”
Will smooths his tie as he uncrosses his leg, pushing his chair back and getting to his feet. He walks over to Bryan, his demeanor relaxed and his voice soothing as he says, “Listen, Bryan, you are my best friend, and my decision to hire Savannah is in no way to torture you. You know she’s the best candidate for the position. I’m confident you can handle her and find a way for the two of you to work together without constant discontentment.” His tone is placating, but I can see it’s barely breaking through Bryan’s heightened defenses.
Pushing my chair back, I stand, causing Will to turn his head toward me. I avoid looking at him, focusing on Bryan. “Listen, Bryan, I know Savannah is a handful. I knew you guys were arguing a lot, but I had no idea it was affecting you this way. I’ll talk to her.”
Bryan’s dark eyes shoot to me, mahogany from the rage that makes his hands curl into fists. He’s still not convinced anything will change.
But something has to. Savannah likely has no idea how much she’s affecting him.
Putting my hand on his arm, I gently squeeze. “Savannah comes across as overly aggressive. It’s a defense mechanism she uses to keep people from getting close to her.” My gaze flicks to Will and he nods. Focusing on Bryan, I say, “She’s had a traumatic past and unfortunately, she’s taking it out on you. You’re the first guy she’s told me she finds attractive and because of that, she’s doing everything she can to keep you at a distance.”
I can feel his corded muscles softening as his expression transforms into shock. “Yeah, I kinda heard she finds me attractive. But she sure as hell doesn’t act like it.”
