“She was asleep in here again, wasn’t she?”
“No?”
He shrugged. “It’s fine. I’m not mad at her for sleeping in the office. I’m mad that she won’t leave her asshole boyfriend who kicks her out of their apartment all the time.”
“She’s old enough to live with her boyfriend? I thought she was a kid.”
“She’s eighteen.” He rubbed his hand down his face. “Still a kid if you ask me, but her mom doesn’t think so.”
I frowned and scooped up the last of the papers on the floor. “He just kicks her out?”
Blake sighed heavily and shrugged. “I guess so. She won’t really talk to me about it much. She’s afraid I’ll kill her boyfriend. It’s a valid fear.”
I followed him as he walked into his office, lost in the conversation. “Speaking as someone who went through a long line of asshole boyfriends, she won’t leave him until she’s good and done with him. Even if that means she gets her feelings annihilated in the process.”
He’d paused in the middle of his office and I bumped straight into his back. “You cleaned.”
I straightened myself and cringed. I was an idiot. “No, I just dusted a bit.”
He turned to face me and tilted his head. “You don’t have to clean. Or cover for Hannah. Or date me if you don’t want to. I don’t want you doing anything that makes you uncomfortable or seems out of the job description.”
“I know.” I bit my upper lip, an unattractive tick I had when feeling nervous. “I just had the time and was waiting around on your computer to boot up, so I dusted. It’s nothing.”
He looked my face over like he was trying to make sense of something. “Vicki’s going to come in this afternoon for a few minutes and walk you through the job. I don’t think you’ll have any trouble with anything.”
I nodded and backed away. “Great! I’m just going to finish these scans, I guess.”
“You can keep using my desk. I’m going out to the shop to check on things. I’ll be back in a while.” Walking towards me, he gently put his hand on my arm and then scooted around me. “No more cleaning, Mallory.”
I let out a big breath as soon as he left and sank into one of his office chairs. Being around him wasn’t easy. He looked so much like Isaac and Julian, but there was something so uniquely him that it threw me off. My body didn’t know what to feel and my brain didn’t know what to think. There was a tension between us that I didn’t understand. How could I have that same tension with two different men at the same time?
I rolled my eyes at myself. Of course, it was possible. People slept with more than one person at the same time. Or, not at the same time, I thought with a blush. Stupid. I was no virgin, but there I was, feeling giggly and red-faced over a set of brothers that I had no business being near.
Shaking off the distraction, I focused on working. I’d just finished organizing the last file on Blake’s desk when he strolled back in and joined me.
“Carry on. I just have to grab something.”
I stood up as he was speaking and ended up blocking us both in behind his desk. “Oh, sorry. I’d just finished. I’ll just scoot past.”
He leaned into the closet behind his desk and grabbed a shirt. I tried to squeeze past him, but my ass definitely rubbed across his hip as I moved by. His answering swear and sharp intake of breath sent me scrambling to the other side of the office.
“Sorry! Jesus, I’m a mess. I didn’t mean to do that, I promise.” I groaned and shook my head. “I’m pretty sure you could sue me for sexual harassment at this point.”
He moved towards me, his big body graceful. He almost looked like a lion stalking its prey. “I’m going to say this one time and one time only.”
I held my breath as he stopped right in front of me and rested his hands on my shoulders.
“You don’t ever need to apologize for rubbing your body against me. It’s never going to be unwelcomed.” He stroked his hand up and cupped my neck. “And if anyone is getting sued here, it’s me, because I shouldn’t be touching you.”
My stomach fluttered and my heart sped up. I licked my lips and shook my head, trying to make myself think. “I’m not going to sue you.”
Stepping closer, Blake ran his thumb over the base of my throat. “I need to get out of here.”
I looked up at him and nodded. “I should get to work, too.”
Even closer, he settled his other hand on my hip and leaned into me. “I lied earlier.”
I swayed into him and braced myself with my hands on his chest. “When?”
“I liked your singing.”
“Blake! I’m here! Did Mallory tell you I had my period?” Hannah’s voice called through the office loudly. “Hey! Where’s my pile?”
Sighing, Blake stepped away from me and smiled. “Sounds like you might be in trouble.”
I blew out a shaky breath and nodded. “I’d fucking say.”