Taking What's His (Shillings Agency 4)

“Better now,” Cooper said. If possible, he brightened up even more at the mention of their upcoming wedding. Around her, Cooper seemed like a totally different dude. “Did you find the dress?”

“The likelihood of that happening on the first try is one in eight,” Kayla said, a soft smile on her face.

Cooper nodded. “So you found it?”

“I totally did.” Kayla’s face glowed beautifully as she turned his way. “Hi, Holt. Gordon.”

“Hi,” Holt said, shoving his hands in his pockets.

Gordon cleared his throat, watching the two of them with his fists tight at his sides. For the first time ever, he could sympathize with the feeling. He wasn’t sure why, but he could. “I’ll leave you guys alone.”

“Me, too,” Holt said quickly, following Gordon’s lead.

“Building five,” Cooper called out. As the door shut behind them, Holt heard him say, “Lock the door.”

The door lock latched, and Holt looked at Gordon. The other man shrugged back at him. “Don’t blame him. If I had someone like her here, I’d lock my fucking door, too. Speaking of which, I heard you met someone last night. Who is she?”

Shit, news travelled fast around here. “No one you’ll ever meet.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m not looking for someone who meets my friends.” Holt stared him down. “We talked about this last night. Were you listening to me at all?”

“Every word.” Gordon shrugged and checked his phone. “But that was before you met her. Sometimes when you meet someone, the right someone, that all changes.”

“Uh…” Holt leveled a look on Gordon, the weight of the other man’s words sinking to the bottom of his stomach like an anvil for some unknown reason. Gordon’s ink seemed to stand out more today, because he was pale. Apparently, this princess of his had really fucked with his head. Another reason Holt didn’t want anything to do with love. “Not happening to me. But is that what happened to you and your princess?”

“Yeah, but it doesn’t matter. She’s gone now.”

And with that, Gordon walked off, his shoulders stiff.

That’s what love did to a man. It made him miserable. Why anyone would ever willingly put himself through that shit was beyond him. Cooper laughed in his office, and Kayla joined in. They sound pretty happy to me, whispered a small voice in the back of his head. Holt ignored it, shrugged, and headed for building five.

He had work to do.

Chapter Six

Lydia tilted her head back and stared at the high ceiling of the ballroom, ignoring, for the moment, the crowd surrounding her. A crystal chandelier hung in the center of the ceiling, but it wasn’t actually centered. Whoever had hung it must’ve been drunk or dizzy, because it was at least two feet too far to the left. It bugged her.

Almost as much as it bugged her to be where she currently was.

Steven had begged for her to come out to eat with him, since his heart had been “broken,” and she’d agreed. She’d dressed up, as requested, and met him by her door at six o’clock sharp—only to be told upon arrival that the “dinner” was actually a work event. Her initial reaction hadn’t just been no. It had been a hell no. She couldn’t risk running into Holt. Not after last night.

But then Steven had gone on to say how he’d broken up with Heather, and Lauren wasn’t available. He’d already responded with a plus one, and his buddy Holt wouldn’t be there to distract him either, and he needed her to come so badly. And since her reason for not going, AKA Holt, wasn’t a factor…she’d agreed.

Of course, now she regretted it.

He might not be there, or be planning on coming, but it didn’t stop her from staring at the door every time someone came inside wearing a black suit. Or from having a mini-heart attack every time she heard his name. Which was a lot. Too much.

When she looked over her shoulder for the millionth time, Steven sighed. “Relax, Lyd,” he said, resting his hand on her upper back. “There’s nothing to be so wound up about. You’ve been to these things before.”

Yeah. He had no idea why she was worked up, and he never would. “I’m not wound up. I’m just watching everything and everyone.”

“Tell that to the poor sugar packet you mangled.”

She glanced down at the pink packet on the table in front of her. He was right. She’d totally butchered it. “It had it coming.”

“Oh yeah?” he asked, cocking a brow.