Page 18 of Let's Call a Truce
“You’re the one who’s kept this fight going for two years. And you’d think someone in HR would know to keep their hands to themselves.”
I sucked in a sharp breath as I realized how close we were, bodies perfectly aligned. A flush crept over my face and chest, and I tried to convince myself it was anger and not something else entirely.
We had been even closer in the club, but this felt different. There, it had been socially acceptable, if ill-advised, to be so close. I had given myself a pass for the night to act on what Iwanted without repercussions, but even then, I wouldn’t give in. And the truth, which I wouldn’t admit to anyone, was that I wanted to be close to Ben. It had taken every bit of my self-control not to go home with him.
The proximity felt forbidden and delicious in the workplace, and I fought the impulse to arch into him. His eyes held mine for a beat, fire lighting behind his as he watched the transformation. For the first time, I noticed flecks of gold intermixed with the dark brown. This close, I could smell his unique scent, some mix of fresh laundry and sandalwood, which the dominating smells of the club had overpowered. His gaze flicked down to my lips and then back up, and my stomach clenched in response. As he inched closer to me, Eduardo’s voice came from around the corner.
Both of us jumped away from each other like schoolchildren caught misbehaving, and I turned my back to where Eduardo would be in a few seconds to compose myself.
Ben looked unbothered, and I seethed that this—my future at the company—was a game that left him unaffected.
“I’m glad I caught you before you went to your offices.” He handed each of us a Post-it note. “Here is the contact for Dean Warren. Come to me with questions, but I don’t need to approve every decision you make.” He smiled before he turned back down the hall. I almost asked him to join us for an elevator ride, but despite my desperation, I couldn’t come up with a reason that made even a lick of sense.
I turned from his retreating back to find Ben’s sharp eyes already on me. “Juliana—”
“I should get back to work.” I hurried down the hallway to the elevator, body still tingling from our close contact.
“You’ll be stuck with me for at least the elevator ride. Might as well talk to me.”
I turned on my heel, heading for the stairs without a word.He may have had a point with the whole “skittish” thing, because here I was, literally running away from him.
Our interactions over the past two years had always been short. A snippy argument here and there, followed by some over-the-top trick to mess with each other, then weeks or months of nothing but glares and smirks across the auditorium. Those breaks gave me a chance to reset, to fortify myself against him. There’d be no reprieve now, and who knew what I’d get myself into with that sort of proximity.
“Really?” he called after me. “You’re that stubborn? Your office is six flights down.”
“I missed my run this morning,” I called over my shoulder. “Exercise is important.”
I threw the door to the stairs open, knowing I’d regret the walk in three-inch heels but less than I’d regret what I thought was about to happen in the hallway.
This was going to be a long couple of months.
Chapter 6
“Oh my god, I’m weak.”
Asia was laughing so hard she couldn’t get a breath in. Dani shook her head and chuckled under her breath. I loved when laughter filled my house, but it wasn’t as much fun at my expense.
The two kept me company from the kitchen table while I started the week’s meal prep. The girls were already fast asleep, and my body begged to join them. My limbs sagged, and I was losing the battle to keep my eyes open. Chopping vegetables was not the time to drift off. I wanted nothing more than to collapse on the couch after an exhausting day, but I didn’t have the luxury of downtime.
Asia wiped at her tears. “You two will kill each other before we see a single intern.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me about his promotion, you traitor.”
She held up her hands in surrender. “Again, I’m not getting in the middle of this ridiculous war. Plus, I didn’t know his promotion would affect you.”
“Besides making her spend the next three girls’ nights complaining about how he didn’t deserve it. Might I suggest, instead of all this fighting, you two bang it out so he can get over you and move on to me?” Dani wagged her eyebrows.
I choked as my wine went down the wrong tube. My cheeksburned, a response to the alcohol and nearly dying. Dani walked over and slapped me on the back, but the laughing never stopped.
“Hey, ladies!” I heard the front door close and turned to find that our fourth group member, Gabriela, had let herself in. Clara was in her class before Jason died—back when I could volunteer—and the long days of school planning and crafting had grown into an actual friendship. She had Sophie this year, and I was grateful to know she was watching out for her.
She gave each of us a kiss on the cheek before plopping down next to Dani to grab the wine I had already set out for her. “I’m so sorry I missed your birthday, Asia. I owe you a night out. What are we talking about?”
“How much Juliana wants to bone Ben,” Dani said with a smirk.
“Oh, the hot guy from work?”
“No, not the hot guy from work. Theassholefrom work.” I pointed between the Taylor sisters. “You two need to stop filling her impressionable head with your nonsense. And Dani, there will be no banging it out.”
