Read One White Lie: Barrington Billionaire's Series: Book One for Free Online Page B

caught doing something stupid like pulling the plug.”
    Don’t think that didn’t cross my mind. “I’m not quite that bad. At least not today.”
    “Since Zoey was able to pry you away from your lab, want to go to the pub and grab a beer?”
    “Not today, Dean, but soon. There is something that still needs my attention at my lab.” My lab? Fuck it. After a day like today, I’m not accomplishing shit in there. But there’s something at the office that can’t wait any longer.
    Lena found herself totally relaxed the entire time Brice was out of the office, not needing to be prepared for him to round the corner and get her pulse racing. It should be like this every day. For the first time since she started the job earlier that week, she was able to concentrate solely on the task at hand. Amazing what I can do when you’re not here.
    There was only an hour left until finishing time. As she sat typing, completing the final daily entries, she sensed someone watching her. Spinning in her office chair she found Brice standing there, watching her, not saying a word. “Bri . . . Mr. Henderson, I thought you weren’t returning to the office today.”
    “Plans changed.” He didn’t move past her to his office. Instead, he stood still watching her.
    She wanted to say something sarcastic, but there was a look in his eyes that she hadn’t seen before. Lena couldn’t pinpoint it. It didn’t look like sadness, but something close. Had something happened with Zoey? She was the call he received before leaving so abruptly. Whatever it was, she could see it was troubling him. “Why don’t you go to your office, and I’ll bring you some coffee.” Even that is more than I should be doing. Don’t ask anything personal. That door slammed shut long ago, and don’t you open it again, Lena.
    Brice nodded and did as she suggested. Only when she found herself alone again did she realize how tense she had become. Every nerve was on edge. Damn you, Brice. I don’t want to want you. Pushing away from her desk, she rose and went to get his coffee. Why did I offer? She knew why. It was because no matter how much she said otherwise, she still cared about him. He had been after all, a man she’d loved very much. Was it wrong for her to be kind to him now? Wrong, no. Stupid, most definitely. It was too late to take back the words now. He was probably sitting there wondering what was taking her so long. Making his coffee, one cream and two sugars, like he always had it, she headed for his office.
    Go in, put it down, and get out. Don’t look at him. That little pep talk she gave herself flew out the window when she saw him half-sitting on the edge of his desk, facing her and holding a glass of what looked like bourbon in his hand. Lena had never seen him drink during the day before. Whatever was troubling him earlier was still on his mind.
    “Is everything okay?” She hadn’t meant to let the question leave her lips. He didn’t answer, only continued to stare at her for another moment before downing his drink. His eyes softened to almost a crystal blue. When she looked into them it was as if she were looking into the ocean, causing waves of emotion to come crashing within her. Lena walked over and handed him his coffee. “Try this.”
    Brice reached out and took it from her, setting the coffee mug on his desk. “That’s not going to cut it today.”
    She searched his eyes for answers but found none. As if she hadn’t made enough mistakes already, Lena stepped closer and touched his left shoulder tenderly, trying to offer some form of comfort.
    Brice reacted, grabbing her wrist fiercely and pulling her up against him. His nostrils flared, and his eyes darkened as they met hers. Lena opened her mouth to protest, but she instantly forgot what she was going to say as his mouth captured hers. His mouth was hot and tasted of bourbon as his tongue traced hers. Stop; don’t do this. I can’t. She pleaded internally for it to end,