Chapter Twenty Six #2
Whitley Industries had a legal team that was almost unparalleled in the corporate world, so we didn't need to externalize this. I took out my phone, moving back inside while emailing the head of the legal department. He answered right away, saying he’d have everything ready for us tomorrow morning.
Then I noticed an email from my lead scientist and immediately answered it.
ZOEY
Today was absolutely perfect. “Can you take a picture of me and Ben?" I asked Gabe because he was closest. We were sitting a bit away from the group, in the sun. It was too chilly anyway. Spencer had set up heaters in the yard, but we’d probably move inside soon.
“Sure.”
I wasn't going to give Ben away at all today. He was mine. I couldn't stop kissing him. He was such a cute baby.
Gabe snapped a picture of me, and I immediately sent it to my parents, my brothers, and Tom, who replied first.
Tom: Hey, you've been holding out on me. You didn't tell me you were a baby person.
Zoey: I didn't know that either.
Up until now, I hadn't had a chance to be around babies at all.
Tom: Just a heads-up. I might ask you to babysit.
Zoey: I was going to offer anyway.
After I put my phone in my pocket, Gabe asked, "Well, where's Colton?"
I looked through the enormous window that peeked into the living room. "He's at the table, and he's got his work frown on."
"Is anything wrong?"
"He's a bit on edge," I said. And then the words tumbled out of me without my permission. "I think his mentor made him feel like he wasn't advancing the next breakthrough quick enough."
Gabe jerked his head back. "What?"
"He said that compared to previous projects, this was moving slower."
"That's because my brother has killed himself for years, basically working around the clock," Gabe exclaimed.
"I know. Colton says he's not paying any attention to Browning, but I don't know. He seems more stressed than usual."
"Do you think he's trying to revert to his grump self?"
"I'm not going to allow that."
"Good for you," Gabe said, clearly completely unhappy with Browning.
Ben began to fuss. I wondered if he could feel my turmoil.
"Hey, I can try holding him," Gabe said. It was really cute how eager the brothers were to take him.
"Sure, let's try," I said.
I transferred him to Gabe, and this time he seemed content to stay in his uncle's arms. I felt a little pang of jealousy. How was that even possible?
"I'm going to get another slice of pizza," I said. I’d had a few, but I wanted to eat one more. Besides, Meredith, Natalie, and Penny were at the pizza table, too, and I wanted to chat with them.
"Hey, we were wondering if you want another slice," Penny said. "It's just these four left. We should have ordered more."
"No, everyone is full," Meredith assured her.
"If we get hungry, we can always order some more later.
And by the way," she said, glancing at Natalie, who just nodded at her, "we just wanted to give you a heads-up.
Jeannie has been mentioning the word wedding a lot.
Don't be surprised if she mentions it to you as well. "
My jaw dropped.
"I told you we were going to shock her," Natalie said.
"Yep, you were right," Meredith agreed. "We should have eased her into it."
"Wedding? But Colton and I…"
"We know. And she knows, but Jeannie has a logic of her own. We just didn't want you to get blindsided by her," Natalie said.
"You did well," I said. "It's always better to be blindsided by…you."
Penny laughed. "I like that you take everything in stride."
I liked them too. They were easygoing and clearly loved their men a hell of a lot. I glanced over my shoulder, but I couldn't see Colton anymore.
"Where did Colton go?" I asked.
"He asked me earlier if he could use Spencer's office. I think his lead scientist wrote to him. You can go up. It’s on the second floor, next to the nursery.”
"Thanks. Are you sure it's okay if I just wander through the house?"
"Please, we have nothing to hide."
"Hmm. Let's see if I can get him back out here with the family," I said, sauntering inside.
I went directly upstairs. I truly liked this home. It was decorated nicely, in shades of white and gray; it looked very minimalistic and still welcoming. The nursery was the exception. I peeked inside, and my heart just felt happy. It was full of colors and toys.
Then I walked in the room next to it. Colton was talking on his phone. The camera was on.
I didn't want to bother him, so I just waited by the door, but the lead scientist clearly noticed me, because he said, "I think Zoey needs to talk to you.”
Oh crap. We hadn't made anything official at the office, though I wasn’t interested in hiding it.
Since I didn't actually work at Whitley Biotech, I didn't much care what the team thought about me. Colton had made progress faster than I anticipated, so I was certain I wouldn’t be staying on for much longer.
Colton looked over his shoulder, and his expression immediately transformed. "Right, yeah. Okay. We'll catch up later," he said.
"Look, you really don't have to come by today."
"I know, but we’re going to make more headway if we do this together."
"All right."
He disconnected the call before turning around to me. I stepped inside, closing the door.
"I’ve come to whisk you away," I informed him. "The day is gorgeous, and you can’t be cooped inside here."
"I was going to join you anyway," he said. Then he motioned with his finger for me to approach him, which I did. I went right in front of him, then decided to sit in his lap. I opened my legs wide, positioning myself right over his crotch. He groaned.
“Everything okay? Gabe is a bit worried that you’ll give in to your workaholic tendencies again."
He shook his head.
"Something's on your mind," I said.
"My mentor was right," he replied.
My breath froze in my lungs. "What do you mean?"
"Usually, at this stage in the research, I would have been much further along in the process."
"Colton, this isn't a linear thing. Research is research. Two steps forward, one step back, and so on."
He nodded. "Yeah, only we've usually already done the two steps forward by this time. And now we've just done one. This needs more of my attention.”
I couldn't help the small ball of anxiety forming at the base of my throat.
"Colton, you need to go easy on yourself. Let me spoil you," I murmured, leaning forward and nibbling at his ear before kissing down the right side of his neck. Then I moved to the left side, giving it the same treatment.
He groaned, placing his hands on the middle of my back and moving them slowly upward toward my shoulders. "You’re making a great case."
"I know, right?" I teased even though I was feeling a bit uneasy.
His mentor was getting in his head. Still, I wasn’t going to let him think I was a distraction. I mean, I was, but I was convinced that he needed it.
"Now look what you've done," I said.
He laughed. "What did I do?"
"I came here, just intending to convince you to come downstairs, and now I find myself seducing you."
"You find yourself," he teased right back. "You don't have a say in this?"
"Not when it comes to you. I see my sexy man and hormones take over my neurons."
I straightened up a bit, pulling back until my ass nearly touched his knees. "We’re in Spencer's office. We can’t get down and dirty here."
He wiggled his eyebrows. "We can."
"No, no, no. Damn it, don't tempt me."
He laughed. "You’re all over the place, baby. You were the one tempting me."
"I told you, you make me lose my head."
I got up clumsily, smoothing my hands over my sweater and my jeans, as if that would solve anything.
"Come on. Let's go downstairs," I said.
He rose from the chair, taking my hand. Then he pinched my ass with both hands as we left the room.
I tried not to look too guilty as we joined the others outside. What was I thinking, climbing him in Spencer's house? The man was just far too irresistible.
We spent another hour with the group. The guys agreed to meet tomorrow morning to sign all the documents. I was impressed with the legal team’s speed.
We were the first to leave later in the afternoon. Colton wanted to head to the lab.
"Hey, if you want, I can take a cab," I said.
"No, I'm dropping you off, babe."
"I'm meeting Tom downtown."
"Then I'll drop you off there."
“Thanks,” I said with a big smile as we got in the car.
The drive only took fifteen minutes. Tom was waiting for me in front of the bar on Exeter Street.
"How long do you think you're going to stay at the office? " I asked Colton as the car slowed down.
"I'm not sure. Pretty late, I think."
"Call me if you think you'll make it in time for dinner."
“I’ll call you either way, so you don’t wait up for me.”
He nodded, but I could tell he was already thinking about work. I kissed his lips before I got out of the car. Then, biting my lip, I added, "Colton?"
"Yeah?"
"I can deal with a workaholic boyfriend, but not one who ghosts me, okay?"
His brows narrowed. "What are you talking about? I'm not ghosting you."
"Good, because I would not have it," I said, flashing him a smile before walking away.
I couldn't wait until this evening. I was going to spoil him rotten.