Dr. D Spills the Tea

Inconvenience

“Mr. Blackwell said to call in case things got bad so I just—”

“I’m sorry, who is this?” It was a blessing that Brent had his headphones hooked to his phone for music while doing reps otherwise he would’ve missed the call.

“Audrey, the intern.” She sounded out of sorts. Brent couldn’t figure out why Theo Blackwell would give my number to his intern, not until she said, “I’m with Diana at her office and George—”

That was all she’d had to say to get his full attention.

Hailing a cab was fast and, thankfully, he was only a couple blocks from the Whittiker office. With a light sweat going from his warmup, he’d just had his pre-workout shake and felt about ready to knock Diana’s ex straight through some drywall if need be.

“Hello, sir? Can I help—”

The secretary looked familiar and, after her eyes raked over him, she seemed to recognize him from their last awkward meeting. He could ask her for the general direction of Diana’s office but thought better of it, moving down the hallway, eyes flickering over the door plaques.

Only one was missing.

Pushing the door open, he found the problem seated at the desk.

Diana’s desk, Brent was willing to wager. Or what had been hers, were she still employed here.

“What the hell?” George Whittiker snapped, expression shifting to one of mute rage. Glancing around, there was a shattered picture frame and a few binders and papers sprawled across the ground as if someone had raked their arm over the desk, knocking them to the ground.

A tremor of anger rolled down his spine, causing his fist to clench.

Had he trashed the place? Did he threaten her?

“She’s not here,” George stated, gesturing to the chaos. “Obviously.”

Clenching his jaw, Brent glared down his nose at the man.

The fool.

Mistreating Diana, cheating on her, humiliating her, and now this? He’d unconsciously taken a threatening step forward, into the doorway of the room, and for just a moment, he thought about putting his hands on the man. Giving him a good knock to the head in front of his slutty little secretary—

“There you are.”

The tug at his hand was gentle and, turning, Brent was surprised when a box landed in his arms, familiar dark eyes gazing up at him, small smile on her full lips. “Sweet Cheeks.” It was an automatic statement, a breath of pure relief.

She was fine.

His eyes swept over her.

Damn, with her figure, she always looked fine.

“You’ll carry this for me, won’t you?”

Touching his arm, staring up at him through her lashes, he felt all the tension leave his shoulders and, despite the confusion he felt about the current situation, he couldn’t help but grin.

. . .

Diana’s POV

“Are you timing him?”

Audrey was smiling, her drink still in hand as I stood there next to her, my small box of belongings tucked under my arm, eyes stuck to my watch.

Of course I was timing him.

I wanted to know just how close his hotel was to the Whittiker office. Heck, I wondered if Theo had handpicked the room for him.

“Oh my God, is that him?”

Seven minutes.

The cab pulled in front of the building and out he stepped, dressed in sweat shorts and a t-shirt that didn’t hide a damn thing, baseball cap just accentuating the fact that he hadn’t planned on being called at all. He’d must’ve been hitting the gym when he answered the call.

There was zero hesitation in his gait as he entered the office building.

Only a seven-minute response time.

“Ah, he went in!” Excited, smile wide, Audrey seemed to enjoy all the drama.

“Wow,” I mumbled, turning off my timer. “He actually came.”

Audrey tsked. “Well, of course. Heck, he dropped everything and ran here.”

That he did.

I thought about how tense his shoulders had been, how he’d adjusted his hat—I’d only ever seen Brent Holdings angry once before but I recognized the warning signs. “Wait here,” I said, walking quickly toward the office building, aware that things could get sticky, particularly between two big time lawyers with bad blood.

Victoria stood up when I walked into the front lobby but I didn’t mind her, moving straight for Brent who was standing in the doorway of my office, looking more fierce than I thought possible for the easy-going jock I’d once tutored. When he took a step forward, I reached for his hand, giving a small tug. “There you are.” My smile felt tight but only because, in my periphery I had seen George. Seated at my desk. In the middle of an obvious mess.

It was clear the pig had thrown a tantrum in my absence.

Slapping my box of supplies into Brent’s capable hands, I watched his eyes widen.

“Sweet Cheeks.”

He’d said it so softly and the relief that flooded his features left me with a pang of guilt.

Clearly, that phone call was a bad decision. I’d made him worry over nothing.

“You’ll carry this for me, won’t you?” I pressed, putting my hand on his arm, giving a gentle tug back toward the exit. Brent was grinning but, in my periphery, I could see that George had stood up and had no doubt that he planned on approaching us.

Shifting the box with ease onto one hand, holding it at his shoulder now, I tried not to notice the bulge of his bicep at the motion. Even if he wasn’t on the field anymore, it was obvious he’d maintained his physical training schedule. “Blackwell’s intern sounded upset.” His eyes flickered back to George who’d crept closer, making him hesitate with a narrowed look. “Did something happen?”

“I just needed someone to carry my things,” I lied, tugging at his arm to go.

“He calls you Sweet Cheeks?” the question was filled with annoyance.

Brent’s smile came back, easy going once more. He ignored George, letting me lead him to the exit. “Have you had breakfast, Sweets?”

“I had coffee,” I said, ignoring Victoria’s scathing gaze as we passed. She’d probably noticed how Brent’s hand pressed to my upper back, the way he’d tried to put his body directly between us. The stance he’d taken was protective and, surprisingly, his presence had been enough to stifle any complaints from the pig behind us.

“That’s not breakfast.” Leading me into the elevator, I found myself glancing up at him, recalling being in the same place earlier—only then I had been in tears. “You’re going to have to take better care of yourself when you’re working with me, Diana.”

“I believe having sick days and health insurance is a part of our agreement,” I stated plainly, raising a challenging brow.

He chuckled. “Yes, but as your future partner, I need you healthy and vibrant.”

I knew he was talking about becoming partner in the practice but the way he’d said it could easily be misconstrued by the people around us. “Coffee is what gives me my vibrant glow,” I argued.

“I thought it was just the melanin.” He was smiling at me. I could see it in the reflection of the elevator. He’d been like this in the past too. Quick witted, bold, and, I thought as I peeked at him from the corner of her eye, a natural flirt.

After a pause, I changed the subject. “Aren’t you mad?”

“About what?”

“Well,” I said, clearing my throat. “The call.”

Brent gave a light shrug. “I remember giving you my number, Sweets.” Gazing up at him, I took in the cut of his jaw, the quirk of his brow. “If you wanted to go to breakfast with me, you didn’t have to make up an emergency. All you had to do was ask.” The smirk he wore was playful but I still felt a bit flustered by the accusation.

That wasn’t why I’d had Audrey call him.

I wasn’t actually sure why I’d had her call him.

Honestly, I hadn’t thought he’d show up.

“That’s wasn’t why—”

“And I could have at least dressed for it,” he cut me off, glancing down at himself.

“You look nice,” I admitted. Brent was the type to look good in anything. “Even if you are sweaty.” I had to add that in there just so he didn’t go getting too big of a head.

“Thanks, I think.” He pulled at his shirt. Was he self-conscious? Watching him, I wondered if a guy like Brent could get self-conscious. Noticing my gaze, he frowned which was an odd expression for him to wear. “I was at the hotel gym when I was called away for a fake emergency.”

“It was an emergency,” I lied, gesturing the box in his hand. “That was too heavy.”

“Mhm.” He wasn’t buying it.

I'd be concerned if he did.

Averting my eyes, I kept my tone curt, sticking to the point, “I apologize for any inconvenience my emergency may have caused you.”

“Diana.” I felt his eyes on me, waiting patiently for me to respond, and swallowing my nerves, I finally lifted my chin to look at him. “As my future partner,” he said, offering one of those triple watt smiles that got him into a lot of trouble back in college, “I give you full permission to inconvenience me.”

Full permission.

Giving a slight nod, I tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear, facing forward.

I should say something to ease the tension. c***k a joke or say something snarky.

I didn’t.

Couldn’t.

Biting my cheek, I wondered why my mind had just gone completely blank.