Taking What's His (Entangled Brazen)

by Diane Alberts

  “I have a new assignment for you.”

  “Okay.” Holt sat down in the chair across from Cooper, who looked at him with bright green eyes. ”Where am I going?”

  “There’s a problem with the system in building five. It’s a fucking mess.” Cooper dragged his hands down his face and sighed. “I need you to go over there and fix it ASAP, before my dad comes this afternoon. He’s been in panic mode over all the technical changes I’ve made around here, and I don’t want to give him more reason to dig his heels in.”

  Holt stood. “On it.”

  “Oh, I have a question, too.” Cooper said. His brown hair was messy, as if he’d been running his fingers through it all morning long. “Before you go.”

  “Yeah, boss?”

  Cooper shuffled through some papers. “Are you bringing anyone with you to the party tonight?”

  “Sir?”

  “To the company dinner we’re throwing.” Cooper cocked his head. “Don’t tell me you forgot. I sent out reminder emails last week.”

  “Of course he didn’t forget,” Gordon, the man he’d gone drinking with last night, said from behind him. He looked even worse off this morning than he had the last time Holt had seen him. His brown hair was standing on end, just like Cooper’s. And he looked like shit—like he hadn’t slept at all. “He just wasn’t going to go. Said so last night.”

  “Everyone has to go,” Cooper said. “It’s a company event.”

  Gordon pressed his lips together and set a file on Cooper’s desk. “So you told me. Don’t worry. I’ll be there. Here’s the VanGuard file.”

  “Thanks. Since you’re at work this morning, I see you didn’t leave with the princess after all,” Cooper said, frowning.

  “Nope. So it’ll just be me.”

  Holt cleared his throat. “I’m not bringing anyone, either.”

  “Great, I’ll let Kayla know.”

  “Kayla is here, so you don’t have to let her know anything,” she said from the doorway, her long, wavy hair falling down her back.

  Cooper perked up, his shoulders straightening at the entrance of his fiancée. “Hey, babe. What brings you here?”

  “Wedding stuff,” she said, smiling. “I was looking at dresses down the road, and thought I’d stop in and see how your day was going so far.”

  “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.

  “Shut up, or I’ll mangle you next.”

  Shaking his head, he said, “So mature.”

  “Yeah, that’s me,” she muttered.

  Steven sighed and took his hand off of her. “You’re being awfully antsy, even more so than usual. What’s going on in that pretty little red head of yours?”

  “My hair isn’t red,” she said, tossing another destroyed sugar packet into a pile with the first. “It’s strawberry blonde.”

  Steven rolled his eyes. “Yeah. Sure.”

  “How late is this thing?” She picked up her drink and took a big sip, her heart skipping a beat when someone said Holt’s name. No matter how hard she tried not to react, she couldn’t help it. “I have a headache.”

  “Out too late last night?” Steven asked, one brow raised. “What happened, anyway? I heard you and Sam broke up.”

  “Yeah. We had a differing opinion on who he should sleep with. As in, he felt the need to sleep with other women, and I didn’t agree with that decision.”

  Steven snarled. “That little shit. I’ll kill him.”

  “It’s fine.” She waved a hand. “I’m over it. It actually happened like three days ago, but I didn’t mention it, because I really didn
’t care.”

  “Yeah, well, he made a huge mistake. He’ll never find another girl like you.” He squeezed her hand, then leaned back in his chair and glanced over his shoulder. “And he didn’t deserve you, obviously.”

  Lydia smiled at him. “That’s sweet, but according to you…no one does.”

  “Truth.”

  She took another sip of wine. “So what happened with Heather, anyway?”

  “According to her, I never let her in, and refused to open up to her…whatever the hell that’s supposed to mean. Oh, and she didn’t think I loved her.” He paused, tugging on his bowtie. “I didn’t, so she was right about that, at least.”

  “She didn’t deserve you either, then,” she said softly.

  His grip tightened on his tie. “You’ve got it wrong. If anything, I didn’t deserve her.”

  Ever since he’d gotten out of the SEALs, Steven had been different. No big shocker, there, but he used to be so open and free. “Steven…”

  “I’m fine. Seriously. We didn’t work out, so it’s over. That’s all.” He turned away and finished his drink. “But I wish Holt was here.”

  She nibbled on her lower lip. “You guys seem awfully close.”

  “We are.” Steven shrugged. “I like him. He’s been through a hell of a lot of shit, but he just keeps going. Doesn’t let it get him down.”

  She tapped her fingers on the table. Would it seem weird if she pried for information from him? Or maybe she’d just seem like a curious sister. “What happened to him?”

  “He was a sole survivor of an ambush overseas. The IED messed with his head, but he’s brilliant. I’ve never seen anyone code like he does.” Steven stared down at his glass. “It takes him longer to form words out of his thoughts now, but he doesn’t let it show often. I think that’s pretty fucking incredible.”

  Her heart twisted. So she’d been right yesterday. He’d kept pausing, as if he’d been choosing his words carefully. “Wow. I had no idea.”

  “Why would you? You’ve never met him before. Besides, no one really knows. It’s not something he wears on a T-shirt.” He canted his head. “Why so many questions about him?”

  “No reason.” Lydia shrugged for extra effect. Time for a change of subject, or he’d start to suspect something was up between her and Holt. “How’s Lauren?”

  “She’s fine. She’s got some new sucker on a string, so she’s too busy for me,” Steven said, his voice tinged with a little bit of jealousy…not that he’d ever admit it. He stood up and tugged on his bowtie again. “I hate these damn things. You want another glass of wine? I’ll go get it for you.”

  “God, yes.”

  Steven grinned, grabbed their glasses, and headed for the bar. She watched him go, letting the smile slip off her face once he couldn’t see her anymore. He seemed sad, which was unusual for him with a breakup. He didn’t take relationships seriously.

  Never really had.

  But as much as she loved her brother, she couldn’t remain focused on him for long. Not when a certain glasses-wearing IT guy currently monopolized her thoughts. Her mind inevitably went back to him, and all the things Steven had told her. Knowing he was suffering, recovering, made her want to go to his house, knock on his door, and kiss him until he forgot everything. As if that would help him at all.

  Footsteps came up behind her, and she forced a smile to her face. Steven’s voice was louder, which meant he was close, arriving midsentence. “…Introduce you to my date.”

  The hair on the back of her neck tingled, and she stiffened. Her body had become super aware of something, or someone, and she had a sinking suspicion she knew exactly who that was. But no. It couldn’t be. Surely the universe didn’t have that twisted of a sense of humor.

  Behind her, Holt laughed. “I don’t know how you found a replacement so fast, but hats off to you, man. Guess you’re ready to jump back on that wagon after all, huh?”

  The universe did have a twisted sense of humor.

  This wasn’t happening. Couldn’t be.

  He was here. And he was about to find out who she was, too. Crap, he wasn’t supposed to be here. Why was he here? Cursing under her breath, she stood up and headed straight for the door without looking back, her steps hurried and her purse clasped in her hands. If it wouldn’t draw too much attention to her, she’d run instead of walk. Seconds from freedom, Steven grabbed her elbow, stopping her in her tracks. “What the hell, Lyd? Why are you running for the door like there’s a fire?”

  “I, uh…I wasn’t running. I was walking.” She didn’t turn around, in case Holt was behind him watching them. If he didn’t see her face, he wouldn’t know who she was. She could still manage to escape unseen, if she played her cards right. “Like I said earlier, I have a really bad headache. I’m going to go—”

  “There you are. I lost you in the…” Holt’s voice trailed off, dying midsentence. “…crowd.”

  Slowly, oh so slowly, she turned around…knowing what she’d see when she did. Betrayal. Anger. Horror…and regret. Probably a lot of that, once he realized who she was. She didn’t want to see that, because she didn’t regret a thing.

  When they locked gazes, the breath was punched out of her chest. His hollow stare, framed by his glasses, slammed into her like a freaking tidal wave. And he looked devastatingly handsome in a tux and bowtie. It wasn’t fair. The smile he’d been wearing faded the second he saw her, and his gaze dipped down to where Steven held onto her elbow. He scowled and flexed his jaw.

  “Sorry, man. I was chasing my date down.” Steven glanced at her, then released her elbow and rested a hand on her lower back. “She wants to go home now, apparently.”

  Holt’s jaw ticked. “I…we…” He took a breath, his nostrils flaring. “Introduce us first. Please.”

  “This is Lydia. Lydia, this is Holt. I’ve told you about him.”

  Lydia stared back at Holt, frozen in horror, because Holt was staring at her as if she was gum on the bottom of his shoe…or a two-headed snake. “Hi, Holt. Nice to meet you.”

  “I’m…” Holt pressed his mouth into a tight line and held out his hand. “Yes, nice to meet you, too.”

  Oh God. She had to touch him. Actually touch him.

  In front of her brother.

  Reaching out, she slipped her hand into his. The second his fingers touched her skin, her body remembered with very vivid detail what they’d done the night before.

  His grip on her tightened, as if he did, too. “How do you two know each other?” he asked.

  “She’s my sister, man.” Steven grinned. “My baby sister, to be exact.”

  Holt’s face paled before flushing bright red. His fingers tightened on hers even more, and his scowl warned of a coming apocalypse. He let go of her, and she missed the touch. “Of…Of course she is. Of course she fucking is.”

  Steven frowned. “Dude. Language.”

  “I’m not six, Steven. I occasionally say fuck, too,” she said.

  She rested a hand on Holt’s arm, and he tensed underneath her palm before jerking away. “No, he’s right. I’m sorry. Excuse my language. It’s nice to finally meet you,” Holt said, his voice dripping with fake sugary sweetness. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

  She dropped her fist at her side and forced a smile. “Same here. It’s nice to meet you.”

  Steven grinned, seeming completely oblivious to the tension between them. “Two of my favorite people, getting to meet. Maybe tonight won’t suck after all.”

  “Yeah. Imagine that,” Holt said dryly.

  Lydia stared back at him, accepting as her comeuppance the unspoken words she saw in his stare. He’d want to talk about this some more once they were alone. “Yeah. Imagine it.”

  Steven glanced at both of them, his brows lowered. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. Nothing at all,” Lydia assured him quickly. She forced a smile before turning back to Holt. “Anyway, like Steven said, I have a headache. I didn’t sleep well last night, so I’m g
oing to—”

  “Late night?” Holt interrupted, a brow raised.

  Her cheeks heated. “Something like that.”

  “That’s what I asked her, too,” Steven said, crossing his arms. “Turns out, her dick of an ex-boyfriend broke up with her the other day, so she had a girls night out.”

  Holt nodded as if he listened intently. “Girls night out, huh? That’s the perfect thing to help a girl recover from heartbreak. Or…so I’ve been told.”

  “I’m sure it helped her. She has great friends,” Steven said.

  Her cheeks went hot. “I broke up with him, not the other way around. And she is right here and can answer for herself.”

  “Yeah.” Holt stared her down. “I can see that.”

  “I’m going to go now,” she said, managing to smile at both of them even though she wanted to scream. “It was lovely to meet you, Holt.”

  Holt’s jaw flexed. “Likewise.”

  “I’ll give you a ride home. Just let me say my goodbyes to—”

  “Steven!” Cooper called out, motioning him over. His fiancée, Kayla, did the same. A pretty brunette woman stood next to Kayla, looking at the three of them. “Come here and meet your new supervisor.”

  Steven stiffened. “Son of a bitch. I’m too late. Can you wait a little longer, Lyd?”

  “I can just get a cab,” she said quickly. She could feel Holt’s stare burning into her. The sooner she got out of there, the better. “I’ll be fine on my—”

  Steven glared. “No way. I’m not letting you fight for a cab out there. It’s dark, and this isn’t exactly the best section of the city.”

  “I’ll be fine. I’m not a child anymore,” Lydia said.

  “The hell you aren’t.” Steven fisted his hands. “You’re not going home alone, and that’s that.”

  Lydia stiffened. “You listen here, you big oaf. I’ll—”

  “Now, now. Enough fighting, kids. Cooper’s watching, and so is your new boss,” Holt said, his voice sardonic. He stepped forward and rested a hand on Lydia’s lower back. “I’ll take her home and make sure she gets inside safe and sound. You have my word.”

  Her heart stammered before ramping up to full speed. She couldn’t do this. Holt was the reason she was leaving. To be alone with him, in a car, would be dangerous in more ways than one. “N-No. I couldn’t ask that of a man I just met. I’ll be fine on my own.”