Winter is for Lovers (Bucky Barnes X OC) [Book 1]

14. Little White Lies

"Hazel?" Howard's voice rang in my ear. "Hazel!"

"What?" I jolted awake, looking up from my desk in the lab to see Howard Stark's face inches from my own. "Oh! Hello, Howard. I'm sorry, what was it you were you asking me?"

"You all right there, sunshine?" I appreciated this nickname for me more than his use of the term "doll."

"I'm fine," I shook my head of the fogginess, having dozed off. "A little tired, but I'm fine."

"You gonna be awake enough to see my big presentation at the Expo tonight?"

"Yes, I will," I said to him, suppressing a yawn from escaping me.

There was a minute of silence as Howard watched over me carefully. 

"You bringing that boyfriend of yours?" He asked with a hint of jealousy in his voice.

"He will be there, yes," I said, rolling my eyes at him. "Along with his sister and our friend." I looked over to see that Howard's face had brightened up at the mention of Rebecca, and I scoffed at his womanizing intentions. "They're all looking forward to your presentation."

"What about you?" He asked me, taking his spot back in front of the capsule he had built. 

"What about me?" I asked him, taking the pencil I was twirling in my hand to chew on the eraser tip.

"Are you looking forward to my presentation?" He asked me.

"I would be if you told me more about it," I teased.

"Well, that takes away the suspense and anticipation," he said with a huff.

"Give me a hint," I batted my eyelashes at him, knowing it would get him to spill any secret I wanted out of him.

"Give me a kiss, and I'll tell you all about it," he winked at me.

I rolled my eyes at him, muttering a few unsavory words for him under my breath.

"So," he changed the subject, figuring he wouldn't get much out of me. "Is your boyfriend's sister hot?"

A lot of the times, when Howard went to open his mouth, it took all of my energy not to punch him in his perfect teeth.

The man could have any woman he wanted, and he knew it, and it was one of the things I loathed most about him.

His ego was a close second.

"I am not answering that question."

"Does she know about me?" He asked, excited like a puppy with a treat.

"The entire world knows about you, Howard," I said with attitude.

"Okay, loaded question. But is she single?" He asked, though I didn't find the question worthy of a response.

I could have said she had a boyfriend, which would be a lie, but he didn't know that.

What women saw in this man, I will never know.

Oh, that's right... he's attractive and richer than God.

"Are you going to continue to ask me pointless questions for the rest of the day, or should I just go home now?"

"So pretty, yet so hostile," his big brown eyes stared intensely into my own. I waited to see what other smart remarks he had for me, but he turned his attention to Doctor Erskine instead.

I was thankful Erskine walked into the lab at that moment.

"What about you, doc?" Howard asked the doctor. "You coming to the Expo tonight?"