Awkward Meet Normal

Chapter Eighteen:

Annabelle

I was kicking myself, but I went to Marcus's office when I got in. Benny's words went through me. "Less is more."

But I had to know what the damage was if there was any.

Marcus tells his secretary he could see me. I was two hours late.

"Annabelle," he said, looking at me. My eyes were still somewhat puffy, and I looked like a lesser version of myself today. But I was at work.

"Mr. Brennan called." His voice was stern—nothing like last night.

Shit. Dash was my client.

"Why didn't you tell me.."

"I can explain. I tried to drop him as a client, but he kept coming around."

"Who?" Marcus looks confused, and then it dawns on him. "Mr. Brennan is Brennan Adventures. Also, the owner of the Yankees."

"That would be the one." I wrap my knuckles around each other.

"Did you meet at work here?" He asked, and I had no clue if he was angry or not.

"At a friend's wedding." At least that part was true. The day before, but not at work.

"Are you ok with continuing on the project?" He asked.

"I will if I have to. And I am completely fine to be at work. It's just an allergy. I forgot to take my pill before coming into work."

I was mortified he called my boss.

Marcus starts laughing. "Annabelle, you are fine. I'm impressed with your work ethic. I was going to say, why didn't you tell me about your allergy? I would have found someone else to do it."

"I was excited about it. Please don't remove me from FancyFeast."

"I couldn't even if I wanted to. Isabelle likes you too much, and I want to keep her happy."

I stand up to leave.

"Thank you."

I have my hand on the handle when he stops me again.

"Take it easy on him. He was very worried about you. And if I need to, let me know if I need to pass him off to another team."

"Will do. Thanks."

I had no clue if I was getting the more prominent office or not. But I wasn't going to ask.

I had a couple of text messages from Dash.

The last text said: remember that you like me.

Fuck. I was smiling at his text message. I should be mad at him. Like over the top mad at him. But then I remembered the night before and how sweet he was.

I didn't ask him to stay, but he stayed.

He held me, and he stayed.

No one had ever done that for me.

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Dash

She didn't text me back.

I couldn't blame her.

The more I thought about it, the more I saw I had overreacted. She was a big girl and should be able to make her own decisions. I was trying to help.

I had my driving service drive me today since I had multiple meetings. Most days, I drove myself to work.

Today when I got home, I saw Annabelle sitting on the top step. She seemed to enjoy that top step.

"Didn't want to text me?" I asked her, breaking the silence.

She stands and walks down to me. She throws her arms around my neck and hugs me.

I could not follow this girl. All day I had imagined her being mad at me.

I wrap my arms around her.

"Are we ok?" I asked.

"I told you I don't know what I'm doing."

I blow out a breath. "I don't either. Look at what I did this morning. I should never have called in for you. I was just...."

Everything I wanted to say would come out wrong.

"Wanting to take care of me?" She asks.

My chin is on her head. I nod. "Yeah."

"I'm not used to that. I have Ryan and Benny, but it's more of a big brother thing with both of them."

"I would sure hope so." I smile. "Annabelle," my eyes wander over the top step. "Is that an overnight bag?"

"Maybe," she says quietly.

I turn and grab her hand, and we walk up the steps.

"I programmed a code for you," I say, slightly embarrassed. "5683. I figured it made us even since I know where your not easy to find at all spare key is."

She doesn't say anything, she nods her head, and I know she heard me. Maybe I should have waited to tell her I gave her a virtual key to my townhome.

"Rufus," she bent over, petting my golden; he did not care that I had arrived home; he only cared about Annabelle. I knew the feeling.

He eventually calms down, and I can feed him.

"I'm sorry, Annabelle," I said while I led her into the kitchen.

"I know. My boss knows who you are now. He didn't know when you called this morning." She puts her hands on her face. "It could have been bad, Dash."

"I know."

She watches me as I grab ingredients out of the fridge.

"I'm going to cook for you, and then I'm having dessert" my eyes travel over her body.

She nods, not saying a word.

A few minutes later, she puts Rufus outside, and we have the kitchen to ourselves.

As I cook, she has her hands on me. She walks by to open a bottle of wine, and her fingertips graze my shoulder blades.

I'm distracted, and I do not care about the food.

"Annabelle you seem to like playing this game with me" I barely manage to get out. My hands wanted to be on her.

She walks closer to me, and I take her by surprise. I turn and put my hands on her hips. She was in black yoga pants and a purple tank top.

"Do you have any clue how much you drive me crazy?" I asked.

She shakes her head no.

"All day, I thought about you. I had no clue if I would ever be touching you again."

I run my fingertip over her collarbone. Her chest raised to mine more. I run my fingertip up and over her lips. She opens her lips slightly, and I draw my finger across her lip.

And in the worse moment, the doorbell rings.

Annabelle, whose eyes were trailing my finger, looks up at me, startled.

"I have no clue who would be here," I said, rather upset. I pull my phone out and look at the camera system.

"Who is it?" She asked when she saw my eyes darken.

"It appears you will be meeting my mother and sister tonight."

"No," she gasps out in horror. "I can't."

"You will; they will love you." I had to stop talking if I finished that sentence, I would frighten her off.

Author's Note: Horrible sinus infection this week; not as many parts went up as I would have liked. Hopefully, you are enjoying the story up to this point. If not, let me know where it went wrong.