Geek Girl's Romance: Love in the Workplace Read online

  Mark shrugged. “Lucky you, getting to stay with me longer.”

  Holden at him, wondering if Mark was serious since his delusional thought processes never ceased to surprise him. “Um, no…but I did meet the pretty redhead who just left to pick up takeout.” His mind buzzed back to the amazing experience the two had shared earlier in the day. His heart pounded as he recalled their first kiss. After wanting her for so long, the memory seemed surreal. Now if I can just get this nutter squared away, I can finish what we started.

  Mark nodded. “She’s hot. “Do you think she hates me?”

  Holden shook his head. He doubted Mary Allison felt strongly enough about Mark for such a harsh emotion. At best she found him tolerable; at worst, she was indifferent. “No, I’m sure she doesn’t hate you. If anything, she’ll be mad at me for exposing her to such a big ball of insanity, but she can’t say I hadn’t warned her.

  “Ugh? How mean.” Mark feign hurt and mocked crying before starting to laugh. “She’s kinda sexy with that booty, huh?”

  Holden raised an eyebrow at the other man and replied slowly, “Yeah.”

  “You think she will request not to ever have to work with me again?” He asked while drawing.

  Holden chuckled. “I think you’re missing something here. Mary Allison isn’t one of our part-timers. She’s here to help you as a favor to me.”

  Mark’s eyes widened and his lips parted as he looked over to the side. “What? She’s good. She can’t be some amateur.” He scratched his head with the dull end of his pencil.

  Holden lightly smacked his friend on the back of the head. “Don’t be daft. I would never allow a newb to draw for one of your projects. Mary Allison is one of my authors too, you wanker.”

  “Really?” Mark asked, totally ignoring Holden’s insult. “Does she write girly romance stuff?”

  Holden paused, silently thinking about the question. He couldn’t say romance wasn’t part of Mary Allison’s work but her stories were so much more. There were elements of revenge, dark comedy, and horror, but at its heart, Nemesis’s Bedtime Story was about loneliness, desperation, and the relentless determination to keep fighting even when you are no longer sure what you are fighting for or why. After growing up trying to prove he was good enough to a father who wasn’t paying attention, Holden could relate.

  “She’s amazing. She’s working on a new project called Choking on Life. In the first issue, a small-town beauty queen hiding in a ventilation shaft from a group of gang bangers has to watch her female lover choke to death on her own blood. She’s too scared to leave her hiding place for days and nearly dies of dehydration before the police finally find her. She’s comatose but awakens…different. It’s as if she’s sharing her body with her lover’s spirit and is driven to hunt down the gang members to get bloody but very sophisticated and ironically justified revenge.”

  When Holden met Mark’s eyes, he realized how long he had been passionately mooning over Mary Allison’s work like an obsessed fanboy and his face burned with humiliation. Rubbing his temples with his fingers, he felt his blood pressure skyrocket as he braced for what was coming from his nosy little friend.

  “We have some authors and artists in our department who are amazing but no one knows it. They need you!” Mark returned his focus to his work.

  Holden breathed more easily. Maybe he didn’t notice. He hoped that was the case because despite being a whack job, Mark’s adorable appearance appealed to the ladies as well as the occasional guy, and he could be a cocky jackass when it came to the subjects of dating and sex. Since it was so early on, Holden wasn’t ready to put words to his feelings for Mary Allison—at least not out loud.

  “I’m glad Davis was able to talk you out of quitting.”

  “Yeah, Davis Krammer’s a good guy. I’ve learned a lot with him as a departmental supervisor.”

  “You never told me how he managed to talk you down.”

  Holden huffed. “Focus on your job.”

  “Having you talk to me while I work keeps the anxiety away. You don’t want my inner saboteur to come out to you?” He flashed a smile, and Holden rolled his eyes.

  “Bullocks…Kramer’s a real professional as well as a hell of a guy. He could have written me off as a spoiled child, but—”

  “Your being the boss man’s son might have guided his hand.”

  “Shut up if you want to tell you.”

  “Sorry, sorry.” Mark handed over the completed page and moved to another.

  He looked over the work as he spoke, “Krammer took me out for a pint. Over beer and salted peanuts, we discussed the current market for graphic novels in the U.S. He threw some hardball questions and encouraged me.”

  “Vague.” Mark’s voice was almost sing-songy.

  Holden set down the finished page. “This looks good.”

  “Then tell me how he encouraged you.”

  Holden growled and then huffed, waving Mark’s attention to his work. “The usual pep-talk stuff, but the clincher was he sent me home with a few of the department’s best titles to read over the weekend and told me to see how I felt afterward. Once I got started, I had to admit they were good.”

  “Especially mine.” Mark grinned.

  “Yeah, I thought it was the best one until I started reading Nemesis’s Bedtime Story.”

  Mark’s jaw dropped. “You like Marlon A. Gates better than me?”

  “I didn’t say better, but they’re both excellent in their own ways.”

  Mark put down his pencil, his nostrils flaring as he folded his arms over his chest. “Unbelievable…I guess if I have to share with anyone, it would have to be the mysterious Gates.” He moved his hands dramatically as he spoke. “His stories are compelling and the artwork is eerily beautiful.”

  “Yep. I was hooked, and went to work that next Monday morning ready to go, but only if I got to work with Gates.”

  “You didn’t demand to work with me?”

  Holden chuckled. “Nope.”

  “Rude…speaking of Marlon Gates, your pretty friend might get on his bad side if she continues to fish off his pier. She’s all over his art style and with a story like you described…Are you going to be her protector?”

  Rolling his eyes, Holden reached out and thumped Mark on the side of the head. “You wanker, don’t screw with me.”

  “Ow! That hurt!” Mark whined as he rubbed his head. “What was that for?”

  “Oh, bullocks! You know exactly what it was for. Surely you’ve figured it out.”

  A shit-eating grin spread across Mark’s face, and his eyes danced playfully as he teased, “Holdy Woldy likey-likey the little redhead with the big booty.”

  His friend’s singsong voice alone was enough to make Holden itch to deck him, but Mark finally remarked on Mary Allison’s body one too many times. “I will fucking kill you!” He nearly pushed Mark off his stool put grabbed his arm and saved him as a fake-out.”

  “Hey! Okay! Okay! I’m sorry! Sorry! Calm down!” Mark squealed brushing off his clothes and pretending to be scandalized.

  Seeing the mocking expression wiped from Mark’s face and replaced with a momentary look of fear made Holden feel worlds better. “I swear you never progressed past the maturity of a middle school student.” He shook his head but then patted Mark’s shoulder to let him know they were still cool.

  “Geez! I had no idea it was so serious. How long have you been dating her?”

  “Huh? Who says we’re dating?” Holden furrowed his brow. He couldn’t admit he was already in love with her when they had only just hooked up…not without looking completely pathetic. Before he ever met the beautiful redhead, he’d fallen in love with her work.

  Risking a beating, Mark tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. Holden stared him down in silent warning. “Not dating… Am I to believe she is just your new author, a mere coworker?” Mark quickly scooted off his stool and out of range of Holden’s right hook.

  Holden set his mouth in a line, drumming h
is fingers against the desk. “Believe what you want…and there’s nothing new about her.”

  “Oh, I will! I believe you like her…you want to kiss her…” Mark sang childishly, adding more to his chant for some time until Holden’s last sentence finally dawned on him. “How’s she not new? I’ve never heard of her or seen her at signings.”

  “Ever hear of a pen name? She likes to do smaller signings while you like to hit the large comic-cons.”

  “So?” Mark huffed. “I love my fans.”

  “So? So what?” Holden gave an equal amount of attitude.

  “Jackass! What’s her pen name?”

  “Mary Allison is Marlon” Holden folded his arms across his chest.

  Holden jumped back as Mark’s coffee cup slipped out of his hand, hitting the floor and splashing his shoes and pant legs. The runt was so out of it—he didn’t even seem to realize the mess he had made.

  “Damn it!” Holden ran over to check out the storyboards. By the grace of God, they had been spared.

  “That…that cute little thing writes that sick, sadistic shit?” Mark choked out between bouts of coughing.

  “It’s not all sick and sadistic!” Holden retorted defensively as he grabbed the cup off the floor.

  “No, I know…it’s amazing but the parts that are…they’re brutal. Mad respect!” Mark’s eyes were wide, and his lips parted. “Do you think she’d go out with me?”

  Holden cut his gaze at Mark before he screamed, “Hell no!”

  Mark, who was already roaring with laughter, stuck out his tongue at Holden and then took off running. “I need to change my pants!”

  “Arse!” Holden muttered with a sigh before going to get some paper towels and a plastic bag to clean up the coffee stain on the floor. He wanted to smack Mark, but he’d been just as shocked when he’d learned of the discrepancy in Mary Allison’s appearance and demeanor versus what she put on paper.

  As he sat on his knees and worked on the stain, Holden memories of the first day he met Mary Allison filled his head. When he’d insisted on working with Marlon, he had thought Mr. Kramer’s expression seemed oddly patronizing, but Davis agreed to set up a meeting between Holden and “Mr. Gates.”

  When the day came, Holden dressed in his best suit, slicked back his hair, and brought his game face when he headed into the office, excited to meet his new favorite author. Initially, when he laid eyes on the hot dish in the waiting room, Holden thought Marlon must have been running late and had sent his assistant ahead. Sexism hadn’t played a part in his misconception. He just hadn’t understood how an angel with sparkling green eyes, alabaster skin, and a mane of long, red hair sitting over a body carved by the hand God could possibly comprehend much less write about loneliness and despair the way Gates did.

  It hadn’t helped that Mary Allison hadn’t exactly dressed for a business meeting. Her breasts were straining under a red t-shirt with a Star Trek symbol followed by the phrase: “Nice knowing you…” printed across the front while her tight jeans showcased her shapely legs and round bubble butt. When they shook hands, Holden’s mind had been filled with enough carnal thoughts to fuel a hundred wet dreams. If it hadn’t been for Davis Kramer’s shameless snickering, he might have glossed right over the part of the introduction where he learned Mary Allison was actually Marlon.

  As he went to throw away the coffee-dripping paper towels, Holden passed Mary Allison’s workstation and noticed she had left her Facebook messages page open on her iPad. He didn’t mean to snoop but before he realized what he was doing, he had read the message she’d left open.

  Hey Boo! We haven’t had a slumber party in a hot minute. I miss you. I’m taking you shopping tomorrow because next week we are going to be the hottest couple there!

  The word “couple” knocked the wind out of Holden but “slumber party” crawled up into his throat and started choking the life out of him. According to the name and picture, the message was from a good-looking man named Donnie.

  Holden balled up his fist, his short nails biting into his palm as he gritted his teeth. His chest ached, and his stomach roiled. Who the hell is this prick and why had Mary Allison done those things with him earlier when she already had a man? What the fuck is going on? I finger fucked her. We were going to have sex…could she have been using me for a bit of fun or for revenge over something her man had done to piss her off?

  He grimaced, rubbing his temples. I spent all that time holding back, staying professional, and let it all fall away the minute she showed me a little attention. What was I thinking? Mary Allison is a grown woman. She doesn’t owe me anything. Just because I’ve wanted her for so long didn’t mean she feels the same way. Someone like her would only be passing time with someone as boring as me.

  His chest felt as if someone had ripped it open, smashed his ribs to bits, and squeezed his heart into a splatter stain. He took a seat and a moment to pull himself together. What was important now was to take a step back to protect himself. So stupid and reckless. I know how this works—opened my heart to my dad way too many times only to be disappointed. I tried with Ian too, but he’ll never blaming me for the loss of his mother like it’s my fault she died from breast cancer. Why should hatred be rational?

  He rubbed his chest attempting to settle the ache, a real of old memories of his dad treating him like a spare tire while his mother worked her ass off to take support the two of them. The loneliness ate at him sometimes, but he never said a word, not wanting his mom to feel guilty. He’d coped with the isolation and pain by concentrating on being the perfect student and son, getting good grades, eating all his vegetables, and never arguing. He simply swallowed all of his pain and avoided getting too close to anyone or becoming too invested in any relationship. Maybe I had it right back then. I’d never intended to pursue Mary Allison. I should have kept things professional no matter how into her I am.

  He could have kept her as an elusive goddess to dream about while he continued to casually date women who approached him. Of course, everything was a lot easier while she was holding me at arm’s length. If only I hadn’t risked striking up a conversation with her online—about a geeky TV obsession of his, no less. He groaned, holding his head with both hands. I’m so stupid. I never should have come when she invited me over. He pinched the bridge of his nose.

  If his second major in literature had taught him anything it was that fools like Tristan, Romeo, and Paris sealed their fates by allowing themselves to love too deeply. If he let himself get in any deeper, she could break him. He wouldn’t run toward that kind of anguish. So that’s it then. I shut it down.

  Chapter Four

  When Mary Allison returned with food for the guys, she noted Holden’s pained expression, but before she could question him, Mark distracted her. While she was gone, the other artist had learned her pen name, and his whole demeanor toward her had changed from distant to treating her like an old friend. As an artist, she understood the inclination to connect with someone because you appreciated or identified with his or her work in some way.

  Once he opened up and stopped acting so sketchy, Mary Allison found a lot of common ground with Mark, and they even discussed the possibility of collaborating on a couple of one-shots. Mary Allison made a mental note to thank Holden for introducing them. However, thanking him would have to take a backseat to all the kissing, licking, rubbing, grinding, riding, caressing, and full-on fucking much higher up on the list of things she wanted to do to the man who had rocked her world with only his fingers.

  Mary Allison glanced up at her editor as he sat across the room perusing some of Mark’s reading material. Noticing the creases in his forehead, and how tensely he gripped his coffee mug. Sheesh, Mark must have been on his nerves while I was out. Oh, well, I’ll work that tension out once we’re alone. The corners of her lips turned upright as her cheeks flushed warm. Realizing Mark’s unfinished manuscript was the only obstacle in her way of resuming their romp, a newly energized Mary Allison buckled down.
r />   “Finally!” Mark huffed in relief. “I think we got it, Marley!” During the last hour of their collaboration, Mark had determined “Mary Allison” was a ridiculously long name she had been saddled with by overly religious, Irish Catholic parents. Since she couldn’t exactly argue with his insightful analysis, she allowed the nickname.

  She sat back and slumped. “I sure hope so.” She rubbed her hands. “My fingers are aching and my brain is exhausted!”

  Holden came over, checked the storyboards, and nodded. “I’ll gather everything and take it all with me.”

  Mary Allison eyed his stiff posture. He seemed so much more guarded than earlier in the day. Maybe he’s bored and listless from sitting around waiting for us to finish for so long. The corners of her lips turned upward and butterflies fluttered in her tummy as her gaze traveled down his fit body. I know a good way to pep him up—maybe I’ll suck that dick once I get him back in the car.

  “Are you ready, Mary Allison?” She couldn’t read Holden’s expression but he didn’t seem excited for a chance to get her alone.

  “Oh, yeah.” She shot him the flirtiest smile she could muster and winked. Her nipples scrubbing the inside of her bra as they hardened. Her body couldn’t forget his touch from earlier, and she ached to feel his hands on her skin again.

  Holden didn’t say a word as he led her out to the car and unlocked her side for her. He didn’t even look at her even as he gallantly went through the motions of being a perfect gentleman. Mary Allison frowned, furrowing her brow. What the hell? Maybe he needs a little encouragement. Once they backed out of the driveway and began heading down the road, she placed her index finger on his knee and began tracing figure eights. As Holden flinched at her touch, her eyes widened and her heart sunk.

  When did his feelings cool off so dramatically? He hadn’t seemed mad at her after she’d scolded Mark about the condition of his bathroom. He had kissed her before she left to get the food. The only thing that changed when she returned was her interaction with Mark, and he had certainly gotten past any discomfort or bruised feelings. Mary Allison glanced at her editor as he looked straight ahead at the road, his posture stiff. He wouldn’t be silly enough to be jealous of Mark. Would he? The man wasn’t her type and the idea that her affections would turn from Holden so quickly was absurd.