Holding Her Close (Bits and Bytes, Book 0) (Bits & Bytes) by Allyson Lindt Page A
Book: Holding Her Close (Bits and Bytes, Book 0) (Bits & Bytes) by Allyson Lindt
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Authors: Allyson Lindt
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ass. Fury gnawed at his senses, and he fought back the urge to punch the closest wall.
“ We're screwed, aren't we?” Scott's soft question sounded distant. Hopeless.
Zach took a deep breath, pushing back his rage and feeling it shift. Despair crawled through it. “Yes. No. I don't know. You done here for now? Let's get the fuck out of here.”
Scott didn't move. “Because leaving the office at eight on a Monday morning for a stiff drink sounds like the best way to handle this.”
Zach didn't know where the sarcasm was directed, or even how much of it was sarcastic and how much was sincere. He didn't care.
****
Rae twisted her key s around her index finger. Why did this feel like a bad idea? She dropped the keys into her jeans pocket and then pulled them out again. She clipped the ring to the strap of her purse, listening to the tinny clatter echo in the empty hallway.
She had justified so much of what had happened with Zach as a reason to keep the tension light around Scott. Instead it rested on her now. Was this what it felt like watching her and Zach not speak for a decade? If so, she owed Scott the most massive apology ever for sticking him in the middle of a stupid squabble.
It was Zach's fault. She reached for her watch, face twisting in irritated amusement when she remembered she hadn't worn one. He had placed the doubt in her mind. She and Scott were the same friends they’d always been. Maybe telling him what had happened with Zach would help. Except the thought of it made her fidget more. Without a watch, she settled for wrapping her purse strap around her wrist and then releasing it again.
When she knocked, t he walls bounced the sound back at her. They were hanging out to take his mind off things. She didn't need to burden him with her petty woes. He had bigger issues to deal with.
Besides, once she told him her idea — the one Zach had flat-out refused to listen to — dealing should be easier. The last thing she wanted was to pit them against each other, but starting over was a viable answer, and it at least deserved to be looked at. If they could recover from the hostile takeover she wanted to see them try. For Scott, for Chloe, and for anyone involved.
The deadbolt clicked back, and the door flew open. Scott's grin pushed her doubt aside. The worry in his brown eyes reinforced her decision to be there for him that night.
“Hey.” She gave him a sympathetic smile. “You okay?”
He stepped aside to let her in, and then pushed the door shut behind her. “As much as I can be. I'm glad you were free tonight.”
“ Of course. Always for you.” She dropped her purse on the table by the door, and hugged him.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and returned the squeeze. Instead of letting go and stepping back, he rested his hand at the base of her neck, hesitation searching her face. Her pulse screamed in response, but it felt more like panic than excitement. What was he doing?
He brushed his lips over hers and her heart crashed into her feet, driving a hole through her gut along the way. He pulled back, eyes raking over her.
She should stop him. Distract him with her idea. Wait, why would she do that? This was good. It was perfect. She repeated the words in her thoughts. He was exactly what she needed; this man she was closer to than anyone. Who got her jokes, who was always there for her, and who made a battered T-shirt look like the hottest fashion from Paris.
She tilted her head up and returned the kiss . It was brief and hesitant. This was good. It was great. Her brain kicked into overdrive, amping up her rationale. So much of her hesitation about Zach was centered on how Scott would react. That had to mean something. Maybe Scott was what she really needed. The obvious answer she’d been overlooking all these years.
Her stomach flipped in protest. Stupid adrenaline. The answer was right here in front of her.
She bit her bottom lip, warmth spreading through her at the
“ We're screwed, aren't we?” Scott's soft question sounded distant. Hopeless.
Zach took a deep breath, pushing back his rage and feeling it shift. Despair crawled through it. “Yes. No. I don't know. You done here for now? Let's get the fuck out of here.”
Scott didn't move. “Because leaving the office at eight on a Monday morning for a stiff drink sounds like the best way to handle this.”
Zach didn't know where the sarcasm was directed, or even how much of it was sarcastic and how much was sincere. He didn't care.
****
Rae twisted her key s around her index finger. Why did this feel like a bad idea? She dropped the keys into her jeans pocket and then pulled them out again. She clipped the ring to the strap of her purse, listening to the tinny clatter echo in the empty hallway.
She had justified so much of what had happened with Zach as a reason to keep the tension light around Scott. Instead it rested on her now. Was this what it felt like watching her and Zach not speak for a decade? If so, she owed Scott the most massive apology ever for sticking him in the middle of a stupid squabble.
It was Zach's fault. She reached for her watch, face twisting in irritated amusement when she remembered she hadn't worn one. He had placed the doubt in her mind. She and Scott were the same friends they’d always been. Maybe telling him what had happened with Zach would help. Except the thought of it made her fidget more. Without a watch, she settled for wrapping her purse strap around her wrist and then releasing it again.
When she knocked, t he walls bounced the sound back at her. They were hanging out to take his mind off things. She didn't need to burden him with her petty woes. He had bigger issues to deal with.
Besides, once she told him her idea — the one Zach had flat-out refused to listen to — dealing should be easier. The last thing she wanted was to pit them against each other, but starting over was a viable answer, and it at least deserved to be looked at. If they could recover from the hostile takeover she wanted to see them try. For Scott, for Chloe, and for anyone involved.
The deadbolt clicked back, and the door flew open. Scott's grin pushed her doubt aside. The worry in his brown eyes reinforced her decision to be there for him that night.
“Hey.” She gave him a sympathetic smile. “You okay?”
He stepped aside to let her in, and then pushed the door shut behind her. “As much as I can be. I'm glad you were free tonight.”
“ Of course. Always for you.” She dropped her purse on the table by the door, and hugged him.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and returned the squeeze. Instead of letting go and stepping back, he rested his hand at the base of her neck, hesitation searching her face. Her pulse screamed in response, but it felt more like panic than excitement. What was he doing?
He brushed his lips over hers and her heart crashed into her feet, driving a hole through her gut along the way. He pulled back, eyes raking over her.
She should stop him. Distract him with her idea. Wait, why would she do that? This was good. It was perfect. She repeated the words in her thoughts. He was exactly what she needed; this man she was closer to than anyone. Who got her jokes, who was always there for her, and who made a battered T-shirt look like the hottest fashion from Paris.
She tilted her head up and returned the kiss . It was brief and hesitant. This was good. It was great. Her brain kicked into overdrive, amping up her rationale. So much of her hesitation about Zach was centered on how Scott would react. That had to mean something. Maybe Scott was what she really needed. The obvious answer she’d been overlooking all these years.
Her stomach flipped in protest. Stupid adrenaline. The answer was right here in front of her.
She bit her bottom lip, warmth spreading through her at the
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