Shattered Heart (The Hart Series) by Ann Stewart, Stephanie Nash Page A

you?” 
    “What did you
need?”  I purposely chose the copy room because it’s at the opposite end of
Alex’s office and because I’m a nervous ball of confusion.  I keep peeking over
Oliver’s shoulder hoping that Alex doesn’t stride by.  I can’t help my foot
from tapping against the tile beneath me.  Oliver continues to look at me in
speculation.
    He grins as he
rests his side against the copier machine.  “What makes you think I need
something?” 
    “Well, you were
coming to see me, right?”  Silence.  “Were you not?”
    “Not unless
you’re located inside my pants.”  I give him a lopsided look as he bursts out
in laughter.  He tries to hold the serious look on his face, but loses control
almost instantly.  “I was headed to the bathroom, but you dragged my ass in
here.”  He slaps his hands against his thighs, leaning over breathless. 
    “Misunderstanding,
never mind.”  I can’t keep the blush from my face, and because I’m me, I try to
escape.  But trying to blow off Oliver has always been a little more difficult
than it should be.  Determined little fucker.   Right when I step towards
the door, he stops me with his body and his loud mouth.
    “Wait!” Oliver
barks while he grabs my elbow.  His eyes search my face for a hint of what has
me all riled up.  We’ve gotten closer over the past few weeks and he’s
freakishly intuitive.  So before he can accuse me of anything, I eye his hand
wrapped around my arm anxiously.    
    “Yah?”  I turn
to him, trying to curve my nervousness.  He has to sense it, my unease and skittish
behavior.  He knows, he must smell Alex all over me.
    “What are you
doing to celebrate Thanksgiving?”  Okay…definitely not what I expected him to
say.
    “Do people
really celebrate Thanksgiving?  Isn’t it just another reason to stuff our faces
and gain ten pounds during the holidays?”
     “What are you? 
A Thanksgiving scrooge?”
    “And what are
you?  A damn pilgrim who saved Thanksgiving?”
    “No, I’m the guy
whose car is in the shop and is stuck in Vegas when all he really wants is to
head back home to his family.” 
    Dang.  Now I
feel somewhat guilty for my smart comment.  It’s not that I don’t like
holidays, in fact I used to love every single one of them when my parents were
still alive.  And although I love that Rachel tries to replicate the holidays
from our childhood, it’s just not the same.  Something always seems to be
missing.
    “Okay, so if you
can’t go home, what are you doing for Thanksgiving?”  I never considered
while he uprooted himself, for me no less, that he would essentially be on his
own.
    “I don’t know
that’s why I was asking you.  I figured I’d grab some food from one of the
restaurants and didn’t know if you had plans or not.” 
    “Seriously,
Oliver?  Why didn’t you tell me?  You can’t spend Thanksgiving alone.”  The
holidays may not be my favorite anymore, but I’d beat myself up if I found out
one of my friends was alone.
    “Well, since you
aren’t into being festive, how about we skip the entire thing together.  You
can slave over a dinner for us and we can hole ourselves up in my apartment for
the day and watch movies and stuff our faces.  What do ya say?”  You can see
his eyes bursting with excitement as he pushes away from the copier machine,
bouncing from one foot to another, anxious for my answer.
    I smirk at his
offer.  Although tempting, Rachel would have my ass if I even considered it. 
“Nice try.  But, what about you come with me to my sister’s house?  She always
makes too much of everything.  I know she won’t mind.”
    “Taking me home
to meet the family, huh?”  Oliver wags his eyebrows teasingly.
    Leave it to
Oliver to change a friendly gesture into something more profound.   I roll my
eyes and cross my arms over my chest.  “Don’t push your luck, buddy.” 
    “Alright,
alright.  You gonna pick me up?”
    I nod