It's All Geek to Me (Nerds & Geeks Book 3) Read Free Page A

other and they’re amazing parents.”
    “I can tell that from watching Henry and Anna.”
    “My sister Amy’s baby slept through it, but she’s going to be a fantastic kid, too. My sister Emma’s due to deliver any minute. I can’t wait! And you’d love my cousin Steve if you had a chance to talk with him. My Aunt Maddie and Uncle George helped out in the kitchen a lot so you probably didn’t interact with them, either, but they’re my godparents. ” She became aware he was regarding her with an indulgent smile. No doubt she was boring him to tears. “Yeah, okay. I’m done. Sorry. Again.”
    “It’s okay. You love your family.”
    “I do, but I need to shut up about them. I also should have warned you what you were getting into. I think I didn’t because . . . actually I know why I didn’t. I wanted you to meet them. Plain and simple.”
    “Why?”
    Her face grew warm, but thankfully the darkness hid her blush. “I like and admire you, but you’re a little hard to get to know because you’re – please don’t take this the wrong way – you’re a bit closed off.”
    “So I’ve been told.”
    “But I can’t help thinking there’s a lot going on under the surface that nobody realizes. Then you had that fistfight with Rylan.” She’d never forget watching the two brothers brawling in Frazer’s office, supposedly over Miranda, the nutritionist who’d been hired as a consultant for the veggie app. But after the dust had cleared, Rylan had moved in with Miranda and Frazer seemed fine with it.
    He took off his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. Not long ago he’d had two shiners as a result of the fight. “I don’t usually lose it like that.”
    “That’s what everybody said.” She hesitated, but she’d gone this far, so she might as well put it all out there. “The thing is, seeing you going toe-to-toe with your brother convinced me that something is bubbling under that reserved exterior.”
    “I doubt it.”
    “How can you doubt it? I saw the fire in your eyes that day. It gave me the shivers.”
    “You were afraid?”
    “No.” She wouldn’t have said this in broad daylight, but they were standing in the dark so she decided to chance it. “A little bit turned on.”
    He drew in a sharp breath.
    “That’s probably not an appropriate thing to admit under the circumstances.”
    “Probably not.” His voice was husky.
    “But it’s why I wanted to bring you to this party tonight. I was curious to see if being around my wild and crazy family would make you cut loose a little. In a way, it did.”
    He stood there without saying anything for several long seconds.
    Finally she couldn’t stand the silence. “Looking back over my motives, I can see that they were manipulative, and technically we are in a business situation. You have every right to discuss this with Charlotte.” Dulcie hoped he wouldn’t mention her behavior to the HR director. It could mean she’d get fired and she loved working at BMUS, partly because Frazer was there.
    “I’m not planning to discuss this with Charlotte.”
    She let out a breath. “Thanks. I want to keep my job.”
    “I want you to keep it, too. I can’t imagine anyone else sitting at that receptionist’s desk.”
    “Really?”
    “You keep the office running like an atomic clock.”
    His praise was unexpected but wonderful to hear. “I get that from my mom. She’s been organizing our big family for years.”
    “Attention to detail is what we need. I was impressed with how you used the app during dinner.”
    “Thank you.” She’d entertained a tiny hope that he’d chosen her because they’d get to spend time together this weekend.
    “You’re the perfect candidate to evaluate whether the app works out in the field.” He paused. “At least that’s what I told myself.”
    That hope flared to life again. “But there’s more to it?”
    He sighed. “I think there’s a hell of a lot more to it. You’re not the only person