Page 51 of How Not to Date a Griffin

“Well, I think that’s all the questions we have time for today. If you’d like to pick my brain, I’ll be around,” he said, and bid everyone a good day.

The room began dispersing, and Nolan schooled his expression as his father neared, a fake smile stamped on his face, and who else to follow at his heels but Chance?

“What. Was. That?” he asked, spitting the words between clenched teeth in that fake smile.

Not even the low veiled threat in his voice could dull Nolan’s mood.

Nolan plastered a smile on his face, meeting his father’s furious eyes. “Seems someone opposes the building of a mega hotel atop local businesses. Imagine that.”

“You just let him talk!” his father argued, stepping closer and framing one shoulder with a hand. He squeezed. Tightly. “He ruined your presentation, and you let him.”

“Hardly,” Nolan lied, finding it easier than he thought. “What was I supposed to do? Start an argument and look like an asshole? Not a very good look for business, wouldn’t you think?” He covered his father’s hand with his own, trying to dig a finger or two under his harsh grip. “Take the loss. We’ll recoup with the next one.”

“Appreciate your dedication,” his father bit out. “I’ll schmooze, try to soothe some ruffled feathers. You… you just try not to fuck this up.”

“I’ll do my best,” he agreed stiffly. “Do try to be professional, there are eyes on us,” he reminded him. Specifically, Reid’s eyes.

His father dropped his hold instantly, clapping him on the back a little too hard and offering a forced chuckle that made Nolan grit his teeth. Nolan huffed as the man walked away, Chance hot on his trail.

They were long gone and Nolan had just slid his messenger bag over his shoulder when Reid finally approached.

“Hey there. Sorry about crashing your presentation. I’m Reid,” he said, and held out a hand.

A fission of excitement vibrated through him as he shook Reid’s hand, playing this little game with him. “Hello. Nolan, but I’m sure you already know that. Impressive interruption, though. You really had them going.”

“Dear old Dad didn’t seem too bent out of shape about it, though. I’ll have to try harder next time.” Reid lowered his voice. “He wasn’t too mad, was he?”

Nolan cocked his head to the side, shoulder still smarting from the hard squeeze. “He’s good at pretending.”

Reid looked like he wanted to ask about what exactly that meant, but Nolan changed the subject. “I think I’d like to hear more about your business, if you don’t have anywhere to be?”

“I think I’m gonna be wherever you are,” Reid said, gaze dipping appreciatively down his body, and Nolan’s cheeks flushed. He cast an eye at the room around them, but found no one paying them any mind, to his relief.

“Walk with me,” he said, and turned, taking the exit beside the temporary stage. It spit them out in a much less traveled hallway, closed doors lining its length into the multitudes of other conference rooms. They only passed three other people, and Nolan was tracing the names on the doors before he spied the one he was looking for.

With a glance, he made sure the few other people were headed in the opposite direction before he tugged open the door to the small closet, and yanked Reid inside.

“Ah, your office, I take it,” Reid teased.

Nolan shut the door with the quietest click before locking it behind them. Convenient.

And crowded, but he’d make it work.

“Thought you might like to… talk business somewhere private,” Nolan drawled.

“Is that what they’re calling it these days,” Reid wondered, and Nolan drew him close before spinning him into the door with a thump to match the banging in his chest.

God, he felt like a fucking teenager. He hadn’t felt this way… ever. This lightness in his chest, the soft elation as Reid tilted his head at him, lips quirking.

“Figured any further inquiries would be better handled behind closed doors,” he murmured, his attention glossing over the darkening of Reid’s chocolate truffle eyes, the bow of his lips, the shape of his jaw beneath the blond stubble.

“Oh, I can think of a few inquiries alri—”

Nolan dropped his mouth to Reid’s, savoring the soft scratch of their cheeks together, the brush of their lips, then tongues when it wasn’t enough.

Moments later they pulled apart, breaths loud in the small, dark space. “It’s rude to interrupt,” Reid panted, and Nolan grinned, tilting his head up with a thumb under his chin to get at the pulse pounding beneath the surface.

“Rich, coming from you,” Nolan retorted, dragging his lips down Reid’s neck to the collar of the borrowed shirt. My shirt. “Can’t believe you stole my spotlight.”