Love Bug (The Prescotts Book 3) by Tara Wyatt (electric book reader .TXT) 📗

there’s pain in his past, and I think that’s why he doesn’t get involved with people, why he’s usually alone. And it just makes me want to take on the world for him, which I know is totally pathetic given that he’s not interested in me. At all.

BetaTestAccount23: It’s his loss, Princess. Truly. And it’s not pathetic. You’re a very warm, caring person from what I’ve learned, and it makes sense that you’d be drawn to someone who could use some of that in his life.

FreshPrincessOfChelsea: And what about you? Tell me about this woman you’re hung up on.

BetaTestAccount23: She’s beautiful and smart. Funny. She’s warm and sweet and really lovely.

FreshPrincessOfChelsea: And why isn’t it going to work out with her? Because you were an asshole?

BetaTestAccount23: Yeah. Basically. I fucked it up, but I didn’t have any business getting involved with her in the first place.

FreshPrincessOfChelsea: Why?

BetaTestAccount23: Because I have a lot of baggage, Princess. And she deserves better than what I can give.

FreshPrincessOfChelsea: I like you, Mr. 23. I do. So I’m probably going to regret saying this.

BetaTestAccount23: What?

FreshPrincessOfChelsea: Maybe it’s not up to you to decide what she deserves. Maybe she should get to decide that for herself.

Max rubbed a hand over his face, staring out the rain-spotted window at the blurred lights of the city. The cab slowed thanks to the seemingly never-ending construction on Houston Street. He tapped his phone restlessly against his leg, his chest tight. Aching. His skin felt prickly, like he’d been sunburned.

BetaTestAccount23: If only it were that simple.

FreshPrincessOfChelsea: Why isn’t it?

BetaTestAccount23: Like I said. Baggage.

FreshPrincessOfChelsea: Baggage is meant to be unpacked eventually, you know. You’re not supposed to just lug it around forever and ever.

BetaTestAccount23: Easier said than done. But point taken.

FreshPrincessOfChelsea: I feel like you need a mood lifter. I have an idea.

BetaTestAccount23: What’s that?

FreshPrincessOfChelsea: Are you home right now?

BetaTestAccount23: Almost. I’m in a cab.

FreshPrincessOfChelsea: Let’s have a World of Warcraft date.

BetaTestAccount23: Yeah? You want to meet up online?

FreshPrincessOfChelsea: Yeah. Let’s go kill some orcs.

BetaTestAccount23: Now’s probably a bad time to tell you I’m a member of the Society for the Prevention of Orc Cruelty, isn’t it?

FreshPrincessOfChelsea: Another bleeding heart. Figures.

FreshPrincessOfChelsea: Message me when you’re home and I’ll send you my battle ID.

For the first time that night, Max found himself smiling.

8

Willa took a fortifying sip of her coffee as she stepped out of the elevator. Tapp’s offices took up several floors in the towering office building on Canal Street, and her office was located toward the back of the uppermost floor. She didn’t have much of a view, and the space was small, but this job was the first one where she had her own office and she was enjoying it. All of her previous jobs had either come with a cubicle or the dreaded open-plan collaborative workspace. She’d spent so long bouncing from contract to contract that she’d been beyond thrilled to land something not only permanent but that came with her own office, health insurance, benefits, and let her do challenging, rewarding work.

As she walked down the hall, she took another sip of her coffee, wondering if she should’ve gone for the extra large this morning. She’d stayed up until well after midnight playing World of Warcraft with Mr. 23, chatting inside the game while battling bad guys and completing side quests. The hours had flown by, not just because she’d been immersed in the game, but because she liked him. She liked talking to him and getting to know him. In between fights and quests, they’d talked a little bit about their parents—he wasn’t close with his, she was with hers—if they believed in ghosts—he did not, she was open to the possibility—the best shows to binge on Netflix, and video games they’d grown up playing. He was seven years older than her, which meant they were slightly out of sync there, but she’d still liked hearing about what he’d played as a kid.

She liked him. Quite a bit. So it was only natural that he’d confessed that his love life was a little complicated right now, what with being hung up on another woman. But she couldn’t exactly fault him for that, given that she was talking to him mainly to try to get over Max.

As she approached her office, she slowed and turned, surveying the people gathered at workstations in the open concept work area that took up the center of the floor. Could any of them be Mr. 23? Sipping her coffee, she narrowed her eyes. There was Matt, one of the technical account managers, but he was too young, definitely still in his twenties. Omar, a user experience designer, was also too young. Christian was another one of the user experience designers, and also too young. Cameron…maybe. He was definitely in his thirties and one of the C++ designers she worked with regularly. She’d always found him a little boring, but…she couldn’t rule him out as Mr. 23. Michael…no. Too young. Liam…also too young. Damn. She hadn’t realized that so many of the guys working here were barely out of college.

Chris, one of the senior engineers, walked by and shot her a smile. “Morning,” he said, tipping his head in the direction of her coffee. “Did you get my email about the automation infrastructure issues we’re having with the streaming aggregator platform?”

She shook her head, studying him. Chris was cute, with short dark blond hair, a closely cropped beard and fit physique. He was also probably in his mid to late 30’s and single. She also knew that he’d had a serious girlfriend and had gone through a difficult breakup only a few months ago. Hmm. Interesting.

“I’ll check as soon as I’m at my desk. I know Max wanted to see a working prototype by June 1st.”

Chris nodded. “Okay, take a look and let me know. You’re stronger in C++ than I am, so I’m hoping you’ll have some ideas.”

She smiled at his compliment and nodded. “Thanks. I’ll let you know.”