The Holly Project Read Online Free Page B

Ugh.
    Slater saw them out and was in meetings for the rest of the day. I had no opportunity to apologise or attempt to explain. What could I say, anyway?

Chapter Six
    After two quick glasses of wine and one slow one, my embarrassment was starting to feel more like a fuzzy memory. Slater had suggested we take the Davenport representatives out for drinks after work. Michelle and Piers accepted the invitation and agreed to meet us at the bar around six. Ryan said he would do his best to come despite his jetlag and back-to-back meetings.
    “I’m sure it wasn’t as bad as you think,” Jason said, putting his arm around me.
    “It really was,” said Eva, laughing derisively. “Can you do a handstand for us now, Holly? You were very entertaining.”
    “Shut up, Eva,” Jason warned. “You’d better pull your head in when the clients arrive.”
    “Don’t worry about me, pretty boy. I plan to be Mr Davenport’s sole focus. I won’t be wasting my time talking about your buddy and her emotional baggage.” Her sly smile made me want to smack her in the face. Fortunately, she sauntered off towards the bar before I could act on the impulse.
    “Seriously, Holly,” Jason said. “You need to cut yourself some slack.” He picked up his beer and took a long swig. “I feel terrible for dragging you in today. Perhaps I should have let you have your day.”
    “You think?”
    “God, Holly, I really thought I was doing the right thing.”
    Before I had a chance to respond, Slater, Michelle and Piers joined us. Apparently Ryan was tied up in a meeting and would be joining us later. Eva cornered Piers, and I couldn’t help smirking at her blatant flirtation. We spent the next couple of hours making small talk and drinking. I was actually having a pretty good time, thanks to the welcome buzz of the wine. The group grew larger as other colleagues joined us. When I glanced at my watch, it was almost ten o’clock and the bar was packed and noisy. I was well beyond tipsy and really should have been heading home.
    I pushed through the crowded bar, heading for the bathroom. As I passed a group of suited men, a hand grabbed my arm, jerking me to a stop. Annoyed, I looked up into a set of drunken, bloodshot eyes.
    “Hey, let me go,” I said, trying to pull away. Drunken suits didn’t scare me, but his beer breath was disgusting, and I wasn’t in the mood for this all too familiar routine. It was going to end with my knee in his balls.
    “Do you know why they call this bar the Dry Cleaner?” he slurred.
    “Err, no. Can you please let me go now?” I was increasingly concerned by his tight grip. He was hurting my arm.
    “’Cause it’s where you go to pick up a suit.” His mates laughed at his dismal attempt at humour. He tried to pull me in closer.
    “Let her go,” a stern voice commanded from behind me. “She’s with me.”
    He dropped my arm like it was on fire and I turned, bumping into Ryan’s imposing frame. Taking my hand, he guided me away from the drunken suit and into the hallway leading to the bathrooms.
    “Are you okay?” His furrowed brow and darkened eyes looked concerned and angry.
    “You are abnormally good looking.”
    Holy shit, did I just say that out loud? Definitely too much wine…
    Ryan grinned and took a step closer. “I like your hair down,” he whispered into my ear. “It was a little distracting during your presentation.”
    Although I was paralysed by his closeness, his comment shocked me back to reality. I thought about my mortifying speech in the boardroom, and cringed.
    “I need to use the bathroom, but you’ll find everyone over there.” Moving aside, I gestured towards the bar.
    Leaning forward, he closed the small distance between us. “What’s wrong, Holly?”
    “You didn’t have to save me from that guy. I can take care of myself. I take self-defence classes, you know. He would have gotten a knee in the balls if he hadn’t let me go soon.”
    “I actually believe you,” he