Geek Girl’s Romance
Sierra Brave
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Geek Girl’s Romance
Sierra Brave
Graphic novel artist and author Mary Allison is a lot like the famous candy that melts in your mouth—a sexy, sassy outer shell hides her sweet and creamy, geek girl center. Holden, her strict, uptight editor, would personify nails across a chalkboard if he weren’t so good looking. She finds herself attracted to him but is certain they could never mesh romantically.
Unbeknownst to Mary Allison, Holden has been enthralled by her from the start, even going so far as to stall his career to continue working with her. On the verge of becoming lovers, they’re impeded by interruptions and misunderstandings. The geek girl and the stuffy editor must learn to communicate and connect before fear and confusion keep them apart forever.
Reader Advisory: This story has graphic sexual language and scenes—no closed bedroom doors (or other rooms) here!
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter One
Mary Allison Applegate sat at her drafting table, busily pouring over her storyboards and adding detail to her sketches. She glanced at the calendar and bit down on her bottom lip. Ugh, second Wednesday of the month—if I don’t make deadline, Holden will be all over my ass again. She pictured the side glance her sexy editor would shoot her way if he saw how behind she was. Fuck…he’d be so damn good looking if only he’d keep his mouth shut! As she put a few finishing touches on her heroine’s Glock 26, she heard a knock at the door.
Mary Allison recognized the distinctive three raps, a pause, and then two more—her editor’s signature calling card. She sighed, perturbed by his love of showing up whenever the hell he wanted to start riding her like a Russian racehorse. She glanced at the door and then back at her illustrations from the next volume of her bestselling title, Nemesis’s Bedtime Story. Her tale of a female pickpocket who worked with the mafia as she tracked down her twin brother’s killers had struck a chord with a desirable demographic, selling enough copies to provide her a comfortable living. Unfortunately, a little over a year ago, her previous editor retired, sticking her with Holden. She loved the way he looked, even in his ridiculous stanch and stiff business suits, but he could be a major pain in the ass.
She called out, “Just a minute,” before running to the bathroom and checking herself out in the mirror. Damn! He has to come when I look like crap. She yanked off the elastic band holding a messy ponytail on top of her head and ran a brush through the tangle of red hair tumbling past her shoulders. I’m so pale! She splashed some cold water on her face and pinched her cheeks to bring up a little color before applying some Chapstick to her lips.
She stood back from the mirror, frowning at her threw on clothing. Oh well, it will have to do. She ran out of the room before heading toward the front door and unlocking the deadbolt but leaving the chain as to allow a crack about four inches wide.
“Good Morning, Mary Allison.” Holden looked as polished and perfect as ever.
“What are you doing here?” She winged an eyebrow, staring at him suspiciously. “I don’t owe you any work until Friday.” How Holden always knew when she was running behind, she would never understand, but he seemed to materialized right when she was on the verge of turning things around but not quite there.
“I just wanted to check on your progress.” His innocent tone annoyed her while his accent set her heart thumping.
“And why should I let you in when you barge over here without calling ahead?” She continued to block the entrance, peering at him through the small opening.
“Because I brought you an iced coffee and your favorite treat.” He smiled holding up a bag from her favorite donut shop.
Mary Allison sniffed, taking in the aroma. “Coffee, huh?”
“Double light, double sweet.” He smirked while lifting the cup in his other hand.
She sucked in a breath and then pursed her lips before huffing. “Oh, all right.” After releasing the chain, she opened the door wide.
In his usual polite manner, Holden wiped his feet on the porch mat before entering and handing over the goodies. He made himself right at home, walking straight through the small foyer and across the living room into the small nook where Mary Allison had set up her work station in front of her home’s only bay window. As he stood there, pouring over her work, she hung back, enjoying the view.
Standing over six feet tall, Holden had stayed fit for someone who jockeyed a desk. Originally, she had pegged the attractive brunet as a pretentious elitist but as time passed, his kindness and thoughtful manner had begun to wear a grove into her resolve to dislike him.
He was different from any man she had ever known—well-traveled, intelligent, and even quite elegant. Three-piece suits and impeccably styled, light-brown locks polished his professional appearance. As he leaned forward to study her work, her gaze glided over his firm ass, making her pulse react, and her breasts tingle.
She noticed his posture change and rolled her eyes, creeping up behind him until she was standing beside him. He turned to her. “Where’s the rest?”
Anger filled her belly, but as she stared at his face, the man’s gorgeous blue eyes softened the blow. He was a dreamy, unobtainable ideal for a laid-back, creative type like her, but she still fantasized about him. Pushing back her shoulders, she lifted her chin. “That’s it.”
He furrowed his brow. “I thought you would be up to the scene in the basement by now.”
“I was working
