My Father's Best Friend novel Chapter 34

"Lance," Andrea stopped mid-stride as her eyes locked with Lance, the guy Holden was conversing to.

"You know him?" the two men asked her with almost identical raised brow.

Andrea wanted to laugh at the situation but with her heart beating faster than necessary, she couldn't muster any courage to open her mouth and form a coherent word.

"Andrea, it is very nice to see you!" a woman, who she recognized as Aunt Holly, said in not so well-hidden amusement.

She snapped her eyes away from the males and smiled at the gorgeous woman behind Lance, "Hello Aunt Holly," she waved.

"Andrea," Holden said, his words searching for details.

"Mr. McKinley, Lance Gallagher here is a close family friend, and Lance, Mr. McKinley here is my boss," she explained.

The two looked at her with sighs of relief that she couldn't quite understand what for.

"Is your meeting of any romantic importance?" asked Holly.

"No," Andrea answered abruptly, "He's my boss," she added.

Holly smiled and clapped her hand, "Then, it wouldn't be intruding if I ask if the both of us can eat with you?" she asked, the question directed to Holden.

Holden hesitated but smiled, "Of course, Ms. Gallagher," he said politely.

"Wonderful," Holly commented and motioned for a waiter to merge their tables.

The four of them sat with Andrea across Lance and beside Holden and Aunt Holly, on Lance's side. Their orders came within ten minutes.

"How's the first half of the first day?" asked Holly, breaking the ice.

"Quite stressful," Andrea answered with a polite smile, "It's Mr. McKinley's first day, too," added Andrea, removing all the attention off her.

Holly looked at Holden with quiet surprise, "That is wonderful, how are you faring?" she asked.

"Quite well. A lot less stressful than Andrea's," he answered.

"How so?" asked Lance suddenly, and Andrea knew that he disapproved with the imbalance workload.

"The worker that I succeeded left quite a lot of work than Mr. Nelsons, who Mr. McKinley here, succeeded," Andrea answered and Lance looked at her with disapproving that only her can see, making her heart somersault inside her chest.

"Holden, you shouldn't put to much pressure on Andrea," Lance said to Holden, though his eyes are still on Andrea.

The lunch ended fifteen minutes later than what is acceptable for lunch time and the four of them left with polite biddings.

"I never thought you were close to the Gallaghers," Holden said as he entered the car.

Andrea smiled, "Well, I'm not the one that brags,"

"I can see that, but why didn't you choose to work at his company?" he asked.

"Long story," Andrea said, dismissing the subject.

"I have ti... Oh, all right," he said, sensing that Andrea does not want him to know.

---

"WHAT?"

Victoria shouted at Andrea after hearing the whole story, "All this thing happening in just, what, two days time?" she asked.

"Fast, huh?" Andrea commented, unenthusiastically.

"Totally, describe Holden," Victoria said, and leaned forward to Andrea, curiosity visible in her eyes.

Andrea laughed, "Gosh, what's with people and Holden's appearance?"

"The people get intrigued by Holden's appearance," Victoria said, in a duh-tone.

"Okay. Holden's blonde, tall and acceptably handsome," Andrea said.

"Wow. I can really picture him," Victoria said, sarcastically.

Andrea rolled her eyes and stood up from her couch to retrieve her laptop.

She came back with her laptop and opened it to Google and typed Holden's name, while Victoria remained by her shoulder.

"Here," she said and gave her laptop to Victoria, displaying tons of picture of Holden.

Victoria whistled, "You've totally underestimated this dude, he's hot," Victoria said.

Andrea rolled her eyes.

"So, what if I underestimated him?" she asked.

Victoria looked at her with disbelief in her eyes, "Andrea, you are a totally innocent girl,"

Andrea frowned, "Huh?"

"Holden the hot boss here is totally hitting on you," Victoria said, matter-of-factly.

"Really, Victoria?" Andrea asked, sarcastically.

"Don't be sarcastic, I am only stating the obvious," Victoria said.

Andrea did not want to go any further wit the topic. Her mind was already twisted to knots just with her unexplained feelings towards Lance and with Holden, if Victoria was right about him having a fancy on her, it will completely be the most complicated knot in the history of the world.

"What do you want for dinner?" Andrea asked Victoria, intentionally changing the topic.

"Anything available," she smiled at Andrea, who was already standing up and making her way to the kitchen.

To Andrea's not-so much of a surprise, her kitchen was well-supplied and as she gathered ingredients for their dinner, she suddenly thought of Lance and how his kitchen seems like brand new, all the time, with nothing except water bottles on his fridge and some liquor on his bar.

"I guess you're thinking about Lance now huh?" Victoria suddenly said, breaking Andrea's little trance.

Andrea whipped her head to the side and noticed Victoria already sitting on one of her breakfast barstools, "No, I am not,"

"Hmph, tell that to a stranger, he or she might believe you," Victoria said with a smile tugging on her lips.

Andrea rolled her eyes, "Let me concentrate on cooking or I might end up putting rat poison on your food," she said, making a shoo gesture to Victoria.

Victoria pondered what Andrea said, and made a gagging face, "Ohh kay," she said, while she slipped away and half-run back to Andrea's couch, leaving Andrea laughing.

"Hey, Lance," Andrea said, "Will you mind coming over, I've cooked some food and since I think you'll be ordering another fast food, it wouldn't hurt if you, you know, join me?" she added.

Lance thought about it. Well, he already knew he will not say no to Andrea. He never knew how. But it was different. He felt his insides twitch at her words. Was he really falling for this girl?

"I'll be there in ten," he said and as soon as he hung up, he stood up, got his keys, and left.

She felt her heart hammer inside her chest as she watched her wall clock tick its way to the time Lance said he'll arrive. It felt like ages for her since the last time they really talked personally instead of just about nine days.

Andrea felt her heart stop abruptly as a knock came. She stood up, stole a quick glance at her reflection on her wall window and made her way to the door.

"Hey, La..." she stopped her words as she saw Holden standing in front of her door.

"I see you were expecting company," Holden said while Andrea still searched for her tongue.

"What are you doing here, sir?" she asked.

Holden did not show up at work that day and based on Margaret, he attended a whole day meeting with some investors.

"Don't call me sir out of the office, I've got a name," he muttered.

"I'm not used to it," Andrea countered.

"Then start getting used to it,"

Andrea nodded, "Okay, why are you here, Holden?" she asked.

Holden rolled his eyes and gave Andrea a smile that would have made any girl swoon, "You still haven't given my wallet to me," he said.

Andrea's eyes widened, "You're kidding," she said, convinced that he was joking.

"I'm not kidding, check your purse," he said.

He looked at Andrea with amusement and she realized that she might look silly to him.

"Okay, come in for a sec and close the door," she ordered and made her way to her room not even looking back at Holden to know if he got in.

Andrea quickly rummaged her purse and fished out his wallet, she walked out of her room, cheeks flushing of embarrassment.

"Going to have dinner with someone?" asked Holden as she appeared.

"Yep, here's your wallet," she gave Holden his wallet.

"Thanks, did you cook this?" Holden asked, walking towards the table she had set.

She nodded.

Holden looked at her in awe, "It smells fantastic, wonder what it tastes like..." he said, and Andrea realized what he was implying.

"Uhm, don't you have something else to do?" Andrea asked, suddenly feeling uncomfortable with Holden's presence.

Holden shook his head, "None, by the way, who are you going to eat this with?" asked Holden but before Andrea could answer, they heard a knock on the door.

Andrea quickly made her way to the door and opened it.