Shit. Cornered.
I clench my jaw, pressing the accelerator. “Things are… complicated.”
“Oh.”
The car comes to a halt at an intersection and I steal a glance at her, noticing the flicker of emotion in her eyes. Jealousy? Difficult to say.
She looks caught off guard, her lip still captive between her teeth.
I decide not to push her any further for now.
“Listen, about the hackathon,” I say. “If it’s too much, say the word and you’re off the hook. I want you there, but not at the cost of your comfort.”
“No, it’s fine. I need to get back to work, back to my routine. The sooner I return to my normal life, the better… and apparently that includes hackathons at one of your mansions.”
My lips curve into a tight smile. “Indeed, it does.”
“I’m surprised you’re okay with it. Having your employees invade your personal space.”
“Some intrusions are more welcome than others.”
I glance over to see her brows furrow.
Silence settles between us until a reckless idiot weaves into our lane. I jam the brakes as she gasps, her hands instinctively clutching the seatbelt. The sudden stop causes the glove compartment to burst open, spilling its guts at her feet.
“Sorry about that. You all right?” I question, the irritation at the other driver manifesting as a growl in my voice.
My peripheral vision catches a pale blue envelope with a handwritten “JP” scrawled on the front. A jolt runs through me. The letter. Damn, I had completely forgotten it was tucked away in there. Should have incinerated it when I had the chance.
Moving quickly, I snatch the documents off the floor, shoving them back into the glove box with a bit more force than necessary. The last thing I need is for her to see that letter.
Her eyes flash with surprise and a hint of annoyance. “I wasn’t planning on reading them.”
“Uh-huh,” I grunt out, feeling unnerved.
I let off the brake, my tense grip on the wheel slowly loosening as the GPS tells me to take the next left.
“Just drop me off by the CVS Pharmacy,” she instructs.
I frown. We’re a block from her street. “You live on this street?”
“A few doors down,” she says breezily. “Here’s fine.”
Liar.
She doesn’t want me to see the sex shop. She didn’t want me to buy it either; this was one of our bigger disagreements.
Resigned, I sigh inwardly and ease the car into a vacant spot near the CVS. As I cut the engine, I can feel an odd tension hanging in the air.
“Thanks so much for the ride,” she mumbles, scrabbling with the door handle like there’s a fire under her ass.
“Hold on a second,” I interject gruffly, exiting my side and coming around to open her door.
I reach out and take her hand to help her out, feeling an electric jolt at the touch. It lasts longer than it should, but I’m not complaining. I make my move. “You look like you could use some grub. I know a killer Eritrean joint not too far from here. What do you say, care to tag along?”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “You know that place? I’m practically a regular. How’d you find out about it?”
“A friend introduced me to it. So what do you say?” I try to keep my tone casual, but there’s a hint of hopefulness I can’t quite conceal.
She chews on her lip, clearly torn. “I can’t. I have plans a little later with friends. But thanks for the offer.”
The rejection stings a bit more than I’d like to admit.
She gives me a look that’s half amusement, half bewilderment. “I wouldn’t have pegged you for a plastic-chairs-and-box-wine kind of guy.”
I mirror her smirk, leaning toward her, enough to make her breath hitch. “Making assumptions about me again, are we?”
“Perhaps. I would chalk you up as more of a caviar-for-breakfast, champagne-sipping, Michelin-star man. I mean, Quinn & Wolfe isn’t exactly known for its modesty.”
I nod, playing along with her teasing. “While I concoct my wicked corporate schemes and the Game of Thrones soundtrack plays in the background.”
“Exactly like that.” Her smile fades into something a little more awkward. “Well… thanks again, JP.”
“Wait,” I interject as she’s about to scurry off. I hadn’t planned to do this yet, but on an impulse, I fish out a key from my wallet, offering it to her. “This is for an apartment you can stay in if you don’t feel safe here. I’ll email you the address when I get back in the car.”
Her eyes nearly pop out at the sight of the key.
“It’s a company apartment closer to the office-it’s yours whenever you need it.” Looks like I’m a liar too, but I’ll spook her if I say it’s one of my personal apartments.
She looks totally thrown, her mouth opening and closing in a struggle to voice her thoughts.
“No need to say anything. Just take the key.”
“Thanks.” She stares between me and the key like I’ve handed her literal gold. “I don’t know what to say.”
I grunt dismissively, wishing she wouldn’t be so flustered by my supposed acts of kindness. “It’s fine.”
Her breath hitches, eyes locked on mine. The silence between us stretches, the air crackling with an electric tension. I know she feels this too.
“Lucy,” I murmur, gazing down at her. “Look, it might not seem like it right now but you’re doing just fine. You’re a strong, resilient woman.”
She responds with a dismissive laugh. “Not sure I agree with you right now.”
She’s always been stronger than she gives herself credit for. “Trust me, the way you’re handling this? It’s pretty damn admirable.”
I force myself to step back before I do something stupid like kiss her. “I should go. Get some rest and don’t stay out too late tonight.”
She nods. “Thanks, again. I really appreciate everything. Okay… bye then.”
I watch her walk at the pace of a snail down the street, knowing there is no way she can get inside any of these apartments.
“Lucy,” I call out, my voice carrying over the noise of the crowded street, and she turns.
“I’m looking forward to spending time with you in Bear Mountain,” I say, smiling as her cheeks redden.
She gives me a soft smile back, and for the first time since this nightmare began, despite my crushing fear of the moment she’ll uncover the truth about my past actions, I allow myself a sliver of hope.