Page 37
I feel my stomach twist. Lala actually makes a face.
Anthony clears his throat as he and Lala move toward him.
The guy’s confidence evaporates on the spot.
Then, in the midst of this chaos, I feel it before I see him. That familiar current swirling in the air between us. He’s here. Standing at the bar.
My pulse stutters. I debate approaching him for a full five seconds before common sense wins. Don’t. He’s a member. He pays to not be bothered. You are literally working. So I stay where I am. Which turns out to be pointless, because he steps up beside me.
“Hi.”
Every coherent thought in my brain evaporates. I light up as if someone flipped a switch. “Hi.” I turn to face him. “You haven’t been around much lately.”
He hesitates for a moment. His eyes briefly drop their hold on mine and land on my mouth before returning to look at me. “Yes, the nature of the business.”
My mind starts reeling to places it shouldn’t go. It’s like my body is a volcano and I’m trying to force down this curious, enthusiastic lava with my teeth. I try to steady myself, focusing on the beautiful dark stubble along his jaw. The way his thick hair looks as if he’s recently run his hands through it. How brilliantly intense his blue eyes are. Anything to keep my wayward thoughts in check.
Please say something, I internally plead. Anything. Distract me with water cooler small talk, like recent sports events or the weather. Whatever will keep my mouth shut.
However, he just stands there. Looking all tech god gorgeous in a pair of dark gray slacks and a white button-down shirt, sleeves rolled up to expose those mouthwatering forearms. Normally, this sight alone would have me imagining what lies beneath.
But not today.
Without thinking, I blurt, “Are you trying to catch someone? Maybe I can help you prove something nefarious is happening.”
He goes very still, his expression shifts. It’s subtle, but there’s no miscalculation.
I’ve made a big mistake.
My eyes dart around us, ensuring no one heard me but him. Yet the elation I previously felt at his arrival has vanished. And the smile behind those azure eyes is gone. I’m not sure whether it’s because he pays a ridiculous membership fee to leave his stress at the door, or that I’ve made him uncomfortable asking things I shouldn’t. Incredibly private things. And I know better. Either way, I wish I could take it back.
The space between us now feels entirely too small. I should apologize and walk away. Jeez, I’m so much smarter than this. How had I let these irrational dreams push me to do something so blatantly stupid? I need to pray he doesn’t say anything to Gianni about my misstep. What was I thinking he’d say?
Yes. It’s top secret, but I trust you and your pink hair and gentleman’s club work history to join me and my team.
You have no one to blame for this atrocious blunder but yourself. Lala couldn’t have made it more clear that this is a business centered around the rich members of this club. Their satisfaction and privacy are of the utmost importance. And I just walked all over both of those.
My face pales as it hits me. For all of my unbridled eagerness to pursue a cybertechnology career, I’ve just put a target on the only job I have. Not to mention a secure place to live.
In this brief interaction, it’s become apparent I don’t have any idea what kind of man I’m standing next to. Because if Max goes to Gianni and voices his dismay over my behavior, I’m likely out of both.
14
MAX
Her question lands like a misfired round. Not only because it’s both inappropriate and invasive, but because it’s bold. I wasn’t expecting it from her. It’s completely taken me by surprise.
For a suspended second, the world goes quiet around me. The bass of the music dulls, the chatter of the room fading into a low, meaningless hum. All I can see is her. The way her eyes widen slightly as she waits for my answer. They aren’t flirtatious or calculating, but genuinely curious. Almost eagerly interested in my work.
Until their spark dulls. The curiosity and eagerness to know more replaced by concern. Does she realize she’s stepped onto a landmine?
My throat tightens. My first instinct isn’t suspicion. I’ve had weeks to ponder this. I’m usually quite good at profiling people. There isn’t an ounce of suspicion that these interactions with her are a set up. That she’s managed to insert herself here to infiltrate my company. Or worse. That she’s been placed here by someone I’ve hacked. To gain intel on me. That’s a very real possibility. One I live with every day.
But this isn’t that girl. I’m certain of it.
The irritation bubbling inside me is from my own desire. Like nothing I’ve had to tamp down before. I’ve avoided too much time alone in quiet spaces that allow the ghosts to invade. This has gradually improved over the years. But only to be replaced by thoughts of her. This unexpected woman who occupies my thoughts, night after night.
I’d been avoiding the club on purpose. Not because I was busy. But because the last time I’d been here, I’d spent more time watching a girl with cotton-candy hair wipe down a table than I had watching the data on my screen. That should’ve been my first red flag.
