Page 19

But he wasn’t smirking anymore.

NOAH

“You didn’t have to do this. My flat is across town from your house. I could’ve easily taken the Tube.”

“I’m aware.”

Carina’s sigh drifted into the narrow space between us. I could almost feel her breath touch my skin, and my knuckles tightened around the steering wheel in response.

“So why did you insist on dropping me off?” she asked.

“Most people wouldn’t complain about a free ride.”

“Most people aren’t as insufferable about it as you are.”

“I haven’t said a word about it since we got in the car.”

“Exactly.”

I flicked an annoyed glance in her direction. “You are aware this is your trial run, right? Whether we get along or not is part of your evaluation.”

“We both know the trial run ended at dinner,” she said, unfazed. “Obviously, we get along fine, or we wouldn’t be here.”

I swallowed a blistering remark. Arguing with her was useless.

Dinner had ended ten minutes ago, and I was already regretting my offer to drive her home. My Range Rover was roomy enough on a regular day, but tonight, it felt too small. Carina was too close, and her perfume was too distracting. I wanted to roll down the windows so I could breathe without her filling my lungs, but it was freezing outside. I had no choice but to sit and suffer in silence.

“I insisted because the Tube can be dangerous this late at night,” I said, answering her question. “I didn’t want to be indirectly responsible for you getting hurt.”

“Oh.” Carina sounded slightly surprised. “I take the Tube at night all the time. It’s fine.” She hesitated, then added more softly, “But thank you. That was very thoughtful of you.”

I grunted. I’d counted on Evie being a buffer when I made the offer, but she’d passed out the minute she climbed into the back seat. Now, I was forced to speak directly with Carina.

“Does that mean I passed the trial run?” she asked. She sat in the passenger seat, her gaze expectant as I stared straight ahead.

“It’s not up to me. It’s up to Evie.”

“Bullshit.”

“Language.”

“Evie’s asleep. Are you still going to dock points from the tally you’ve been keeping all day?” Carina asked, her voice filled with equal parts amusement and challenge.

It was the same tone she’d used after laughing her head off at the no-romance clause in our contract.

You’re too serious for me.

I was a grown man. I was supposed to be serious. Sorry I wasn’t always laughing and flirting with anything in a skirt like Samson fucking Opara.

I hesitated, my fingers curling tight over the steering wheel.

I hated the answer I had to give her. I hated the prospect of seeing her every day. And I hated the notepad buried deep in my pocket, filled with things I never should’ve written.

“Yes. You passed,” I finally said, my tone clipped.

Carina sighed. “Approval from the great Noah Wilson. I’ve made it in life.”

“When I hired you, I didn’t realize that would involve you making fun of me every chance you got.”