I’m a dapper Norse god, as you say, you are definitely a Norse warrior princess.” A smile tugged at the sides of his mouth. “The kind that devours the hearts of feckless men for breakfast.”
I hummed a little, hiding my own smile. “They do say it’s the most important meal of the day.”
The Langham Hotel was ahead. Our hotel. My heart rate sped up again, and I felt a corresponding flutter low in my belly.
“Speaking of being remarkable, you weren’t so bad yourself tonight.” Receiving compliments made me feel vulnerable. Giving them even more so. Each word was foreign on my tongue, and I wasn’t sure I’d nailed the delivery.
Abe turned, caught my gaze, and held it. “Thank you.”
We make a great team. Those words—even more unfamiliar—tried to force their way out. I managed to restrain them. I didn’t trust that yet.
“You can’t turn it off, can you?” I asked.
His jaw tightened. “Turn off what?”
“This job.”
His light expression became a grimace. “Codex has been under an enormous amount of pressure since Henry joined our team back in February. And as my team likes to remind me, I’ve taken not a single damn day off during that time. I need this time to let go, sort myself out.”
There was a long pause. “Yes. I can’t fucking turn it off. The world spins forward, and people take vacations, and I can never seem to stop myself from caring about what’s happening in the shadows.”
“Same here,” I said. “I struggle with that. I pretty much work every weekend and every night.”
“No leisure for you, either?” he asked.
“Not as much as I probably should have.” We shared a quick look—absent of rampant sexual lust, it was more emotional.
“You’re a true lone wolf, Abe Royal,” I said.
“Am I?”
“Tell me I’m wrong,” I said, flashing him my own mischievous smile. Every single thing about him screamed workaholic army of one.
“You’re not wrong,” he finally said—softly. “I find it challenging to reach out to people.”
“What’s it like for a lone wolf to have a team?” I asked, genuinely curious.
“They are extraordinary,” he said. “The four of them, they’re… a group. A team within a team. I’m their boss and therefore separate. As close as they are to each other, I’m merely a bystander. As the ones in charge often are.”
I smelled bullshit but didn’t push. I did say, “They must like you enough to want you to enjoy a vacation.”
“Or they’d rather be rid of me,” he said, except there was affection in his tone.
We walked through the opulent lobby toward the gold-plated, antique-looking elevator doors. Abe pressed the button for number six, then leaned against the wall.
“My mother and my step-mother have been begging me to watch this show called Love Island while I’m on vacation. So that’s one thing I could do with my free time.”
The elevator doors slid open, and we stepped inside. Immediately we both chose opposite walls to stand firmly against, leaving the entire small space between us. Abe shook out his wet umbrella and raised his eyes to mine.
“Do you know what it is?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Enlighten me.”
I swallowed, nervous. “It’s a British reality show where a bunch of sexy singles are filmed on an island, and they have to date each other to stay on the show. It’s basically a non-stop fuck fest.”
“Non-stop fuck fest.” He said each word slowly. “That’s one way to spend my time here.”
“Watching the show?” I clarified. I was hot, my cheeks were hot, this elevator was a million goddamn degrees.
He didn’t reply. He did hit the emergency stop button. We came to a grinding halt, suspended in the air. I raised my eyebrows at his arrogance, but he only shrugged.
“We’re having a conversation,” he said and didn’t move. “What’s your deadline on this case?”
I blinked, surprised at the shift. “Nine more days to capture Bernard or I lose the contract.”
He nodded, face empathetic. “I’m familiar with this kind of pressure. It’s a lot to manage if you’re only one person.”
I lifted a shoulder. “I guess I’m used to it, being on my own.” I cocked my head. “Do you find having a team of people helps you manage the pressure?”
“Makes it harder,” he said. “I manage the pressure for all of them.”
“Because they ask that of you?”
“Because I should,” he said firmly.
I gave him my most charming smile, until he returned it.
“What?” he asked.
“You love your team,” I said.
“I do?”
“The lone wolf loves his staff. It’s not a bad thing,” I