waking up earlier. “Oh, sorry, I hope you didn’t have to sit too long.”
He shakes his head, and that’s when I notice his usual happy disposition is noticeably dulled today. “What’s going on?” I ask, nudging him with my shoulder. “You okay?”
“It’s nothing. I just…” He laughs and drags a hand through his hair. “Listen, I’ve been trying to work up the nerve to ask you out again, and well, it seems like the courage will never come, so I’m just going to do it. Right now. This is…in fact, me asking you.”
My eyes go wide.
What?!
His declaration is so out of left field that I don’t know what to say first. Then, finally, I rush out my words. “Oh, Max, I’m really sorry. I just…I’m not—”
“Available?”
I swallow past the lump in my throat and glance away. A few of the guys in the mess hall are watching us, probably aware of what’s happening. I wish Max had done this in private. I hate everyone knowing my business.
“You’re not, right?” he continues. “Everyone’s been saying you and Ethan are dating. That’s why you two spend all your time in that cabin. You used to hang out with us after dinner, but now you scarf down your food like someone’s about to steal it and then you’re gone the rest of the night.”
I’m blushing now, wishing I’d been more careful. I thought no one would realize what was happening if we kept our hands to ourselves on the site, but apparently, love isn’t that easy to hide.
“It’s not…” I sigh, feeling like I’m suddenly on trial. This wasn’t supposed to happen this way. I wanted to keep my personal life separate from work, but in this setting, that’s next to impossible. Still, I don’t like the feeling of being backed into a corner, so instead of confirming Max’s suspicions, I reroute. “I just don’t think you and I would be a good fit.”
It’s true, regardless of whether or not I’m dating Ethan.
He doesn’t buy it. He’s hung up on the fact that I didn’t outright deny my relationship.
“Do you really think that’s a good idea?” He sneers. “Sleeping with the boss?”
I know he’s saying these things because I rejected him and he’s upset. I know he doesn’t mean to sound so disgusted with me.
I open my mouth to apologize for not reciprocating his feelings. I know how badly that hurts, but he turns away before I get the chance, and the whole exchange makes me sick to my stomach.
I’m not hungry for breakfast after all, and as soon as Max goes to reclaim his seat by his friends, I head to find Ethan.
I’m in such a hurry, not paying attention as I rush out the door of the mess hall, and I collide against a hard chest, nearly falling back on my butt before two hands reach out to steady me.
“My bad,” an amused voice says. “Jeez, you came out of nowhere.”
I glance up and realize with dread that I’ve just run right into one of Ethan’s partners. I recognize him from that night at the bar. He was another one of the suits sitting at the table.
He’s slicker than Ethan. Even now, he’s wearing a crisp white dress shirt with his jeans and boots, not a hair out of place. He’s closer to my age and he’d be handsome if he weren’t looking down at me with a sinister gleam in his gaze.
“Wait,” he says, narrowing his eyes. “I know you.”
I shake my head and try to step back, stomach twisting with dread, but his grip tightens as if he needs just another second of me standing in front of him to place me in his mind.
I look away, but it doesn’t matter. His resulting chuckle makes me go perfectly still.
“You’re the thief.”
My heart leaps in my chest, misses a beat, and then thumps madly against my ribs.
“From the motel bar,” he continues, letting his lazy gaze drag down my body.
I finally jerk my arms away from him and glance around, grateful that at least no one else heard him. Ethan is over near the trailer chatting with a few well-dressed people. His back is to us, and maybe that’s for the best. What would he do if he saw his partner grabbing me like that?
“Does Ethan realize?” he continues.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I say, speaking up for the first time and willing my voice to stay steady. I’m shaking in my boots and all I want