physicists or mathematicians if you don’t have that piece of paper.”
Believe me, I’d tried looking and long since given up.
“Why didn’t you finish? You certainly sounded like you knew what you were talking about earlier.”
“I had an accident at the beginning of my final year, and after that, things happened that meant I couldn’t go back. Please, can we just forget this?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”
“And I’m sorry for my behaviour tonight.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
We lapsed into silence, and I focused on the world outside, watching the lights of the city glide by. It must be weird to travel like this your whole life, sitting in air-conditioned luxury, not having to soil yourself by stepping out onto the street. I figured Nick rode this way all the time, unless he was in his Porsche, of course. Had he always been rich? Did he make his own money or was he born into it? I knew so little about him, just his name, age, and the fact that he was obviously wealthy.
He spoke as little about his past as I did about mine. Did he have secrets he wanted to hide too? Curiosity ate away at me, but I could hardly ask questions when I didn’t want to answer any.
When the car pulled up outside my apartment building, I couldn’t wait to get inside because I needed a good cry. The instant the driver opened the door, I jumped out.
“Wait a second,” Nick said.
I turned to find he’d followed me. “What?”
“I’ll come up with you.”
“I’ll be fine.”
He ignored my words and fell into step beside me. The elevator hadn’t worked since the week after I moved in, and now someone had drawn a crude picture in one corner of the hand-scrawled out-of-order sign and decorated the end with a blob of chewing gum. Lovely. I looked away as we walked past.
We’d climbed halfway up the stairs before Nick spoke again. “Do I not pay you enough?”
“Of course you do.”
Michelle had told me I was getting way above market rate, although I’d have needed to be an idiot not to realise that fact for myself. Surely Nick must know it too?
“Then why are you living in a place like this?” There was no judgement in his tone, just worry.
“I have some debts to pay off. After they’re settled, I’ll be able to move somewhere nicer.” In, say, five or six years’ time.
“It’s not safe here.”
“It’s fine. I’ve lived in far worse.” He didn’t look happy when I said that. “I do worry about leaving your car outside, though.”
“The car’s fine. The locals know it’s mine, so nobody’ll touch it. I’m more worried about you.”
“Honestly, I’m good here. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”
Please, just go.
“I’d better take your necklace with me.”
“Oh, of course.”
Because if someone broke in and murdered me overnight, Emmy would still want her rubies back. I turned around as Nick gently released the clasp, his warm breath on the back of my neck giving me goosebumps.
“I’ll bring the dress and shoes back tomorrow if that’s okay?” I said as I took the earrings out as well.
“Why? They’re yours.”
“What? I can’t keep them. They’re far too expensive. And it’s not as if I’ll go anywhere I have to dress up so fancy again.”
At first, I thought he was going to start arguing, but in the end, he simply shrugged.
“We’ll see.”
CHAPTER 20
NICK WASN’T THERE when I got to Adler House the next morning. In the kitchen, the only signs he’d been home were a half-empty coffee cup on the breakfast bar and a note propped up on the counter.
Lara,
Something urgent came up at work. Back in a few days.
Nick
That was almost good. Good because it meant I could go and visit Missy earlier than I’d planned to. Almost, because I’d miss him. Dammit, Lara. You shouldn’t be thinking that way. I needed to remember Nick was my employer, not my friend. If the job turned sour, feelings would lead to hurt, and I’d already had enough of that to last a lifetime.
The tuxedo he’d worn last night was draped over a chair in his bedroom, and his socks were on the floor along with a pair of freaking boxer briefs. Nick might have made progress with his dirty plates, but clearly, there was still a way to go with regard to his use of hangers and the laundry hamper. I shook the tuxedo out, ready to drop it at the dry cleaner on my way home, and resisted the urge to