“Trouble is, it doesn’t work. I still want to do you.”
“That’s sweet.”
He pulls me in even closer, wrapping his arms around me good and tight. “And I’m glad you’re comfortable. This is our place and I want you to be comfortable enough to stay with me for a good long time.”
I smile.
Henry’s temporary bedroom door stays closed. He’s probably playing Halo or something. When he returned with Smith from the Bertram Street mansion yesterday, the first thing he did was set up a gaming console in the office. And thank God. Beck and I could do with some alone time. Sometimes it feels like I’ve known him for years. But other times it feels like minutes. Fragile and flimsy and in need of constant attention. Both the relationship and me. Being emotionally vulnerable is such a pain in the ass.
I inspect the scratch on his cheek with a frown. “Did you put antiseptic cream on this?”
“Yes, beloved. Got a first aid kit in the car. Don’t worry.”
“Don’t tell me what to do.”
“Obstinate, headstrong girl,” he says, pressing a kiss to my chin.
“And what was all of that arguing with Matías about the job?”
“I was just trying to be helpful,” he says with the worst attempt at an innocent expression ever. “You interested in the position?”
“I think so. Creating content is fine so long as I can get my hands on the right information. As for the rest, we’ll see. And I can handle any negotiations myself, thank you.”
“Understood.”
I pull back from him, searching his face.
“What?”
“Did you put him up to this? Offering me the job?”
Lines appear on Beck’s forehead. “No. Absolutely not. Today is the first I’ve heard of the idea. I mean, I guess it’s convenient because he’d already met you, gets along with you, and knows that you’re trustworthy. But believe me when I say that he cares a lot about our little business venture. There’s no way he would have let you anywhere near website content unless he honestly thinks you’d be good at it.”
“Okay.” I relax further against him, my smile coming more easily. “How did things go at the hotel?”
“Good, actually. I think it has real potential. We’ll move on to the next stage and take a closer look at the situation, make sure everything’s solid. Work out how much it will cost to renovate and so on. But I’m hopeful.”
“That’s great.”
“About the drinks night after next,” he says, fingers tracing the ridges of my spine. Higher and higher he goes. It’s more than a little thrilling.
“The bra is sensible boring cotton. I wouldn’t bother if I was you.”
“Ooh, sensible boring cotton. Tell me more. What color is it?”
I laugh. “Black.”
“Fuck that’s hot.”
“Mm-hmm,” I say, arms around his neck. “Now tell me about your drinks night, Beck.”
“Once a week a group of us get together, have a few, decompress, that sort of thing. If there was anyone you’d like to invite, they’d be very welcome.”
“Sounds nice.”
“It is.”
“You can do stuff with your friends without me, though.”
“I know, but I think you’d like it,” he says. “It’s not like it’s a dudes-only night or anything. And I’d like you to get to know my friends.”
I nod. “In that case, I’d love to.”
His fingers toy with the clasp on my bra. Dangerous territory to be sure. I’m like fifty-one percent sure he won’t undo the thing. But the forty-nine-percent chance of him taking this further has me breathing faster. Someone needs to write a list of exactly what going slow entails. Because there’s nothing slow about my pulse rate right now. The anticipation is killing me.
Which of course is when there’s a knock on the door. Because the universe hates me.
“Are you expecting anyone?” I ask.
“No. We could ignore it,” he says in a low voice. “Keep making out…”
“Your brother’s in the next room, remember?” I climb off his lap, heading for the door. And the person waiting is not particularly someone I need to see. At least, not again today. “Ethan.”
His gaze is almost apologetic. Almost. Also, he has a bag of takeout food in each hand. “Alice, hi. I picked up some tacos. Okay if I come in?”
“Of course.”
“You didn’t pick up tacos, your assistant did,” says Beck, up and knocking on the office door. “Henry, come and eat.”
“Same thing.” Ethan sets the bags on the kitchen bench. “Wasn’t sure what you liked, so I told her to order a bit of everything.”
I start fetching plates and utensils and so on. “It smells