Been There Done That (Leffersbee #1) - Hope Ellis Page 0,88

be recorded, so you and Dr. Leffersbee can take your time.” Her voice lowered. “Fourth door to the left.”

He nodded and she scurried away.

I watched her departure in bemusement. The last time we’d been in this building together, we’d been college-bound teenagers. I’d been excited to start college and Nick had been eager to finish the last two years of his undergraduate degree. We’d been excited about the unknown, determined to face it together. Now, all these year later, he’d returned as a titan, a leader in a burgeoning industry of health technology.

It was a hell of an accomplishment.

“I’m going to grab something to eat.” I sidled away, heading to right of the auditorium where the safety of familiar people and food awaited.

“I was hoping you’d say that. Come on.” He inclined his head toward a classroom farther down the hall, in the opposite direction.

“But the food—”

“I ordered in for us.”

I jumped at his sudden touch on the valley of my spine. Looking up and up into his eyes, taking in that knowing smile, my stomach fell.

Shit. Shit shit shit.

Thus far, I’d done a terrible of job of keeping a professional distance. My heart was not locked away in the strongest of vaults. It was wrapped in the finest gossamer silk, just waiting to be toppled and trampled.

Again.

I opened my mouth to tell Nick that he had no business looking at me that way. That it was cruel that he could jumpstart my nervous system with the simplest of touches. That it was unfair that we were even in the same room again after all these years, and he looked like my most illicit fantasy come to life.

Okay, it was unlikely I would have I said that. But I did need to get away from him.

Quickly.

A breakfast feast waited for us. Pastries, bagels, lox, spreads, eggs, and bacon were all spread across the raised counter. A huge screen at the front of the room broadcasted the focus group proceedings from the auditorium. Suits were gathered around the screen, watching, taking notes as introductions went around the room. A young man with a charming smile sheepishly informed me he was the “runner” who would hurry any questions out to the moderator, should I or Nick’s team have any questions or redirects for focus group participants.

I raised an eyebrow at Nick.

“We’re not slumming it with the participants, huh?”

“I had some of Daisy’s doughnuts delivered. They’re right over there.”

I opened my mouth to explain it was a little early for doughnuts, then shut it. I was already in the Valley of the Shadow of Death.

What harm would a doughnut do this early in the morning?

Nick pulled his phone from a pocket and checked the display. “I’ve got to take this. I’ll be right back.”

I took a seat, interested in hearing about participants’ experiences with using the app.

Onscreen, an older, bearded gentleman raised his hand to speak and earned a nod from the moderator. “I was skeptical at first,” he said. “I thought they wanted me to show my naked ass on the phone screen. Figured the footage would be hacked by the Russians and used to blackmail me.”

Laughter erupted from the other focus group participants and Nick’s staff.

I got up and headed to the makeshift buffet. I listened as the moderator thanked the participant for his candor, then inquired if other group members initially had concerns about privacy. This kind of fun would only be further improved by breakfast.

Huh. Maybe I’d have one of my Aunt Daisy’s magical doughnuts, maybe with a little bacon, some protein, to balance it out . . .

Samantha joined me. “This looks like some serious decision making over here,” she said through a smile.

“I’m trying to decide how bad I can be,” I said, realizing I wasn’t only talking about the dilemma of jump-starting my day with sugar and being jittery as a result.

I was also trying to figure out what the hell I was doing with Nick, and exactly how much I’d allow to happen.

Sky blue eyes met mine. “But what’s the fun in being good?”

I blinked at her. She smiled again and disappeared.

I picked up a plate, loaded it with a nutritionally balanced meal of a doughnut and bacon, then reached for the coffee carafe just as laughter exploded from the front of the room. Someone shouted something to the runner guy and he responded, scribbling furiously on a sheet of paper.

I returned my attention to the counter and barely caught the flurry of the runner’s