a hand along the side of his jaw, his lips turning down. “You’re right. He didn’t look at it before he gave it to you.”
Easton didn’t seem the type to make mistakes like that, but I couldn’t think of another reasonable explanation. Well, there was one. Lila had distracted him. I hated to believe that was it, but I had to get used to the idea that they were together now. My chest squeezed and pain rushed through so fast it was hard to breathe. I couldn’t go back and face him and Lila again. I just couldn’t. “Let’s go to lunch. We’ll return it later.”
Bruce appeared unsure about that decision. “I don’t know. What if you lose it while we’re out? Do you want to take that chance?”
In my mind, the alternative was far worse than losing five hundred dollars. I’d pay it back if I had to, but there was no way I was interrupting their private lunch. “I won’t lose it. It’s fine.” I put the money in my purse and then got in his car and buckled my seatbelt.
He slid in the vehicle, and we sat there for a few minutes while we discussed where we wanted to go. We finally decided on a Mexican restaurant nearby that allowed customers to order at the register and then sit down. It was cheap, but the food was delicious and neither of us wanted to chance using the five-hundred-dollars Easton had given us. We were definitely returning the money.
Once we had our meals, we ate in companionable silence. Bruce cleared his throat. “Was it just me or did Mr. Radcliffe not seem happy to see Lila? That whole situation was weird.”
I took a bite of my burrito and chewed, considering his words. “I’m sure he prefers to keep his personal life private. That’s all that was about.”
Bruce nodded slowly. “Yeah, I guess. I thought he’d be happier, though.” He wiped hot sauce off the side of his mouth with a napkin and then frowned. “But then again, he probably handed over the money to get rid of us so he’d have more time with her.”
I didn’t argue with that because he was most likely right, but it didn’t sit well with me just the same. I didn’t want to get between Easton and Lila, and I would have left on my own, without being offered money to do so. We finished eating and then headed back to the office. Once we parked, I drew the five hundred out of my purse and handed it to Bruce. “Here you go.”
He glanced at the bill in my hand and recoiled as if I were offering him poison. “It was your decision not to use it, so I think you should return it to him.”
“I thought we both decided that.”
“You were the one who said we had to give it back.”
“But you agreed.”
He laughed. “He responds better to you.”
I looked at him incredulously. “Are you scared of him?”
“No, of course not, but he softens up when he’s with you.”
Coward. What was I thinking? We were both cowards. “Fine.” I tightened my fingers around the bill and let out a breath, dreading what I had to do. Maybe I’d wait another hour just in case he and Lila were taking a longer lunch.
But as it turned out, I didn’t have to wait because we exited the elevator at the same time that Lila walked up. She pressed the down button and grimaced when she saw us. “So ungrateful,” she said under her breath.
Was she speaking of us or Easton?
There was a question in Bruce’s eyes as well. “Leaving already?” He lingered at the door.
I wasn’t the type to pry, but I was curious, not that I wanted many details. If Lila and Easton had an argument, it was none of our business.
The corners of Lila’s lips turned down, and she nodded sourly. “Easton has a lot of work to do today.” Her shoulders slumped forward in defeat, and I felt a little sorry for her at that moment.
“Everything okay?” Bruce asked.
“Of course.” The elevator doors opened, and she stepped inside. “Have a nice day,” she said in a dismissive tone, not the least bit gracious for the help Bruce had provided earlier.
The doors closed and Bruce let out a low chuckle. “Wow. Okay…”
I offered him a sympathetic smile. “It was kind of you to help. I’m sure Easton appreciated the effort you made.”
Charlotte had said Lila was nice, and everyone had bad