Page 37 of Lizzy's Story

“Eliza.” The voice cracked like a whip, severing me from the everyday sounds of the office and stripping me of their comfort.

“Yes, ma’am?” I turned to face Maxine. This was the encounter I both dreaded and needed. She had to see me here, trying to earn the promotion I so desperatelywanted. But the man at my side complicated things considerably.

“Who is that?” Her sharp gaze assessed Darcy.

“My… boyfriend.” I tried not to choke on the word.

Maxine’s eyes widened a little, but the rest of her expression could’ve been carved from stone. “And what is he doing here?”

I thought fast, trying to satisfy her without revealing anything compromising about Darcy. “He’s helping me with research for my story.”

She was silent for one second. Two. Three.

“I expect a copy of your first draft in my inbox by tomorrow night.” She turned and disappeared into her office.

“Yes, ma’am.” The words spilled from me even though she was already gone, and my shoulders relaxed. I walked to my desk and picked up my laptop. I had nothing outlined and tomorrow was far too soon for the story, but Maxine didn’t accept excuses. Only results.

“Let’s go before I have to introduce you to anyone else,” I said.

Darcy was silent as I led us back to the elevator. We were almost home free.

I pressed the button, my foot tapping on the tile as I waited for it to arrive.

“Bennet!”

I stiffened and bit back a curse. Letting my boss know about Darcy was one thing, but sharing it with my coworkers was another.

Darcy’s grip tightened around mine as if he could sense my hesitation, so I forced a smile and turned to greet Riley. “Hey.”

“Where are you going? Didn’t you just get in?” Riley’s gaze bounced between Darcy and me before falling to our connected hands. Was it so weird to see me with a man?

“I came for my laptop.” I held up the case dangling from my fingers. “But I have a tip I’m going to check now. I need to get going.”

“Wait.” Riley grabbed my wrist, the dragon tattoo on his upper arm peeking out from under his sleeve. “I’ll go with you. I can help.”

I fought to keep my smile and stuck with the same line I’d already used on Maxine, ignoring my phone as itbuzzed in my pocket. “Thanks, but I don’t need help, and I don’t want you getting behind on your work.”

“If you don’t need help, then why ishegoing?” Riley’s hand tightened on my wrist.

Next to me, Darcy stiffened but said nothing.

“He’s going with me because”—I racked my brain for some sort of excuse—“he’s a witness, and I’m interviewing him.”

Riley’s brown eyes widened, and he turned his attention on Darcy, as if sizing him up for the first time. “And you are?”

Darcy straightened to his full height and held out a hand, forcing Riley to let go of mine. “Darcy.”

Riley took it, his dark hand straining against Darcy’s lighter one. Their grip looked tighter than was necessary.

Riley’s eyes flashed. “Darcy…?”

“Just Darcy.”

“Did you finish your story about the werewolf attack?” I asked, desperate for some conversation topic to distract the two.

“Still working on it,” Riley said to me without taking his attention from Darcy. “I have a few witnesses from New Hope I need to interview.”

Something about what he said niggled at me, but before I could figure it out, the elevator dinged its arrival.