Page 21 of Merry & Bright

I stared at him, horrified. He’d actuallyagreedwith me. Somehow, I hadn’t expected that.

Whatever Rob saw on my face right then made his eyebrows furrow into a frown over the bridge of his perfectly straight nose, and his warm brown eyes shone with concern. He reached across the kitchen table and laid one big hand over mine.

I stared at our two hands resting on the wooden surface of the table. I was lean and angular, while Rob was big and sturdy and I could see the physical differences between us even in our hands, his square and capable, mine long-fingered and narrow.

His hand was warm on mine, a comforting, soothing weight.

“When I first met you,” he said softly. “I didn’t know what to make of you at all.”

I looked up. He had a funny expression on his face, watching me carefully.

“You were kind of an arrogant little shit,” he said, that quirky half-smile of his taking the sting out of his words—some of it, anyway. “But you were also bright and quick and dynamic. You walked into my old office knowing almost nothing about the place, and within a week you had it all pegged: the structure, the systems, the people.” He met my gaze. “And you were funny. So sharp you could cut yourself, as Mum would say. But funny with it.”

I watched him warily. “So, you’re saying you didn’t...hate me?”

“No. In fact—” He cleared his throat. “In fact, I’d planned to ask you out.”

My jaw dropped—literally. I stared at Rob—at that stupidly oh-so-handsome face—and for several long moments I couldn’t think of a thing to say.

“Like, on adate?” I asked at last, still not quite believing what he was telling me.

He blushed.

I stared, fascinated by this rare evidence of discomfort from the poised Rob Paget.

“Yes,” he said, after a moment. “On a date. But then you offered me a job and—well, there was no way I could start anything up with you after that.” He paused, then added with a shrug, “Even if you’d wanted to.”

If I’dwantedto?

Fuck, if I’d ever dreamed someone like Rob could ever be interested in me, I’d never have offered him a job, except as my 24/7 sex slave maybe.

But wait.

I can’t believe I used to defend you.

“And then you started working for me,” I said faintly. “And discovered what I’m really like.”

For one long moment, we just stared at one another, and I don’t know how I looked, but Rob looked appalled.

“Quin—”

Dragging my gaze from his, I stood up, the legs of my chair screeching against the floor. I hated that Rob was seeing me like this. Stupidly handsome Rob who had apparently, against all odds, liked me for a little bit, despite seeing all the worst parts of me.

I hated that a chance I hadn’t even known about was gone now.

“I should go,” I mumbled, then scrubbed my hands over my face, hard.

“I don’t think you should be alone right now,” Rob said. And there was that worry again, edging his voice.

I ignored that and reached for my bomber jacket, yanking it on and zipping it up. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I have go.” My voice was husky and I couldn’t look at Rob as I spoke. It was ridiculous.Iwas ridiculous.

Rob stood up then too. “At least let me drive you home,” he said, his voice gentle, coaxing.

“I can walk.”

“Quin,please.”

“Fine, I’ll get a taxi then.”