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“The system has a lot of weaknesses, but I’ve made some headway. I’ll put everything I do this week in a report on Friday for you.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“Yeah, I do, remember? You have to have something to give to my probation officer weekly.”
“Oh, yeah. I almost forgot. Has he given you a date for his home visit?”
“Not yet. I’m going to go out on a limb and say I’m not a priority, since I’m not a violent offender, and they assume you’re monitoring me.”
“I bet you’re right.”
“Still, I probably should put my things in the guest room so I’m ready in case he makes a surprise visit.”
“Oh. I hadn’t thought of that.”
“You’ll get your closet back, so that’s good news.”
He stayed quiet for a beat as he pulled in line to the parking gate, then without acknowledging her closet remark, murmured, “Janice was off today; we’ll have to fend for ourselves tonight for dinner. Where do you want to stop for takeout?”
“I can make us something.”
His brow was furrowed as he looked over at her. “You just worked all day. You’re not going home and cooking, too.”
His thoughtfulness made her swoon.
Who am I? she thought as fidgeted with the air conditioning controls for the passenger side. I don’t swoon!
But as she watched him behind the wheel in his Clark Kent glasses then remembered how he’d performed like Superman that morning, she conceded, Maybe I do.
The clock on his dash read 6:23.
“You’re getting out of here early tonight,” she quipped when he flashed his hospital badge in front of the card reader and the gate came up. “Arriving late to the office yesterday, leaving early today… people are going to start to talk—more than they already are.”
She wasn’t expecting him to say, “Yeah, about that…” as he pulled onto the street. “I want to apologize. I hadn’t stopped to think how people knowing about our relationship could affect you. It’s probably better if we try to pass yesterday off as me being an over-enthusiastic, unattached CEO greeting the pretty, single new hire. If you start driving yourself, and we limit our interaction at the hospital, it will be easy enough to get people to believe it.”
He was right, of course. She’d heard the whispers yesterday and seen the stares. But there was still a feeling of disappointment that they wouldn’t be riding together or interacting. She enjoyed this time with him.
“I didn’t notice anything today, did you?”
“Well, we weren’t together today, but there were rumors circulating from yesterday. Hopefully, I’ve mitigated them. I’ll be honest, I didn’t think this through very well.”
His confession surprised her, and she wasn’t sure how to react, so she went with teasing.
“You might regret having those kinky desires fulfilled.”
Liam looked over at her, his face serious. “Not a chance, little bee. They can fucking fire me, and I wouldn’t regret a single minute.”
Damn.
“Well, let’s try to avoid that,” she quipped, “since you’re the only one making money right now. The last thing you need is people thinking you’re dating the woman who hacked the hospital’s system. Even if I’m not really your girlfriend.”
“I don’t care about me, honey. I’ve got plenty of money, and I couldn’t give a shit about the rumors. It’s you I’m worried about. I’m sorry I didn’t recognize yesterday that it isn’t such a good idea to publicize we hired my girlfriend.” He took his eyes off the road and gave her a pointed look when he said “my girlfriend”. “Although I’m not sure what to do about Parker’s award ceremony this Friday. Don’t forget, you still need a dress for that, by the way.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t go? Won’t there be board members there?”
“You’re going. Any board member there will be at another table. And even if they weren’t, I’m not sure they even know your name. Our attorney just referred to you as ‘the perpetrator’ at the meeting when we discussed your restitution.”
“But won’t they put two and two together?”
