“So you’re using a guide to corporate trust building.” She sat back in her chair, lips pursed. “Not romantic or friend-oriented trust building.”
“Only other guide I found was for established couples.Cosmo.” He scratched his bearded jaw. “Lots of blindfolds there too, actually.”
Fun, quick read. Although the position they’d recommended asparticularly conducive for intimacy? He’d dislocate his damn hip.
He cleared his throat. “Not, uh... not stuff we can do yet. Didn’t have much of a choice, really. Either corporate trust building or nothing.”
She exhaled slowly and said nothing.
“Article listed lots of large-group activities. I narrowed downthe suggestions. Chose things that’d work for just the two of us.” He gestured to the table. “Already completed the first exercise without you even knowing. Eating together to build trust. Pretty slick, huh?”
Honestly, most things on the list? Weird and embarrassing—but also a breeze.Of coursehe’d make sure she didn’t get hurt while blindfolded.Of coursehe’d keep his word to her. Catch her, guide her, feed her, whatever. That was the sort of task-oriented shit heexcelledat. Way easier than the more personally revealing activities on the list, which he’d ignored.
Building trust should take a week, max. He was a natural.
“Karl...” Leaning forward again, she set her elbows on the desk. Rubbed her face for a moment before dropping her hands. “Lunch was amazing, and I appreciate all your... uh, in-depth corporate research. But here’s the thing: I already know you won’t let me trip or fall. I’m not sure what a blindfolded trust walk would actually prove or how it would help.”
Her voice sounded incredibly tired. Also sincere.
Too bad he didn’t understand what the hell she was telling him. If she already knew he wouldn’t let her get injured on his watch and he’d guide her safely to the finish line, wasn’t that trust?
Why were they even doing all this crap, then?
Unless...
Was the whole trust thing about honesty instead? Making sure he’d tell her the truth? Because if she wanted proof he couldn’t lie for shit, the list had an exercise for that.
“Fine.” He slapped his hands on the table and stood, scanning the office for blank notepads and pens. “Two Truths and a Lie, then. You done that before?”
“Of course. But...” The fingertips of one hand rubbed hertemple. “I already know you can’t lie worth a damn, Dean. Your inability to tell a convincing falsehood is right up there with your inability to whisper. Unless that’s changed over the years, there’s no point wasting our time to establish something I don’t even question.”
Well, now he was completely lost. “Then what the hell do you...”
Aggrieved beyond words, he glowered at her and tugged roughly at his beard.
“Okay.” She laid her palms flat on the desk and met his eyes. “Here’s the thing, Karl. Making sure I’m not physically injured isn’t enough to make me trust you. Not lying isn’t enough either. It helps, but...” Her huff of laughter was bitter as pith. “My ex would keep me from falling when I lost my balance. One time, when a pan on the stove overheated and caught on fire, he snatched my hands away before I got burned. And he never outright lied to me. That didn’t mean he was trustworthy.”
Her face was expressionless. Entirely calm.
Her eyes? Wounded and wary.
“What...” His hands curled into fists. “What did that bastard—”
“No.” That was all she said. All she needed to say.
He dropped it. Wasn’t going to be the asshole who forced her to discuss something she wanted to keep private. Something that obviously hurt her.
But her reticence only proved what she’d already said. She didn’t trust him. Not fully. She’d shot down most of his trust-building exercises, though, so how the hell was he supposed to prove himself to her?
He flopped into his office chair again. Groaned. Ripped spreadfingers through his hair. Frantically racked his stupid goddamn brain.
“Hold on.” Across from him, her face brightened, and she straightened in her own chair. “I have an idea.”
The woman looked entirely too gleeful.
He eyed her suspiciously. “What?”
“I know exactly what we should do.” Slowly, she smiled at him. “It’ll show me what you’re like in a stressful situation you didn’t plan for and can’t fully control. And you’re going to absolutely hate it.”
