DeLuca leans against the window, his gaze steady. “You know how you sometimes get to a point in a project when it’s just sinking time and money, going nowhere?”
“I suppose so,” I say. “Can’t say it’s happened to me.”
He gives that the wry smile itdeserves. “Ironic, because I think it’s happening to you right now.” His eyes narrow. “If I were you, I’d cut Victoria loose.” His eyes flick to Rita and back to me. “You might genuinely want to consider switching horses.”
“Why’s that?” I ask, fingers twitching with the desire to check her map. It sounded a lot like a threat.
“Let’s just say her job and your career may not be compatible any longer.”
Rita gives a breathless little laugh. “Oh, so timely.” She pushes herself up, smooths down her short skirt, and slinks around my desk until she’s standing beside me, a hand draped over my shoulder. “I’ve been telling Alex he should do just that for weeks now. I thought our kiss at the dance would get the message public, but…” She sighs fondly like I’m past all hope, and pats my chest, addressing DeLuca. “He’s a little slow when it comes to matters of the heart, but I’m working on him.”
I’m aware I’m sitting stiffly, resisting the urge to push Rita away, and DeLuca’s eyes miss nothing. But maybe he’ll put it down to that condescending comment. Or maybe not.
I slip an arm around Rita’s waist, tugging her a little closer, and she takes my hand and blatantly slides it down to her ass.
And that’s a step too far. She knows it; she knows I know it. This isn’t a move to undermine Vicky. She’s playing, asking me to run with her ploy.
I give her ass a couple of pats and let him read what he wants into it.
DeLuca watches our performance withoutemotion. “I see.” He nods, half to himself. “I underestimated you, Alexander. I suppose this is why they were both at the dance?”
“It was your suggestion, if you recall,” I say, reminding him, while ignoring it’s only a half-truth. “You all but gave me permission to bring Rita. We thought that was public acknowledgment… until Bastien then invited Vicky.” I give a little shake of my head. “That threw us, I won’t deny.”
“Well… quite.” His eyes narrow, regarding us for a moment longer, then he shrugs and heads for the door. “Enjoy your evening… both of you.”
“Oh, we will.” Rita’s tone exudes promise.
DeLuca seems mollified and closes the door behind him.
Rita tenses, then gives a playful laugh and drapes herself across my lap. It catches me by surprise, and I almost push her away.
Then the door opens again. Rita gasps in pleasure, like I’ve just touched her, before cutting it off abruptly and looking toward the door with a nervous laugh.
“Just one other thing—” DeLuca pauses with a foot inside the door. “My apologies.”
I slide a hand up Rita’s thigh. “No problem. We’re outside of official hours, aren’t we?”
He chuckles. “Indeed, indeed. Greenstone update?”
That’s a blatant fabrication. I don’t owe him anything. “We’ll give you one for Monday. We’ll be…workingover the weekend.”
“I’m sure you will.” He gives another laugh andcloses the door again.
We both still, listening, and this time we hear his footsteps walk away.
“That was quick thinking,” I murmur to her.
“It had to be.” She uses the edge of my desk to lever herself off my lap, and straightens her clothing. “Working with you, a pretty face might open a door, but it doesn’t keep you in the room.”
She’s not wrong, as always, and I owe her a lot. “Thank you for…”Covering for me.But that doesn’t cut it. “…everything.”
“Thank you?” she echoes, with a note of surprise. Then she gives me a sad smile. “It’s strange to think that’s as close as I’ll ever get to you.” She pauses, unblinking as she regards me, eyes filled with some deep emotion. “This feels like goodbye.”
“It’s not. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
“Oh, I’ll be here. Still… you’re really leaving.”
“Well, yes.” I feel a twinge of guilt. Her emotions have seemed more genuine in the past two days than any time in the past two years. It’s entirely one-sided, but I still can’t help feeling bad for her. What must it be like to love, and not be loved in return?
