Grafton finishes his drink and sets the glass down before approaching. I’m sure he’ll move one of the seats by his desk, but he surprises me by taking the other side of the settee, making me sway toward him before I stiffen, imagining my spine is made of unbending wood.
There’s not enough room, and his knee brushes mine,making me jump. I tuck myself further into the corner, but he only spreads his legs further apart, making it impossible to get away from him.
“So you said.”
It takes me a second to realize he’s responding to what I said before, and my cheeks burn. “Yes.” I clear my throat. “I should go find him. He’ll be wondering?—”
I look up just as his piercing blue eyes slide to me, a brow winging up. “He knows you’re here?”
I purse my lips. “Well, no.” I play with the hem of my skirt. “But if he found out that I am…”
A soft rumble escapes Grafton’s chest. My eyes flash up to his just as somethingdarkflits across his expression. “How would he know?” he asks silkily, his voice stroking over my skin like a physical touch. I don’t need to look at my arms to know that goose bumps are marking my flesh.
His voice should come with a warning.
“My assistant is ordering us lunch.” I don’t think I’m imagining him leaning closer. It feels like he’s stealing the air right from my lungs—like an incubus out for my soul.
Alright. No more late-night TV for me.Clearly, a week of next to no sleep is catching up with me, and with the worst possible timing.
“I suppose some food won’t hurt,” I say uncertainly. “And then I’ll go. It seems like Christopher is busy anyway.”
There’s a lengthy pause, Grafton’s bright blue eyes fixed unwaveringly to my face. “Are you happy, Lynley?”
The question is so unexpected that I splutter out a laugh. “What? Why would you ask…?” I shake my surprise off, saying firmly, “Of course I’m happy.” It’s amazing how one small noise can contain so much doubt. I narrow my eyes at him, demanding, “I’m starting to feel like you have some kind of agenda, bringing me in here like this.”
Apprehension tightens my chest because what do I really know about this man? His name, his position—my husband’s boss—but knowing those things doesn’t mean he’s trustworthy.
They don’t mean he’s safe.
My eyes dart toward the door, gauging the distance and whether I can get there before he has a chance to grab me. He might have a long reach, but I’m smaller, and there’s a good chance I’ll be faster if I have the element of surprise.
“Lynne… Can I call you Lynne?”
Attention still on the door, I mumble, “Most people do. Just not Lynnie.”
“Done,” he says smoothly. I risk a look at him out of the corner of my eye. “Never Lynnie.”
I chew on my bottom lip. “What is this?” I ask shakily. “What do you want from me?”
“I’m not going to hurt you, Lynne.” His eyes crease at the corners when his mouth curls up just the slightest bit. “Just the opposite, actually.”
“I don’t know what that means.”
“You will,” Grafton says, and it’s a promise. Sincerity drops from his words, and the intensity of it sends a shiver of premonition skating over the nape of my neck. He seems to realize that he’s setting me on edge, because he makes an attempt to dial it back when his assistant knocks on the door, coming in with our lunch.
My mouth drops open as she covers the low table in front of us with cartons. “Is someone else joining us?”
“I wasn’t sure what you liked,” he says casually, like ordering every item from a menu is something normal people do.
I don’t comment, just watching as he opens eachcontainer. The fragrant aromas of Mediterranean spices fill the room, and my stomach rumbles.
He glances at me, commenting, “This is one of my favorite restaurants, The Fig & The Olive. I found it not long after moving into town, but it seems like a secret treasure. Most people have never heard of it.”
Acting like saliva isn’t pooling in my mouth, I gingerly reach for the container of moussaka. “I haven’t been there before.”
“Maybe I could take you for dinner one night.”
My eyes widen, but I don’t dare take them off my food. Grafton doesn’t force a response, letting us fall into silence as we eat.
