I eyed him dubiously. “Really? That’s how you’re going to play it? Even Marc figured it out, and you know that man barely comes out of his office most days.”
Luka swallowed hard, his eyes darting toward the doorway, and I wondered if he was considering making a break for it or if his paranoid thoughts were expecting Marc to come walking through the door at that moment. “I dunno what you mean.”
I sighed, draining the last of my beer and, after dropping it into a bin meant for glass bottles, turned to make myself a cocktail. “We both figured it out, Luka. And clearly, if I waitedthis longto bring it up, that means your ass is not grass. True, I wondered early on, before everything about Rowan came to light, but I didn’t have proof. It wasn’t until you were both in Marc’s office that I realized it wasn’t a blossoming romance that was being held back, but one that was already in full force.”
A complicated expression screwed up Luka’s features. “I…yeah, I guess.”
“You guess what?”
“I have no fucking idea. I’m trying to wrap my head around the fact that we’re even having this conversation. All casual and whatever, instead of standing on the other side of a desk as I prepare to take my walking papers.”
“Well, there’s a slightly anachronistic term,” I chuckled. “But worry not, my good man, you’ll not be getting your walking papers…or even written up. I figured I should speak to you about it, which I mean, I am, aren’t I?”
“Right,” he said, surprising me by draining his glass and promptly refilling it. This time with more tequila, before clearing his throat and after glancing at me, heading toward the exit. Taking his cue, I followed him as he navigated the hallways. It was still early enough on the first day of the two-day party that the employees hadn’tyetdrifted from the cafeteria. Eventually they would, moving about in drunken herds to find a place to talk, or sometimes, something a little more…intimate.
Eventually, he found a secluded corner in one of the sitting areas near the large windows that looked out onto the Rockies. The sun was inching its way down the horizon, setting the sky to glow with the fading light of a dying fire as he dropped into a seat with a sigh. “Right, so…what?”
I snorted. “A little dramatic, but considering the circumstances, I’ll forgive you and let it go with this comment.”
“Aren’t you just sweet?” he asked dryly. “Am I supposed to confess or something?”
“Honestly, any concerns or issues I had would have been addressed a long time ago,” I said with a shrug, sliding into the seat opposite him. “It was clearly mutual; there was no coercion or force used, or at least I didn’t get that feeling.”
He squirmed in his seat. “Well, I wasn’t like…thrilled about it at first. It felt wrong. He was the one who kept pointing out that even if I had ‘Guide’ in my title, that wasn’t the same as someone who had power over him.”
“Effective logic,” I agreed, though I could see from the doubtful look on his face, he thought it was flimsy at best. True, it was a gray area that I certainly wouldn’t have risked personally, but I wasn’t Luka. Plus, even I knew there were things that sometimes were…outside your control. And hell, even I had to admit Rowan was a good-looking man. I didn’t see the appeal of his grumpy personality, but I also hadn’t gotten to know him on the personal level Luka had. “And I take it things continued after he left?”
“I…yeah,” he said, and this time the complicated expression felt both pleased and nervous as he looked out the window. “We’re…figuring things out. It’s kinda difficult with me being here most of the time, and it’s not like he’s going to stop doing his job, which means a lot of travel on his part. But you know…we’re figuring it out.”
“I’ll level with you,” I told him. “I’m not happy about it. I’m not pissed, but I’m not happy either. If this were some other facility, I would have had no choice but to do something, but as it is, this place is Marc and my baby, so we get to decide what does or doesn’t happen. In this case? I’m making an exception because I can’t exactly be one of the founders and run a place built on the principle of giving people freedom to find health and happiness and then turn around and treat something like this as if it’s black and white.”
Luka nodded slowly and then glanced at me dubiously. “Where’s the ‘but’ come in?”
“But,” I said with a slow smile. “I won’t pretend it doesn’t mean I won’t be wary of you in the future. I wouldn’t call it being in trouble or on probation, but I’m going to be wary.”
Luka stared at me for a few seconds, his nostrils flaring before he turned back to the window, looking unhappy. “You have to think about the guys here more than me. As you should.”
“He says, sounding pissy about it.”
“No one likes being treated with suspicion, even if it’s mild and comes from an understandable place. Honestly? I’d probably have lost respect for you if you didn’t treat me differently after Rowan. You need to be cautious, and even letting me stay here is a risk; I know that. Or at least, as far as you and Mr. Shepherd are concerned.Iknow I’m not a risk to any of the guys here, because I live in my own head. But that doesn’t mean I’m happy about it. I just accept it and expect it.”
“We’ll put you with someone who isn’t at their most desperate…and has been here a few times,” I said with a shrug. “It’ll be less demanding. Give you time to ease into the role better. It’s on me for throwing you into the water and demanding you swim like an expert.”
He gave a wry, humorless smile. “Also means they’re in a better mental state. Less likely I could take advantage. And they’re more comfortable with the staff here, so more willing to report if I act like a creep.”
“I said I’d level with you,” I said with a shrug. “I get no pleasure out of being so mercenary.”
“It is what it is,” he said with a sigh, taking a deep drink. “But now I’ve got you alone?—”
“This had better be you getting ready to confess you’re secretly, madly in love with me and want me to ravish you on the spot rather than you going where I think you’re going,” I told him in warning.
“Who the fuck says ravish?”
“Me.”
“That is…something,” Luka said, with a shake of his head. “Anyway. No, I do not…ew.”
“Geez, and they said the worst anyone could ever say was ‘no.’ Yet here we are with ‘ew’ instead.”
