“Maybe?” I hedge.
“They’re dark blue or purple. Do you know why?”
“No clue,” I admit, smiling.
She shifts a little closer.
I can’t help but lean in.
“To prevent sunburn,” she explains. “They also have massive, heavy hearts. I’m talking twenty or twenty-five pounds. That’s how big they have to be to pump blood all the way up a giraffe’s neck.”
“Fascinating,” I murmur, examining the freckles dusted over the bridge of her nose.
Her vast knowledge is impressive. But it’s her unabashed enthusiasm that truly transfixes me. I don’t think I’ve ever cared about anything outside of work and my son as much as she cares about giraffes.
“Do they have giraffes at the rescue?” I wonder out loud.
She nods enthusiastically. “They have three Masai, one of which is only two years old. The email Mauricio forwarded mentioned we might have a chance to feed them.”
The hopeful note of her comment zips right to my heart, bringing with it a need to ensure she gets to feed a giraffe today.
No matter what it takes.
Her phone vibrates then, startling us both and breaking the moment.
Sitting back in her seat, she frowns at the screen. “My session starts in five minutes.” She scrunches her nose in the cutest way. “I’m going to have to put headphones on,” she tells me with what I swear is a hint of regret coating the words.
“No worries.” I keep my tone light, casual, despite how deeply troubled I am by the loss of the quality time I wish we could share. “I have my own work to catch up on.”
I reach for my tablet, and as Evangeline settles in, I pull up my email.
While she greets a few people who join her call, I eavesdrop, watching out of the corner of my eye as she reads a message in the chat box and laughs.
A hot pang of jealousy hits me square in the chest. I want to be the person she’s laughing with; the one to earn all her smiles. Shaking my head, I chide myself.
Get it together, Ric.
I have plenty of work to do. Hell, I almost pulled out of this engagement so I could review more sim data for this week’s race. Amira, though, insisted I be present for this engagement, and Quinn assured me he’d carve out time for me to review what we collect after the practice sessions.
Despite my heavy workload and my usual ironclad focus, I spend the rest of the bus ride pretending to scroll on my tablet while sneaking glances at Evangeline. It’s indulgent and ridiculous and so out of character for me, but I can’t stop myself from hanging on her every word.
I’m so fucking screwed.
CHAPTER 19
ALARIC
Ishouldn’t be here. In fact, I don’t know what the fuck I think I’m doing here.
I’ve paced this hallway three times, passing room number 607, telling myself to get back in the elevator and head up to my suite.
Yet I can’t.
Maybe it’s because after spending so much time together on the bus ride to and from the animal sanctuary, I haven’t laid eyes on Evangeline at all today.
Or it could be Mick’s email. The one informing me that she hasn’t responded to him regarding this week’s menu.
Neither of those realities justifies my actions.
