He slows and stops at a set of traffic lights, but still doesn’t say anything.
“Did Marcus tell you about our relationship?” I ask suspiciously.
“A little.”
“Jesus, can’t I have any secrets? Why does my whole life have to be torn apart and dissected?”
He glances at me. “Marcus thought it was best that I was informed, that’s all.”
“What did he say?”
“Just that he thought the guy was controlling.” I roll my eyes, and he adds, “The irony doesn’t escape me.”
Annoyed that they both think they can have a say in my private life as well as my professional one, I reaffirm to myself that I’m going to continue to make Luke’s life a misery. I don’t care that it’s his job. He and Marcus are in cahoots, and I’m furious at them both.
I remember when I got emotional at the café, and he asked if I was faking it. I replied that I never faked anything, and he all but blushed.
If I can’t ditch him, maybe there’s another way I can force him to quit.
“Are you jealous?” I ask.
He stares at me then. “What? No.”
“Are you sure? It’s okay to admit it.”
“I’m not jealous.”
“I mean, relationships often develop when two people work together as closely as this…”
“I’ve been working for you one day,” he points out.
“Yes, but you have to admit there’s chemistry between us.”
He opens his mouth to say something, but no words come out. His eyes meet mine, and to my surprise there’s a little heat in them.
“Oh…” I say softly. “Youdothink there’s chemistry. Interesting…”
He blinks, and then his expression hardens. “I know what you’re doing.”
“I’m not doing anything. You admitted it.”
“Jesus,” he mumbles. He puts the car into Drive as the lights change and heads off down the road. “Marcus warned me, but I didn’t believe him.”
“Doesn’t seem as if you’ve had ample training in this area.”
He throws me a wry glance before he signals and turns at a junction.
My heart is still racing a little from the heat that flared in his eyes. He likes me. I didn’t expect that when I teased him. Not that it means anything; he’d never get involved with his principal, as he calls me. But it might prove useful, even if Marcus has warned him that flirting is a technique I might employ.
He turns onto my road and heads down into the underground car park. Once he’s parked, we get out and walk to the elevator. I go into the carriage, and I’m surprised when he follows.
“You’re going up with me?” I ask.
He nods. “From now on I’ll go into your apartment first and you can wait until I give the all clear.” He presses the button for my floor, and the doors close.
I lean back against the wall and survey him. He looks straight ahead, but his gaze flicks over to me a couple of times. He’s clearly uncomfortable with me observing him.
“What?” he asks eventually.
