“Aren’t you going to kiss me?” she whispers.
My gaze slides from her eyes to her mouth. She has a pronounced Cupid’s bow. Her bottom lip is bigger than her top lip and looks soft and extremely kissable.
I’ve wanted to kiss her for days now. But she doesn’t really want that. She’s been drinking, and she’s feeling vulnerable and lonely after meeting her ex, that’s all, and she feels safe with me. That makes me feel good… but I can’t give in to my feelings forher. I can’t protect her if I do that. And I have no doubt she’d regret it tomorrow.
I lift my gaze back to hers. “No.”
She looks at my mouth. Her eyes turn sultry. She’s thinking about kissing me. “Are you sure?”
I swallow, and she watches my Adam’s apple move. “I’m sure.” I add, “Ma’am,” as a reminder of my position.
She looks back up at me. Then, without smiling, she turns and walks back into the building.
*
Half an hour later, she asks to go home. We drive in silence to the ferry, and once I’ve parked the car, she gets out and walks off without waiting for me. I sigh, get out, and follow her onto the deck. She’s standing by the railing, looking down at the dark water, clutching her bolero jacket around her. She looks sad.
“You okay?” I ask, joining her and leaning on the railing.
“I’m fine.” She scratches at a mark on the bar. “I’m going on a date with Ivan next Friday.” She waits a moment, then looks at me, waiting for my reaction.
My jaw clenches, and I have to force the words out. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Aren’t you going to say anything?”
If I’m curt or angry, I’ll give myself away. So I say, “Where’s he taking you?”
“Just for a drink at Angels.” It’s a trendy bar in the city. She tosses back her hair. “I suppose you’re going to want to come and watch.” Her words are sassy, taunting. She wants me to fight with her.
When I don’t say anything, she studies my face. Her chest heaves as if she’s struggling not to say something. Is her bottom lip trembling?
I soften. “Aurelia…”
The emotion fades from her face, and she looks back at the ocean. “I’d like to be alone,” she says stiffly.
I pause, reluctant to leave it like that. But what can I possibly say? I can’t admit to her that I like her. She has a stalker, and I won’t be able to keep her safe if I get emotionally involved with her. Plus Marcus will kill me.
“Yes, ma’am,” I murmur, and I walk away, taking a seat across the other side of the boat.
She doesn’t move for the rest of the journey.
When the ferry arrives, we make our way back to the car. We get in, and I head the car off the boat and into the city.
We don’t speak again until we pull up at her apartment building.
“You needn’t come up,” she states. “I’ll be fine.”
“Sorry, ma’am, I have to come with you.”
She makes an exasperated sound in the back of her throat, gets out, and slams the door. I follow her, gritting my teeth. I’m the good guy here!
We go into the elevator, and I punch the button for the top floor. The doors close, and the carriage rises slowly.
“Don’t glare at me,” I tell her eventually.
“I’m your boss,” she says. “I can do what I like.”
“Marcus is my boss. You’re just my principal.” In my pocket, I press the button and say, “On our way to the apartment.”
