Page 58 of Brighter Together

Fuck.

Ella’s cheeks turn from pink to red, but she holds my gaze.

“And when we get back to Fellside,” she says, “we decide whether this was just an itch or whether we actually want to try something.”

I consider that.

It’s probably not the sensible solution.

It is, however, the one that I actually want.

“So Manchester is a trial run?”

Her nose wrinkles. “That sounds horribly corporate.”

“You proposed it.”

“I said test.”

“That isn’t much better.”

“Fine. Manchester is…”

She waves one hand between us, searching for the word.

“…research.”

I laugh. “Research?”

“Very important research.”

“Into?” I ask.

“Compatibility.” She gives me a cheeky little smile.

“We already know we work well together—” she continues.

“Most of the time.” I wink.

Her mouth drops open. “Rude.”

“I’m just saying there are occasional incidents involving dangerously hot coffee.”

“You survived,” she chuckles.

“Barely.”

She shifts slightly closer.

“What we don’t know is whether we work outside the hotel,” she continues.

“Or in bed?” I blurt out.

There goes the last thread of our employer-employee relationship.

Her eyebrows rise. “You went there quickly.”

“I’m sor—”