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“I’m not here because of the shoe.” His voice started to sound strained again. I wondered why his patience was so thin this morning. Did it have anything to do with me? Or was I just too vain to hope for that?
“Then why are you here?” Brick seemed amused by whatever was happening out there. It kind of felt to me as if he were purposely needling Ezra into growing more frustrated instead of less, which was totally one of Brick’s more annoying traits.
I bit my lip as Ezra drew in one more calming breath. “I just wanted to know if you’d contacted the new leather company for a quote and compared prices yet?”
“Oh. No, not yet. But I’ll have my new secretary get to that ASAP.”
Squeezing my eyes closed, I prayed he didn’t mention who his new secretary was or where she was currently hiding.
He was a good stepbrother, though, thank God, and kept his mouth shut.
“Good,” Ezra murmured. “Good. Shoot me the figures as soon as you get them.”
“Will do, boss.”
Silence followed. I winced, leaning as far toward the opening of my hiding space as I dared, hoping to decipher what was happening now. It hadn’t sounded as if Ezra had left—no footsteps to herald his exit—and neither of them had bid the other a farewell, but no one was speaking either.
What the heck were they doing so quietly out there?
Just as I was about to risk another peek, Brick said, “Was… There something else you wanted?”
“Hmm?” Ezra sounded distracted. “No. I mean, no, what makes you think that?” Suspicion entered his tone.
More amusement filled Brick’s. “Maybe because you’re still here.”
“Oh.” Ezra cleared his throat. “Right. Have a good day then.”
I couldn’t handle it anymore, I peeked out in time to see him start for the door, only to reach the entrance and come to a full stop. My heart pounded in my chest the entire five seconds he stood there without moving. Then he reached for the open door… And shut it… While he remained inside Brick’s office with us.
Oh, no.
He spun toward Brick. “So the yellow Power Ranger you took to the Halloween party on Saturday…”
Oh, God.
Brick blinked and sat up, confusion reigning. “You mean, Kaity?”
“Yes!” Ezra snapped his fingers and pointed. “Exactly. Kaity.”
I shivered in my hiding spot as his voice saying my name shimmered through me.
And now it made sense why Ezra had known to come straight here. Of course he’d realize Brick would know who I was, since I’d admitted I’d gone to the party with him. Damn. Why hadn’t I thought of that? I would’ve warned my stepbrother to keep his mouth shut. Except then I would’ve had to tell Brick why he needed to keep his mouth shut, and I really hadn’t wanted to confess to kissing the boss.
Now, I supposed I would have to. Ezra had gone and made sure to pique Brick’s curiosity.
Shit.
Brick glanced past Ezra toward where I was kneeling. I shook my head trying to let him know he was being hustled for information as I silently begged him with my stare, threatening him to shut up and stop giving away anything else about me or I’d hurt him.
“Is that K-A-T-I-E or K-A-T-Y, or something that starts with a C?” Ezra was asking him, sounding completely innocent.
Brick’s gaze slid back to him. “None of the above.” Then he tipped his head to the side and wrinkled his brow as if confused. “Wait. Do you not know her? How do you not know her?”
“I…” Ezra sniffed out an insulted sound. “Of course I know her.”
Brick shot me another questioning glance. While I shook my head at my stepbrother, Ezra turned to see what Brick was looking at. I ducked deeper behind the filing cabinet out of sight, tucking myself in tight to become as small and invisible as possible. One with the filing cabinet.
“Dude.” Brick laughed uneasily as he stood to make his way around his desk to join Ezra. “This is getting freaky weird. What’s going on? Why’re you asking about Kaitlynn of all people?”
