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“I don’t think you’re a jerk,” I said. “I think you want people to think you are, though.”
“Rather than, they think I was soft.”
“Really? You’re a war hero who’s worked in mines, and you’re telling me you think people think you’re soft?”
“Life can get pretty comfortable when you’re at the top,” said Eric. “I like to keep moving, that’s all.”
“Well, with all that forward momentum,” I said, “I can’t believe you’re sitting around here wasting your time with me.”
Eric looked at me for a while. The sunlight from the line of dappled trees outside was shining through the glass.
“Jamie,” he said. “There are a lot of things I think are a waste of time. But you’re not one of them.”
I blushed. I felt myself practically glowing. And it was stupid to deny it and stupid to get angry about it. Even if I wasn’t happy about how much it meant that he said that. I looked into Eric’s eyes, and it was like their light had crossed over me. Like I was suddenly burning, smoldering from the heat of his gaze.
“Thank you,” I said.
“Besides, I’m working from home today,” Eric told me.
“Home?” I questioned.
“Yeah,” he told me. “I just bought this place. About two weeks ago.”
“WHAT?” I said.
“Pretty nice, huh?” said Eric. “I remembered what you said to me about needing somewhere permanent. And I think you’re right. I lived in hotels for years because it was easy. Because it was simple. So, I bought this place and had the penthouse redecorated.”
“You’re joking,” I said. Not for the first time, Eric’s wealth astounded me.
“I’m not,” I said. “I’ll show you afterward if you like.”
My eyes were glued to his collarbone again, to the manly shape of his shoulder and the way the thick tendons on his neck occasionally rippled as he spoke.
“It worked out well the last time,” I said.
Theelevatordingedandopened.
“Wow,” I said.
We were in a black marble lobby with windows on either side. Through one of them, I could see the Common, and through the other, I could see high-rises. Somewhere in the distance was the John Hancock Tower.
“What an eyesore!” quipped Eric as he looked over my shoulder and I laughed. “There goes the neighborhood,” I said.
The doors opened, and I stepped into the place. It was like a cathedral, with an enormous high ceiling and chandeliers hanging on thick metal chains from the wooden beams above.
The place was designed in a way that suited Eric, but if his office was light and bright, airy and spacious, this place was solemn and dark. It had something of a vampire’s lair about it, with dark tiles on the floor and big stone features, including a fireplace that was the size of my bathroom. And at the other end was an enormous floor-to-ceiling glass window that looked out over the Common.
“You’ve got the best view in the city,” I murmured as Eric showed me through the elegant modern furniture to the other end of his place.
“I think that probably belongs to old John Hancock,” said Eric. “But it’s not bad, huh?”
“Can I get a whole tour?” I begged. But this time, I knew what I was doing. Eric could see the expression on my face. He knew that I wanted to be around him and that I was enjoying his company. He led me up the stairs to the second floor. It was open plan, with an enormous loft. At the center of it was a gigantic bed covered with a white bedspread. Around it were tables, bookshelves, and an old stereo with enormous speakers.
“You listen to music?” I said.
“Doesn’t everyone?” he said.
“I guess I just … don’t know,” I said. “Or didn’t. Sometimes I think you must be from another planet. You’re so … detached.”
