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Shit, I forgot. “Probably looking for the escaped convict.”
She nodded and fidgeted with her scarf.
What else did people say during small talk? I rubbed the back of my neck. Why was this so awkward? We’d spent hours talking comfortably about finance, economics, and global events, so why was this any different? Maybe I should mention the Fed report I read an hour ago.
I opened my mouth to complain about the monetary policy but snapped it shut before uttering a word. I didn’t want her to think I was only capable of shop talk. So instead, I said, “Weather’s getting colder.”
“It is.”
She turned to look up at me, and I suddenly wanted some hot chocolate.
“I guess you have a parking spot in the building.”
“I do.”
“And you probably have one where you live too.”
“Of course.” Was her small talk as bad as mine?
“That’s why you don’t need a coat when you go out.”
Oops. I hadn’t thought of that. How cold was it outside? A two-mile round-trip walk. I mentally shrugged it off. It didn’t matter. I could handle it. She was worth it.
The elevator stopped on the twenty-eighth floor. To my surprise, three employees shuffled in without looking up. Laura sidled closer to me as the space became cramped. Normally, I wouldn’t move out of the way for anyone, but having her this close to me wasn’t good for a certain part of my anatomy in public. I moved to the side to give her more room.
When the doors slid closed, one of the employees looked up, saw me, and gasped, which alerted the other two, who—eyes widening once they settled on me—scurried to the furthest corner from me and huddled together.
Cowards. I wasn’t that scary. I stared at the door with my hands clasped behind my back, ignoring the employees, but taking a quick glance sideways at my intern. The expression on her face, at least the part visible between the scarf and hat, was a cross between amusement and confusion. Maybe the rumors about me hadn’t reached her yet.
From the reflection on the metal doors, I saw the three employees watching my intern with their mouths agape. One twitched her head as if she was motioning Ms. Bloom to move away from me and join them in the corner.
She snort-laughed.
I knew that laugh now. I was learning all her laughs and quirks. The giggle was the enthusiasm she couldn’t contain. The boisterous laugh was reserved for jokes she found hilarious. And this one, the snort, came out when she was amused by a silly situation or someone’s ridiculous behavior.
That meant she thought it was absurd to suggest that she should step away from me like I was some sort of rabid wolf about to pounce on her.
The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. Finally. The lobby.
The three employees scrambled out ahead of us, almost tripping over each other. As I followed Laura out of the elevator, I tensed. I needed to keep a safe distance from her to avoid arousing suspicion.
Laura. I had never thought much of the name before, but now…I thought it was the most beautiful name. Referring to her as Laura in my thoughts was fine. There was nothing wrong with that. As long as I kept things professional when we spoke. Just like with Aunt Mable.
“Aren’t you on the wrong floor?” she asked as I walked alongside her.
What a weird question. “No.” Had she not caught on yet that I was walking her to her car? I guess I hadn’t mentioned it yet.
“But you said your car was in the building’s underground parking lot.”
Good point. Should I drive her instead? Which was less weird? Which would create fewer rumors? Better to walk her. Walking out of the building at the same time was a coincidence. Her being in my car with me was a scandal.
“I’m in the mood for a walk.”
“Without a jacket?”
I shrugged, pretending this was a normal occurrence. “Don’t need it. I don’t get cold easily.”
The old guard, who’d been at the company longer than I had, shuffled around the counter toward us. “Good evenin’, miss. Would you be needin’ an escort out?”
