Page 35 of Darling Obsession
“Oh, he was just worried about what you all might think,” I offer quickly.
Why is Graysen frowning like that?
Is it just me, or is the whole vibe in the air changing?
“This is why you didn’t want us to meet Darla?” Savannah asks Harlan, looking slightly concerned. “Because she works for us?”
“Isn’t it interesting.” Damian’s eyes twinkle in a way that I’m not sure how to take, though an uncomfortable feeling is gathering in my gut. “She’s an employee.” The way he looks atHarlan, like a cunning cat with a juicy mouthful of canary, makes my stomach turn.
Uh-oh. Is this bad?
Yes. Judging by the displeased look on Graysen’s face, it’s very, very bad.
“Um, only for a few weeks now,” I say quickly.
“So, we hired her well after you started sleeping with her?” Damian ventures, looking amused. “What a relief.”
“Damian,” Savannah warns as Harlan slides his chair back, getting to his feet.
What’s happening??
“It was definitely after.” I glance nervously at Harlan. “I mean…”
“Let’s get that cake.” Harlan takes me by the elbow, guiding me to my feet. “I’ll help you.” He ushers me through a door, the one his staff have been using to serve us all night, and down a long hall—then pushes me gently up against the wall.
“What was that?” he demands in a low voice.
“What?!” I whisper-shout. “I panicked. I didn’t know what to say! Why didn’t you jump in? You said you’d take care of it if Damian recognized me.”
“How could I? You answered so fast.”
“When was Isupposedto say we started sleeping together?”
“It doesn’t matter. Just stop talking so much.”
“You told me to say whatever!”
“I didn’t tell you to talk incessantly.”
“How can I not? You never say anything!”
He glowers. “How can anyone get a word in when you chatter away all the time, telling everyone your entire life story?”
“I barely told them anything. And you told me to answer their questions!”
“Correct, I saidanswer. Yes, no. How hard is that?”
“Well, how does anyone get to know anyone if all they supply is yes or no answers?”
“They don’t need to know you. They just need to believe you.”
I take a frustrated breath. “And do they believe me now that I totally stumbled over answering the simple question of how long we’ve been seeing each other?”
“It’s fine. I’ll just tell them you’re nervous because you know that I’ve been hiding our relationship, and you didn’t know what you were supposed to say. They’ll just think you’re covering for me. They’ll believe me.” He adds distractedly, wandering away into his calculating brain, “This isn’t exactly the first time I’ve kept something from them.”
“Well, I’m not used to lying. It feels weird lying to my employers, who I happen to like. Savannah’s cool. ”
Harlan refocuses on me. I’m breathing hard.
