Page 53 of Falling Fast
‘Whatever you want.’
‘Oh.’ I’m taken aback by the ease of his answer. He didn’t even hesitate. ‘OK. In that case, I also think we should keep it a secret, for a while anyway.’
‘A secret?’ This time he looks confused.
‘Yes. At work, I mean. Contractually, I ought to inform HR, but I don’t want people there to start seeing me asLeif Olsen’s girlfriend.’
‘You think they’d treat you differently?’
‘Possibly. They might think they have to mind what they say around me. And it could make things awkward, especially if I have to ask you questions on subjects like your perfect woman again.’
‘If you ask me that, I’ll tell you the truth.’ His gaze roams over my face. ‘She has hair like cinnamon, eyes like summer grass and seven freckles on her nose.’
Desire flares in my stomach. To my knowledge, nobody has ever counted my freckles before. Or called me their perfect woman …
‘I also don’t want anyone to think I’m getting preferential treatment.’ I try to stay on point. ‘I mean, what if I was offered another chance to be your minder? People might assume it was because we were together, rather than because I was good at my job.’
‘You’re phenomenal at your job. Everyone knows that.’ He smiles softly. ‘But if it bothers you then fine, we won’t tell anyone.’
‘You’d really be all right with that?’
‘Yes.’
‘Thank you.’ I repress a pang of guilt. I mean, I’m not lying. I do want to keep things professional and for nobody at work to treat me any differently. I’m just not telling him the whole truth – that I don’t want Quezada to hear any gossip about me either.
‘Is there anything else?’ Leif cocks his head.
‘No.’ I exhale heavily. I almost can’t believe how easy that was. ‘That’s everything.’
‘Good. Because I still haven’t shown you the best bit of this house.’
I gesture at the view. ‘What could be better than this?’
‘One more room, but –’ he smooths a hand across his jaw – ‘it’s kind of personal.’
I peer at him dubiously. ‘It’s not some kind of sex dungeon, is it?’
‘No, that hasn’t been installed yet.’ His eyes twinkle. ‘But you might find this just as stimulating.’
‘Show me.’ I push myself off the railing. ‘Whatever it is, I’m sure I can handle it.’
‘I’m sure of that too.’ His lips curve again. ‘This way.’
The tense atmosphere from before is gone because thistime, when he holds a hand out, I take it, threading our fingers together as we walk back through his bedroom-campsite and across the landing.
‘Don’t say I didn’t warn you.’ He opens a door slowly.
‘No. Way.’ My mouth drops open.
He squeezes my fingers.
‘Leif …’ I turn to look at him.
‘Yep.’
‘This is …’
‘Uh-huh.’
