Page 39 of Never Lie
I enter the documentation room just in time to hear Luke patiently explaining to Dr. Griffith the difference between single clicking and double clicking for what I’m sure is the third or fourth time. I can tell by the way Dr. Griffith’s bushy white eyebrows knit together that he doesn’t get it. He willneverget it.
I rap my fist gently against the door. Luke’s brown eyes light up when he sees me. Today I have worn a red dress that I located in the back of my closet. Psychological studies have demonstrated that men have more amorous feelings towards women wearing red than any other color. They are more likely to express the desire to take a woman wearing red out on a date, and are also willing to spend more money on the date. Moreover, the men in these studies could not identify the origin of these feelings. They just liked the girl in red.
“Adrienne!” Luke says happily. “What’s going on?”
“Do you have a minute, Luke?”
He looks between me and Dr. Griffith, obviously torn between his promise to help the elderly doctor figure out how to click on a note and wanting to help me. Thankfully, Dr. Griffith takes pity on him and rises unsteadily to his feet.
“No worries, Luke,” Dr. Griffith says. “We can try to figure it out later.”
Luke rises from his seat to face me as Dr. Griffith leaves the room. He looks different today. His sky blue dress shirt has been ironed, and he’s wearing a brown tie, although the knot could be a little tighter. And he’s shaved this morning. Usually, he smells like soap, which is not at all unpleasant, but today I detect a different musky scent. Cologne or aftershave.
“What’s up?” he asks.
I wring my hands together. “I need your help with something.”
His lips curl. “Fair warning—if you need me to teach you the difference between double-clicking and single-clicking, I’m going to lose it.”
My laugh sounds forced to my own ears. I tried my best to look put together this morning even though it was difficult because my sleep has been terrible ever since that video appeared on my phone. It took three layers of makeup to cover the purple circles under my eyes. “No, it’s something else. I… I was hoping you could help me install a home security system.”
He blinks his brown eyes behind his glasses. “What?”
“You mentioned you did it for your mother.” I clear my throat. “So I thought you could help me out.”
He rubs his thumb along his clean-shaven jaw. “Right, but—”
“I’d pay you, of course.”
That’s the wrong thing to say. His face drops. “It’s not that. I don’t need you to pay me. I just think… You’ve got that big house and you’re probably better off hiring a company to do it for you. I mean, I put something together for my mother but she’s just got a tiny little cottage.”
I cringe at the idea of a bunch of strangers on my property, installing cameras and equipment so that they can spy on me. I don’t want this equipment so that they can watch me.Iwant to be the one watching.
“I’ve already bought the equipment,” I say. “I just need somebody to help me install it. I don’t know how to do it myself.”
“It’s just that whatever you bought will never be as good as what a professional would install.”
“I don’t want a professional.” I dig my nails into the palm of my hand. “I want you to do it for me. Please.”
“Adrienne—”
“I’ll treat you to dinner. Anywhere you want.”
“But—”
“Please, Luke.”
His shoulders sag. “Okay, fine. I’ll do it.”
It feels like a weight has been lifted. Having a security system won’t protect me from EJ, but I feel better about it. I don’t like the idea of him lurking outside my property and following me. I want to know what’s going on. I’m not used to this feeling of a lack of control, and I don’t like it.
“Thank you, Luke.” Before I can stop myself, I reach out and touch his arm. I’m not a touchy-feely sort of person, but I feel a rush of gratitude towards this man. “I really appreciate it.”
“No problem.” He smiles at me. He looks different with the ironed shirt and tie, and with his face clean-shaven. He’s unexpectedly handsome. “And you don’t have to treat me to dinner.”
“I want to.”
“Well, why don’t you think about it?”
