Page 38 of The Player

‘Guess we all put on a front when we need to,’ she said, thankful her voice didn’t quiver. ‘Nothing wrong with it if no one gets hurt.’

He didn’t reply and his stare intensified.

‘Is that what you’re doing with me?’ He placed his palms on the desk and leaned forward, shrinking the space between them. ‘Putting on a front?’

Smart guy.

‘Why would I do that?’

Hopefully, he’d buy her feigned innocence.

‘Because you’re running scared. I want to date you, and I’m pretty damn sure you want to date me, but we continue to do the avoidance dance.’ He beckoned her closer with a crooked finger. ‘What I want to know is why.’

The longer he stared at her, his dark eyes intent and mesmerising, the harder it was to remember the question let alone formulate an articulate answer.

‘Already told you. We work together. It’s too complicated.’

She tried to control her choppy breathing, as if her lungs squeezed tight and wouldn’t let the air out fast enough. Her excuse for the breathlessness constricting her chest and she was sticking to it.

‘Technically, we don’t work together. I’m here in the interim. You blackmailed me into giving you a job.’ He waved a hand between them. ‘You and me? We don’t exactly fit the mould of corporate colleagues who shouldn’t fraternise.’

He wore the smile of a smug victor. ‘Got any other excuses?’

Yeah, Liza had plenty, but she’d never divulge the real reason she couldn’t date Wade. Not in a million years.

‘For now, don’t we have a book launch to attend?’ She stood, putting some much-needed distance between them. ‘How’s that for an excuse?’

‘Damn flimsy, if you ask me,’ he said, his gaze sweeping over her in admiration.

‘I didn’t.’ She swept up her portfolio and tucked it under her arm. ‘Email me the book-launch details and I’ll meet you there.’

His frown returned. ‘It’s two blocks away. Makes sense for us to go together.’

When she took too long to respond, he added, ‘I’ll walk you back to your car afterwards. You know, in case you think I’ll bundle you into my car and try to take advantage of you.’

She couldn’t help but laugh. ‘Okay.’

Wade shook his head. ‘You’re an exasperating woman, but if your marketing skills are half as good as your biography, Qu Publishing is going to love you.’

Her heart gave a funny little quirk at the L word tripping so easily from his lips. As long as his publishing company was the only thing that loved her. Because as much as Liza secretly yearned for Wade, she didn’t have room in her life for love.

Not now.

Not ever.

Chapter Seventeen

‘Did you learn anything new at the book launch?’

‘Yeah.’ Wade screwed up his nose and rubbed his chest. ‘Cab Sav and spinach-feta quiche don’t mix.’

Liza laughed. ‘That’ll teach you for eating an entire tray of hors d’oeuvres.’

‘I didn’t have dinner. I was hungry.’ The corners of his mouth curved. ‘Your fault.’

‘How do you figure that?’

‘You wouldn’t have dinner with me.’

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