Page 85 of The Laughing Game

“You as well. It was great to meet you, Mr. Barnett.”

“Likewise,” I said.

On the way home, Vihaal cursed and hit the steering wheel with both palms, then sat back against his seat and looked at the roof of the car.

“That fucking snake.”

“I think Gideon’s right about Dominic,” I said. “Do you think he’s stealing from you?”

Vihaal turned to me and raised his eyebrows. “Do you?”

“I think it’s possible. He rubbed me the wrong way entirely.”

This caused Vihaal to slowly smile, and I felt an answering cheerfulness in my pants, even after such a stressful encounter.Vihaal, in business mode and on the warpath, was something to see.

“Mmm. I’d like to rub you therightway.”

I swallowed, suddenly breathless. “You’re pretty fucking hot when you get angry.”

Vihaal’s smile got wider. “Am I?”

“Thanks for standing up for me and my weird name.” I grinned.

“Your name isn’t weird. It’s lovely,” he said. “And if this is a competition, my name doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue.”

“True. I love your name, though. It suits you. What does it mean, anyway?”

Vihaal gave me a genuine and astonished smile.

“What?” I asked, breathless at the look in those eyes.

“I’ve only had one other person even ask me that question.”

“Gideon?”

“Yes. Anyway, it means something like imposing, and grand,” he said, smiling. “But also, beautiful.”

“That’s pretty fucking accurate.”

“Thank you. That’s what Gideon said.”

I shrugged, tracing the edge of the glove compartment with my fingertip, and giving Vihaal a coy look. “Well, to be fair, we’re both trying to get into your pants.”

And that made him laugh. A huge, tension-relieving, chortle from deep in his chest.

“I liked Alice. A lot,” I said.

“Yes. She’s wonderful.”

“How long has she been the assistant manager?”

“Oh, gosh, it’s been…four years now. No, five.”

“Maybe she should be the manager.”

It was an offhand comment, but I meant it. My impressions of them had been diametrically opposed. Alice had come acrossas competent and sincere, Dominic as ineffectual and shady. I wondered why Vihaal had left him in charge for so long.

“You said your father recommended Dominic to manage the store?”

---