Page 38 of Tempt Me

She shookherhead.

“Whatare you shaking your head at?” heasked.

Sheglanced athim.“Nothing.”

“Itwasn’tnothing. Whatwereyouthinking aboutjust now?”

Shehuffed.“Iwasjustthinkingabouthowevenafterthousandsofyearsof evolution,andafter hundreds of yearsfightingfor equality,women arestill chasing whattheir ancestorswerechasing.”

His browrose.“Which is?”

Shemethiseye. “Astrongman tolookaftertheir children.”

Maxfrowned,looking down atErin amomentlater.“Idon’tfollow.”

Shewasn’tsurewhetherhewasdeliberatelybeingobtuse,orwhetherhewasactuallyunaware of theattention hewasgetting. “You don’tseethem,doyou?”

“Seewho?”

Gigilookedaroundatthewomenstaring.Many of themglaredatherfor a momentbeforetheir gazeflickeredbacktoMax.“Nevermind,”shesaid,liftingtheflapofherbagandlookingforher keys. Shewalked up theshortstairs and opened up thedoor,propping it open with her bag,then wenttograbtheend ofthestroller.

“NewYorkcertainlyisn’tbaby-friendly,isit?” he said as he lifted his end of the stroller.

“Definitelynot.”

Once they were inside, they rode the lift up to the second floor and Gigi opened up the apartmentdoor. Itwasquietinside; thateithermeantJen wasstill asleep,orhad steppedout.

“Jen?”shecalled,closing thedoor behindMax. Shewalked fartherinside. “Jen?”

“She’sgonetothegym,”hesaid.Sheturnedtofindhimstandingbythekitchenbench,apiece of paper in hishand.

“Howdo you know?”

Heheld up the paper.“Sheleftyoua note.”

“Oh,”Gigi replied. “I guessit’sa goodthing she’snothere.”

MaxunclippedtheharnessonErin’sstroller,picking upthelittlegirl, whosebigblueeyes were looking everywhere,taking everything in.“Why’sthat?”

Shepursedherlips,wonderingwhethersheshouldtellhimthatifJen werehere,shewouldbe makingcommentsalludingtothefactthatGigihadstayed thenightandgenerallybepassive- aggressivetowardshim.“You won’thavetotalktoher.”

His lipsflexedslightly.“I wouldn’thaveanyway.She’smyemployee.”

“I’malsoyouremployee,Max,”shestated plainly.

Hiseyesfixon herface.“You’re different,Gigi.”

Her stomach flipped,butbeforeshecould read anything intoit,shereminded herself that shewasdifferent.Maxhadchosenhertowatchhismosttreasuredpossession—hisdaughter.Of coursetheirrelationshipwasmorethanjustemployeeandemployer.“I’llstartpackingupmy things. Make yourselfcomfortable.”Shewaved atthecouch.“I won’tbelong.”

“Takeyourtime.”

Gigiquicklyretreatedinto herbedroom.Inhercloset,shefoundasuitcaselargeenoughtofitall herbooksandtheclothes shewasgoingtotakewithher.Shehadeverythingpacked inlessthan twenty minutes,butspent thebetterpart oftentryingtocloseit.Shehadswornatthedamnthing moretimesthan shecouldcount.

“Iseverything all rightinthere?”Maxaskedthrough thedoor.

Herheadjerkedinthedirectionofhis voice.Shedidn’twanthimtocomein herroom.Itwas embarrassing enough thatshewassuch anerd,butifhesawherroom,hewould neverseeheras anythingmore.Shehadpost-itnotesstuckeverywherewithlittletitbitsofinformationmeantto help hertorecall thelargerpiece of textthey’d comefrom. Add tothatthe myriad of books, notebooksand looseleaves of paper;shewasa geek’swetdream.

“Don’tcomein here!”sheyelled.

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