Page 88 of The Grand Duel

I nod. “Smart, then.”

When I sense he might be smiling, I dash to get a look.

His lips are slightly twisted, the slight, fine lines around his eyes teasing.

“What?” I ask, my face catching fire.

Age looks good on Charles Aldridge. I’m pretty sure I could add another five on him, and he’d be even hotter.

“You think I’m smart, Lis?”

Lis.

My heart stutters at the way he’s shortened my name, and I wave him off, using the moment to douse the growing attraction I have towards my boss. What is wrong with me? He’s eleven years older than me. “No. Young Charles, maybe. A smidge. You? Absolutely useless.”

“Young Charles. Right. I forget I’m so old.”

I chuckle. “Not old.” I twist my lips like he had, not giving him anything more. If there are lines, professional ones, it’s a tightrope, and I’m walking it with a blindfold covering my eyes. “You’re just a bit diff, remember.”

He darts his tongue out to wet his lips, shaking his head as he puts his hands behind his back and does a little two-step, readjusting his stance. “You wound me.”

Why does it feel like he’s fucking flirting with me?

I link my hands in front of me and step forward into the lift the second it opens, my heart thumping against my chest. “No. If I wanted to wound you, I’d ask why your home is so bleak compared to your workspace and if you even like it or just went along with it because your friend bought it for you.”

“He bought it with my own money, you know. He forged my signature and had access to my funds at the time.”

“What?” I say, laughing as he steps in next to me. “You’re making it sound worse.”

“He’s a good friend,” he says in explanation.

“Well, I’d presume so, or I’d imagine you’d have him in prison.”

“What’s wrong with my home? In your eyes.”

I shrug, wishing the doors would open up and free me from being in such close proximity with him. “It doesn’t seem like something you’d own, that’s all. I pictured a brownstone, maybe. Something a little warmer with space for the dogs to run free.”

“There are places I take the dogs to run off-lead. I have friends who own land?—”

“I’m not judging your parenting.” I smile, loving how serious he takes being a dog dad. “The penthouse is nice. Many people’s dream, I’m sure.”

The doors open, and he walks out ahead of me. “I don’t particularly like it.”

“You don’t?” I rush to catch up.

“For many of the same reasons you don’t.” He glares down at me playfully.

“Then why do you live here? Or why not make it your own?”

“I’ve never had the time to change it and don’t care to pay anyone to do it for me.”

I get into the car and frown over at him in the driver’s seat. “Wait, how long did you say you’ve lived here?”

He starts the engine. “Yes, Lissie, I am as stubborn as you are.”

“This isn’t about me. You said twenty-eight before, didn’t you? That’s seven years!”

“I’m only getting a smidge of judgement.”

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