Page 165 of Time Stops With You

“Your new hairstyle suits you,” I tell her softly.

Her lips arch up. “Your eyes look rested.”

My gaze fastens on her face. “Why are you smiling?”

“Can’t I smile?”

“Not over me.”

“I’ll smile over you if I want to,” she sasses. “You had me worrying all night.”

Her words both excite me and fill me with dread.

You’ll bring her down too if she falls in love with you, boy.

I shake my head, making a stern face. “I told you not to worry.”

“And I toldyouthat I’m not your employee. I don’t listen to your orders. I hate you because I want to. I worry about you because I’m human. You don’t like it? Tough luck.”

My lips curl up at her fierce tone. Nardi’s strength and conviction is one of the many reasons I was drawn to her. But we’re coming dangerously close to the romantic affections being mutual.

I can’t allow it.

On her end, there can only be lust.

Desire.

Need.

Tension.

But not love.

Never love.

A smattering of applause breaks out from behind us. I set Nardi on her feet and glance over my shoulder. Asad and Dr. Young are programming the robots and one of the RC-1500s raised its arm in response.

“I can’t believe you brought robots.” Nardi mumbles, shaking her head.

“It’s part of my deal with Adam Harrison. He gave me access to his satellites. In return, I’m programming his newest invention.”

“Those look expensive. I’m almost afraid to ask what they cost.”

“They’re worth a small war tank.”

“A small what?” She chokes. “Why’d you bring themhere?”

“They’ll be able to carry things across the room,” I inform her, inspecting the string lights that have her trapped. If I can locate the pinch point, the rest should spring free easily.

Nardi gasps. “You could have done that with atrolley. Not two machines worth millions.”

“The RC-1500s are what drew everyone here.”How else could I have gotten all my programmers to turn out before sunrise on a Saturday?I probe at one of the knots in the center of the string lights.

“So those robots are a trap.” Nardi judges me, her eyebrows tightening.

“It’s an opportunity,” I correct her. “I had to get enough manpower here quickly and there were limited options. Even if I wanted to hire a crew at the last minute, no agency would be open at this hour.”

“So you thought you’d order your own employees around. Aren’t you breaking labor laws?”

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