Page 43 of Keep Your Friends Close and Your… Work Enemy Closer?

I sensed something more under his answer, but I had no idea what. And I didn't want to push because what if Jared then askedmemore questions about my past. I did have a whole scenario planned out of schools and places Cordelia had lived if someone asked. No one ever had, though.

But he didn't ask any more—and I didn't either—both of us now focused on the sidewalk and the myriad of puddles to walk through. It oddly felt like we were a team, moving as one, working together effortlessly.

Weirdly enough, this whole night we'd kind of been acting as a team, and for once, I didn't hate it.

Someone across the street shouted at someone else, but I couldn't make it out. The tone of the voice, a bit frail yet with steel in it, made me look up, and I spotted an older woman across the street, staring at us with her hands on her hips, a man holding a huge umbrella over her.

"Nana!" Jared said loudly. "What are you doing out here?"

Not letting up on my arm, he looked both ways before swiftly guiding me across the street until umbrella guy was doing triple duty, getting soaked in the process as he tried to keep Jared, his grandma, and me all dry. Which was pretty much pointless at this point. Well, except for Jared's nana.

"I should ask the same of you, young man. What are you doing taking your beautiful date out in the rain like this? She could catch cold and die."

"It was, um, my idea," I confessed, realizing how stupid the whole thing sounded.

Her eyes turned to me, and even though she was well under five feet—it wasn't often that I met people shorter than me—she was damn intimidating, especially because she was sharp. The clarity and wisdom in her eyes were downright daunting.

She surprised me by smiling. "Ah, having fantasies of a romantic walk in the rain with my grandson?"

What on earth could I say to that?

"Nana!" Jared said, saving me. "Dee is myco-worker. Remember?"

"I know that. Don't treat me like an idiot. There's a spark there, and you can't deny that."

"I—I—" I stumbled over any coherent words, not for the first time tonight.

"Ifthere's a spark, maybe it'd be okay to be subtle about it?" Jared said gently.

"At my age, there's no time for subtlety. You better say what you mean and get it all out on the table before someone croaks."

Holding back a grin, I looked down the street, trying to gauge how far away my place was while wondering the best way to get home.

"Now you two come upstairs with me and get dry before you catch a cold."

"That's just an old wives' tale, Nana. People don't really get sick from being wet in the rain."

"Well, when you're a grandma, you can make the rules. Until then, upstairs. Now. The both of you."

I nearly burst out laughing but managed to stop myself as she stared up at both of us, her mouth set in a firm line, waiting to see if either of us would defy her. After a short pause, she turned toward the front of the building and walked to the door, confident we'd follow, the umbrella guy going with her, intent on keeping her dry.

"Sorry, Dee," Jared whispered beside me. "Looks like you're stuck with us for the time being."

Twelve

Annalise

To be honest, I didn't mind. Both of my grandmas were long gone, and this lady, even in the brief time I'd known her, seemed like an absolute hoot.

So I let Jared lead me inside, his arm clamped firmly with mine as we made our way indoors and across the marble floor of the lobby area. And wow, it was beautiful. Obviously someone in this family had tons of money to be able to afford living here.

After pressing the elevator button, the umbrella guy nodded at Jared's grandma. "You're in good hands now, ma'am, so unless you need me for anything more, I'm going to take off."

"That's fine, Ed. Thank you for your help."

"Of course. Have a good night, everyone."

Once the elevator doors opened, Jared did double duty, helping his grandma in and then giving me a hand. Normally, I didn't need help. But water was dripping off me, and I worried about slipping in these shoes.

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