Page 33 of Privileged (Adrenalin)

“The question wasn’t which superhero do you think you can become, it’s which one is the best.” Sloan’s lower lip puffs out as his brows draw together.Apparently, I’m taking this topic too literally.

“Okay, fine. Captain Red, White and Blue is the best.”

“It’s Captain America,” he huffs.

“My mistake.” I pull Sloan toward me and wrap my arm around his shoulders, so he’s tucked against my side. “Thank you for having lunch with me.”

Sloan relaxes into me, running his fingertip along my forearm. “Thanks for the invitation. I do have one question though. Do you think Janice really believes I was giving you a massage in here?”

“Probably not.” I chuckle into his hair. “But she won’t assume we’re doing something we shouldn’t be, and she’ll probably be thrilled that I’m not eating alone like I usually do.”

“She does make me think of a surrogate mother more than your secretary.”

“She sees herself as both. Now, I have one more question for you – a serious one this time.”

“What’s that?” he asks, fingers going still on my arm.

“I know you don’t want me to do you any favors for your career, and I understand why. But in my world, those are common. Expected almost. It feels weird to not do anything to help you.”

“Is there a question in there?” I hear the hint of a smile in his soft voice even though I can’t see it.

“Would you let me help if we weren’t sleeping together?”

Sloan’s chest rises and falls several times as I wait for an answer. “I guess it would depend on what type of help. Introducing me to someone, sure. Pressuring them to interview me, no.”

“You’d still have to prove yourself either way.”

“True, but at least on my own there’d be no question thatIearned my place. If you encouraged someone to give me that chance… I’d never know if it were me or you who earned it.”

I roll that over in my mind for a bit, wondering how to respond. All things considered, I didn’t exactly earn my place here, and I didn’t think twice about taking it. Maybe I should have. Maybe, if I weren’t here, there’d be a more qualified person in this role. Someone who would’ve already made a difference.

What’s done is done though, and the one thing I can say with certainty is that regardless of my experience, I’m one hundred percent committed to this resort. This town. The best thing I can do now is make sure I’m successful.

“You’re thinking awfully hard back there.” The fingers resume their path along my arm. “Everything okay?”

“Yes.” I kiss the top of Sloan’s head. “It’s hard to take my mind off work for too long. There’s so much to do and not nearly enough time to do it.” It’s not the whole truth of why I went silent, but it’s not far off.

“Ooh, I know.” Sloan sits up and turns to face me. “Do the annual bike race.”

“The annual what?”

“Bike race. It’s not really a race, it’s one of those things for charity where you do laps, and the more laps you do the more you make. But it’s an all-day event and people dress up and you can stop at different houses along the route for drinks and snacks.” His voice gets progressively louder as he talks.

“Why would I do that?” I ask cautiously.

“To get your mind off work, of course. You could join our group. I think there’s like twelve or fifteen of us or something. I have to work the lunch shift but I’m off at one, if you want to wait until then.”

“I admit your excitement has me curious, but it sounds like something I should pledge money to rather than participate in.” I’m unlikely to gain any goodwill by asking for donations when everyone knows I can afford to make my own.

“You can do both. Pledge something to yourself for however many laps you do and pay up at the end. Easy.”

I’m not entirely convinced the townspeople will accept me joining their event, even under the conditions Sloan suggests, but I suppose I have to start somewhere. I’m just not sure that somewhere is showing up to the bike race as his guest.

“Let’s say I accept your invitation, what then?”

“What do you mean?” He cocks his head to the side.

I run my tongue over my teeth as I choose my next words. “If I meet you outside this office, the secret is out.”

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