“Why not? Sounds like fun.” Mischief gleamed in her eyes.
“That can be arranged depending on how you perform on your first day of work.”
She rolled her eyes, a gesture that would have annoyed me if it were from anyone else. “Really?”
“I don’t take on slingshot students easily. They need to prove their worth.”
The gleam in her eyes disappeared, replaced by an indifference I didn’t like. Had I said something wrong?
“I’m very capable.” She got up with her teacup and placed it in the sink.
I supposed that was a sign that I should get going. I finished my tea. “What kind of tea is this? I like it.”
“Dandelion tea with honey.”
I stared at the tea bag. “I’ve never had dandelion tea. It’s pretty good.”
“I love it. Do you know there’s symbolism behind a dandelion, Slingshot? You’re drinking in this cosmic wisdom.”
I tucked my hands into my pant pockets,rockedback onmy heels, and considered her. “Wanna tell me about it?”
“Let’s see how you perform on your first day as my employer. An excellent performance deserves a reward.”
I wanted to kiss that smirk on her face.
She got me there, using my method against me. It had been a long time since anyone had fascinated me like that.
But a kiss would be the start of something I wasn’t ready for. Elena Sanchez wasn’t a woman I could kiss and move on from. For my sake, I had to be careful with her. She could reach into me deeper than anyone I’d known.
My chest hurt as guilt gnawed at me. My fingers went to the ring on my necklace, rubbing it as though that gesture were an apology. For the first time, a woman had touched me more deeply than Kate.
It wasn’t Elena’s fault, nor was it Kate’s. Kate had been gone for a long time. She had been my best friend. But Elena...she was becoming something more without even realizing it.
The need to stay longer to chat with her and the need to get out warred inside me. Confusion rose, and I forced myself out of the chair.
“I’ve got to go. See you tomorrow.” My phone buzzed, and I glanced at the screen to see the confirmation I’d been waiting for. “There’s going to be a car here for you to use tomorrow morning.” I strode toward the door.
“What?” She followed me. “Wait a minute. There’s no need to?—”
I whirled around and she slammed into me, almost falling backward.
My arm immediately wrapped around her waist, holding her close.Fuuuck.This was exactly what I needed, but also what I’d feared. My body desperately wanted her. My cock twitched. I shifted her, creating enough distance so she didn’t know what she’d done to me.
“It’s a company car, Elena. You can use it as you please while you’re working for me. There’s no charge. It’s safer than the car you’re driving. You should sell that old car to the junkyard. It’s not safe.”
“It just needs some updates.” She bit her bottom lip.
“The updates will cost you more than what it’s worth. Get a new one.”
Her face scrunched. “Says Mr. I Drive A Bugatti Voiture. I don’t have money to spend like you do. Some of us have to be frugal.”
Was she having financial problems? I almost forgot about her second job.
“How often do you work for FoodHub?”
Embarrassment flushed her face, and I regretted asking her.
“It’s an easy job.”