Page 39 of Ice Cold, Red Hot
As I worked, darkness began to fall outside the highwindows, and I finally felt like I was making progress on the data coding I’d been assigned. And then the door to the lab opened and Ethan strode in.
“Well, well, I should’ve known I’d find you here. Most people would take advantage of a light day and call it early. But not Celeste.” He chuckled and leaned against the doorframe to his office. “That’s what I like about you. You don’t coast.” He winked.
A shiver passed through me.
Ethan stepped closer, his voice lower. “If you ever want a little extra help—or to bounce around thesis ideas or whatever over dinner… I’m around.”
My body tensed. Was he hitting on me? Or was this a straightforward offer of help? I’d made it clear we would be strictly professional if I took this position, but every alarm bell inside me was ringing.
On the surface, I couldn’t point to anything he was doing or saying wrong. But inside, I felt it.
“Thanks,” I said, keeping my voice neutral as I closed the files on the desktop and packed up my bag. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
I felt his eyes on my back as I headed out of the lab into the cool evening air.
Back at home, I sank into the couch, exhausted. Nat dropped down beside me.
“How are you doing? New job good?” Her eyes narrowed as she took in my expression. “Aha. So not good?”
“How can you see that just by looking at me?”
“CeeCee… all I can say is that it’s good you’re not a theater student.”
“Great.”
“So… what’s the story with Lab Daddy?”
“Don’t call him that.” She was a little too close to right.
“You’re giving a vibe…”
I was going to have to learn to hide my emotions a little better if I was going to keep working with Ethan. “It’s fine, it’s just… a little off.”
“Off how?”
I explained everything that had happened that day. Coffee. The binder. Then the meeting where he cut me down. And finally, the possible innuendo later. “There’s nothing blatantly wrong. Like… the words are fine… but there’s this undercurrent that’s weird.”
“I think you should listen to your gut.”
“I did that with Shepherd. And that turned out swell.”
Nat laughed. “Swell,” she repeated, laughing harder. She clapped a hand over her mouth. “Sorry. Right. No, that did not turn out well. But listen… this stuff with Ethan sounds kind of pervy.”
“Maybe,” I agreed. “But Nat, I can’t afford to screw it up. This is a huge chance for me.”
Nat’s eyes held on mine. “I just don’t want to see anything bad happen to you. Maybe you should back out? Or at least go tell your advisor that something’s off?”
I shook my head. “Not yet. I mean, of course I will if there’s really something to tell. But I don’t want to ruin this. I’ve worked too hard for it.” It was like I was talking myselfinto it as much as convincing Nat. “I can handle it. I’ll just keep it professional. About the work.”
“You know, you don’t have to fight your way through everything all alone.” Nat’s voice was soft.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yeah, you do.” Nat leaned in close and gave me a hug. For some reason it made tears spring to my eyes.
God, I was under a lot of pressure. I pushed the tears away as she got up and went to the kitchen. “Tea?”
“Yeah, thanks. No Evan tonight?”
