Page 13 of Save Me the Trouble
“Maybe I would’ve surprised you.” Our eyes met in our reflection in the glass for a split second before her arms fell to her sides and she stepped back from the window.
“I think that should do the trick,” she said, beelining back to her spot by the camera.
No tie. Collar unbuttoned. Doing the YMCA in front of my office windows. None of it should’ve changed anything, but when I sat back on the couch this time, it didn’t feel the same.
My shoulders didn’t feel as heavy. My spine didn’t feel as stiff. Either what she did had worked…or it wasshewho had the effect.
“Whenever you’re ready.”
I looked first at the red light but then found the urge to talk to her. To address her the way I would have if…everything were different.
“Hi,” I said, a low crackle to my voice as I paused a beat before introducing myself. “I’m Killian. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Grace’s jaw went slack, and I swore she was about to reply—for real—but then she remembered herself in the nick of time.
“Perfect.”
Damn, that word felt good when she was talking about me.
“Now tell me two or three things about yourself. Something personal,” she clarified. “Things that few people know about you.”
The red light of the camera caught my attention, and suddenly, it felt like a damn scope trained on me, just waiting to fire as soon as I verbalized anything personal.Any weakness.
I clenched my teeth. “I’m pretty sure everyone knows everything about my life.”
“I doubt they know you’re this difficult,” she muttered under her breath and turned the recording off. “Does everyone know you do photography as a hobby? Or that you likeThe Fountainheadmore thanAtlas Shrugged?”
I tensed. “How do you know that?”
“I’m blonde, Mr. Crown, not blind. I had plenty of time to examine your book selection when I was…sequestered in your little office shelter yesterday, andThe Fountainheadhad far more wear-and-tear and dog-eared pages thanAtlas Shrugged.”
Smart. Observant. Clever. Gorgeous. If I wasn’t careful, Grace Johnson was going to turn into one of my very few weaknesses.
“Alright.” I tipped forward and rested my elbows on my knees. If I was going to be revealing something personal, then so was she. “I’ll answer the question if you answer mine in return.”
Her lips parted. “This isn’t a trade.”
“My office. My building. My video.My rules,”I said, and when she didn’t answer right away, I tempted her with, “Don’t you want to get your job done?”
Again, her nostrils flared as she ground out, “Fine.”
“I want to know?—”
“Wait, I’m not going first. Film this, and then I’ll answer your question.”
“I’m all too familiar with people disappearing once they get what they need from me, Miss Johnson.” I said her name to try and banish Amy’s from my mind.
“Well, so am I,” she persisted, her guarded tone intriguing me. “And I’m the one who has to remain here for my job. You’re the one who can walk out or kick me out any time you want.”
Fair.
I inhaled slowly. “I have your word?”
“Yes. Answer my questions, and I’ll answer yours.” She held up a finger. “As long as it’s nothing sexual.”
My head tipped. “Not this one.”
Her throat bobbed. “Three things, Mr. Crown.”
