Page 16 of Save Me the Trouble
Her expression shuttered and then quickly recovered into rigid neutrality. “Are you researching me? Should I be flattered or creeped out?”
I chuckled and echoed her words from earlier. “I like to be prepared.”
Grace hesitated, choosing her words carefully. “I realized academia wasn’t for me, that’s all. I’m exploring different avenues until I find the one that fits.”
A lie.I could see it in the way her eyes darted momentarily. But I let it slide. The question served its purpose: to change topics. What the truth was was none of my business.
“Is that all for today?”
My words were like a cold whip that snapped her back into action. “Yes, I think so.” Her skirt swished around her legs as she moved around my office to pack up her equipment. “We’ll pick up tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow is Saturday.”
She straightened and shot me a stony stare. “I assumed you’d want to get this over with as quickly as possible.”
I hesitated for a split second before nodding. “I do.”
“Then when and where would you like me to meet you tomorrow?” she clipped. “We have a few more segments of questions to get through. Not filmed. And then I’d like to get a sense of how you spend your time outside the office.”
My jaw pulsed, and I reached for a piece of emblemed note paper and scribbled on it, setting it on the desk for her to take a second later.
“My address and the code to get up to the penthouse.”
She loaded her bags onto her shoulder and took the slip. “Perfect. I’ll see you then.”
I watched her ass sway all the way to my door before calling after her. “Grace.”
She turned, and the urge to stride over there and kiss her hit me like a punch to the gut. I couldn’t be in closed quarters again with her. She was too…tempting.
“Wear sneakers.”
Her head tipped, and I watched the urge to question me sparkle in her eyes.
“That’s all.”
Her lips pulled into a tight smile. “Of course, Mr. Crown.”
And with that, she spun on her heel and left.
I stood there, unable to move while I could still hear her footsteps in the hall.
“Dammit,” I muttered, my eyes catching on the box of doughnuts left on my desk.
I’d demanded her answers to the interview questions because I thought it would make her more guarded. Instead, I was the one left wanting to know more—to know everything about her. Including why she lied to me.
Grace Johnson was a challenge, a mystery, and, if I wasn’t careful, a flame worth risking the burn.
Chapter Four
Grace
“This is a very bad idea.” Darcy punctuated her statement with sharp jabs of her finger on the slip with Killian’s address.
“This is my job,” I insisted, keeping my attention locked on my laptop screen where I was editing the camera footage from earlier today.
“Aleta never went to his apartment, and look how it ended for her.”
“Aleta alsowantedto be with him,” I said as if I didn’t. Secretly.Unfortunately.“Plus, I’ve made more progress than anyone else. That’s why I’m going there.”
