“I’ll get a cab home, if you’ll drop off my bag next time you pass my apartment,” Zoe said, getting out of the car. “Saves dealing with them now.”
“I’ll drive you home tonight,” he said, looking at her across the roof of the car.
“I told you, I have plans.”
She turned and began walking toward the elevator at a brisk pace. Cal said a brief expletive and locked the car, lengthening his stride until he caught up with her. Taking her arm, he stopped her.
Zoe looked at his hand and then up to his face.
“What?”
“You can’t walk off like that. I’ll take you home so you’ll have your car for your secretive plans.”
“They aren’t secretive, they just don’t include you.”
Cal suddenly wanted to know what she was doing. Was that a prick of jealousy? He didn’t like the idea. She was free to do what she wanted. As was he.
Only he had no plans for the evening. What was she going to do?
“You might need some of the things in your suitcase this evening,” he said.
What was he doing? Trying to find out what she was up to? If he wanted that intel there were ways to find out.
“I don’t.”
She pulled her arm away and glanced to her left. One of the women from the secretary pool was walking rapidly toward them.
She eyed them warily and continued to the elevator. Turning, she watched as both he and Zoe looked at her. No one said a word. When the doors opened, Zoe stepped forward. He reached out again.
“Wait,” he said.
The elevator doors closed behind the secretary.
“I have work to do,” she said, still staring at the closed elevator.
“I do, as well. But we haven’t settled this.”
She swung around and faced him.
“Settled what?”
“Us.”
She frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I think we should move in together.”
“What? Whatever for?”
“It’s not always going to be convenient to run out to the sea cottage every time we want to sleep together.”
“Shhh.”
She glanced quickly around the garage, then stepped closer. “Keep your voice down. Do you want the entire world to know what we’re doing?”
For a moment Cal almost said yes.
“I’m trying to look at this from a practical point of view,” he said evenly.