Page 69 of Roommate Wars
ChapterTwenty-Nine
Elise
I was chattingwith my friend and fellow epidemiologist Lakshmi about our plan for obtaining samples this week from a bunch of smelly football players at a local high school for a staph outbreak when Jack texted.
Jackson: Lunch? I’ll pick you up.
Hanging out with Jack for lunch sounded a hell of a lot better than walking to the Starbucks around the corner. Who was I kidding? It had been a few hours since he’d left my bed, and I already missed him.
Jack had climbed into my bed last night, all stealth-like, after everyone left. The man smelled good, and I’d slept deeply with his arms wrapped around me. Too bad he’d left before I could get a good look at him without his shirt in the morning.
Elise: Sure. What time?
He gave me a thirty-minute window, which meant I needed to haul ass and finalize an email for the team on the staph situation before Jack arrived.
I was wearing a gorgeous lightweight beige sweater he’d bought me, along with dark gray slacks I’d coughed up and bought myself, so I was feeling pretty snazzy when he pulled up in front of the industrial public health building.
I rushed out and jumped in the car before he could get out and open the door for me.
He glanced over, a smile lingering on his lips. “Eager to see me?”
The truth would only go to his head. “Eager for food.” But I was eager for his company, which was scary to admit.
He took in my expression. “Tell me we don’t have a hangry situation on our hands.”
I held up my thumb and forefinger to indicate a small amount, and he punched the gas, pulling into traffic expertly, if dangerously.
I braced my arms on the door and seat. “It’s not dire, calm down!”
“Hell no. Have you any idea how scary you are when you’re hungry?”
His expression was so serious, I laughed. “Can’t be that bad. I’m way smaller than you. You could take me.”
He looked over comically. “I’d let you win that fight because I’m a lover not a fighter, and then I’d lose a couple of limbs.”
I grinned. “As long as you know who’s in charge.”
“That part’s crystal clear,” he said, a quiver in his voice to emphasize his mock fear.
For a moment there, Jack felt like my boyfriend. A really cute and funny one, whom I loved spending time with. It was exhilarating and also terrifying. I hadn’t planned on this.
I cleared my throat and stared ahead. “So why the sudden lunch date?”
“Work lunch.”
I glanced over and caught the stressed look on his face, then my stomach dropped. I’d hoped he wanted to see me the way I wanted to see him, but Thalia seemed to be the only reason Jack spent time with me outside the walls of his apartment. “Thalia’s still giving you a hard time? What is wrong with that woman?”
He frowned and turned on his blinker before double-parking in front of a nice-looking restaurant. “I don’t know, but I can’t lose her. She brought in a major client this week that will hold the company up. Tens of millions stand to benefit from Environ, and I need it to get off the ground.” He stepped out of the car, walked around to my side, and opened the door for me as a valet ran over and took his keys.
Jack pressed his hand to the small of my back and guided me to the entrance. Before opening the door, he said, “Sadly, Thalia’s the best at what she does. I can’t justify losing her.”
I hated that he felt stuck. “She’s certainly the best at sexually harassing you. Are you sure you can’t hire someone else?”
He shrugged. “Took me half a year to find her. Besides, I can handle her.”
“I can see that,” I said dryly. “You’re handling her by bringing along your fake girlfriend.”
His expression grew serious. “Realgirlfriend. You’re mine for the rest of the week.”
