Page 210 of The Grand Duel
There is no doubt.
“Unspeakable things.”
I shrug. “What if I think about those things too? What if I spend my nights thinking about things I know would have your jaw on the floor?”
“It’s already on the floor.” He runs his hands up my back. “What things?”
“You’re too far gone,” I tell him, my eyes flicking between his darkening ones. “You?—”
I push back when I hear footsteps in the corridor, Charlie turning away to face the counter.
The break room door opens a moment later, and Edna walks in. “Oh, you beat me to it,” she says to me, gesturing to her cup of coffee. She leans past me and takes it before looking up at Charlie. “Are you okay, love? You look a little flushed.”
He can’t look at her, and I smile, knowing.
“I’m fine.”
“Always fine, you two,” she muses. “I don’t know who taught who.”
“Your hair looks pretty today, Ed.”
“Thank you! I just washed it,” she says, chuckling.
Charlie steps away, his eyes heavy but thankful for the distraction.
I’m on my way back to my desk with my cup of tea when my phone chimes.
Charlie
Tonight you’re going to tell me all the things you think about at night
Slow down, Charlie boy. I’m working tonight
After. I’ll pick you up
I bite my lip, wondering if that’s a good idea. It will be late; we’ll have half an hour max in the car on the way to my place, and he’ll have work the next day.
You can stay at mine
My stomach flutters, the feeling making my hands shake as adrenaline rushes.
He wants me to stay…
Fine
It’s three p.m. when my phone pings, letting me know Charles will be back in the office earlier this afternoon because his meeting in Thameside (which I now know is the time he carves out to visit Lance) has been cancelled.
I eye my phone for longer than I need to, my mind running over all the reasons he might’ve cancelled when I know he doesn’t ever miss that meeting.
I open my call list and click on his name.
He answers on the second ring. “Lis. Everything okay?”
“Everything is fine here. Are you okay?”
“Me?”
I huff a laugh. “Yes,you. Where are you?”