Page 43 of Wrecked By You
“It was. Very. He had some good tips to help position Level Nine for the award I’m going for, and if it all pans out, a joint venture with ROGUES will be great for me and the plans I have to grow my business.” He gnawed on his lip. “This may surprise you, but I don’t trust easily.” He cocked a brow, and I laughed.
“You don’t say?”
We fell into a companionable silence on the drive back to Ginny’s place. When he pulled up outside the house a few minutes after eleven, I was loath for the night to end.
“I had a great time. It was good to get out for a bit.”
He pressed his lips together. “Can I ask you something?”
“You mean you’re asking for permission?”
I hoped to draw a faint smile from him through my teasing, but he remained stoic, serious, the Johannes he showed the world ninety-five percent of the time.
“Go on.”
“What are you running from?”
My chest collapsed, a gasp forcing its way to the surface. He couldn’t possibly know anything. He was fishing, testing, prodding. I gathered all my courage and glared at him.
“I work for you. That’s it. I don’t owe you a damn thing.”
I went to open the door. Locked. Goddamn modern cars that locked the doors automatically.
“Let me out, Johannes.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have pried. I hate it when people poke their noses into my business, so I have no right to poke around in someone else’s.”
“No. You don’t.”
“Please, accept my apology.”
His eyes beseeched me, the expression so out of place on him that the brief flash of anger brought on by his question withered in the face of his contrition.
“We all have our secrets, Johannes. Things we’d rather remained private.”
“You’re right. I shouldn’t have asked.”
I shook my head. I craved to pull another smile from him. To hear him laugh. To feel the rush of adrenaline at his touch. It was stupid and dangerous, but since when did human beings always take the right path?
“Maybe we should share one truth each. One of our own choosing. No follow-up questions.”
“Sounds fair.”
I pointed at him. “You first.”
His eyes glazed, almost as if he’d retreated to a different place inside his mind. “I almost died a few years ago, and there’s no white light, no angels waiting to greet you on the other side. This is it. One life, and it’s pretty shitty as it goes.”
Sucker-punched, I gaped at him. I’d expected him to share something glib, not a revelation as deep as that.
“How—”
He held up a hand. “You said no questions. Your turn.”
I steeled myself. Could I really say the one thing I truly wanted to? Was I brave enough? And if I was, what would I do if it ruined everything?
I took a deep breath and plunged into the unknown. “I’m having feelings for you over here, and it’s terrifying.”
He inhaled through his nose, his eyes wide. Painful seconds scraped by.