CHAPTER FIVE A Little Too Comfortable
1207 Words
KASY
I hated admitting when someone was good at something.
Especially when that someone was Edward.
The client meeting had gone better than I expected. Actually, it had gone really well.
And Edward deserved some of the credit.
I wasn't going to tell him that.
Not yet.
We stepped out of the elevator and walked back toward the parking lot.
“So,” Edward said, “how would you rate my performance?”
I looked at him.
“Your performance?”
“At the meeting.”
I pretended to think.
“Six.”
He stopped walking.
“Six?”
“Yes.”
“Out of ten?”
“Obviously.”
He looked offended.
“I thought I did at least an eight.”
“You talked too much.”
“I was presenting.”
“You still talked too much.”
“And you gave yourself what?”
“Ten.”
He laughed.
“Of course.”
I smiled.
“Confidence is important.”
“Apparently humility isn't.”
“Not when you're this good.”
He shook his head.
“You're impossible.”
“I've heard that before.”
We reached the car.
Edward opened the passenger door for me.
I stopped.
“I can open a door.”
“I know.”
“Then why did you?”
“Because I was already there.”
I stared at him for a second before getting inside.
He closed the door.
I watched him walk around the car.
Something about the gesture bothered me.
Not because it was bad.
Because it was nice.
And I didn't want nice.
Nice made people comfortable.
Comfortable made people trust.
Trust made people vulnerable.
And I had promised myself a long time ago that I wouldn't become vulnerable to a man.
Not ever.
Edward got into the driver's seat.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I wasn't.”
“You were.”
“I was thinking.”
“That's dangerous.”
I laughed despite myself.
He started the car.
“See?”
“What?”
“You laughed.”
“So?”
“That means I'm making progress.”
“Don't get excited.”
“Too late.”
I turned toward the window.
I refused to smile.
Unfortunately, my reflection betrayed me.
When we got back to the office, the team was already waiting for us.
Daniel stood up immediately.
“How did it go?”
“Good,” Edward said.
I placed the folders on the table.
“Very good.”
Daniel looked between us.
“Wow. You both survived.”
I frowned.
“Why wouldn't we?”
He grinned.
“I thought you'd have killed each other by now.”
Edward laughed.
“I considered it.”
I looked at him.
“Likewise.”
Everyone laughed.
I rolled my eyes and returned to my desk.
My phone buzzed.
Unknown Number: You forgot something.
I frowned.
Me: Who is this?
The reply came almost immediately.
Unknown Number: The man you rated a six.
My eyes widened.
Edward.
I immediately turned around.
He was sitting at his desk, staring at his computer like he hadn't just committed a crime.
I texted back
“You gave it to me.”
“No, I didn't.”
“Technically, you did.”
I stared at my screen
“When?
“That's classified information.”
“You are so annoying.”
“And yet you texted me back.”
I looked down at my phone.
Damn it.
He texted again
“Got you.”
His reply came almost immediately.
Edward: You didn't rate me an eight.
I stared at the message.
Then typed:
Me: I stand by my six.
Three dots appeared.
Edward: Cruel.
I smiled.
Me: You'll survive.
His response came seconds later.
Edward: Unfortunately, I plan to.
I shook my head.
I should have ignored him.
Instead, I typed:
Me: Good. I have work tomorrow.
He replied:
Edward: So you admit you'll miss me if I'm not there?
I stared at the screen.
Absolutely not.
I put my phone down.
No reply.
Two minutes passed.
Then another message appeared.
Edward: I knew it.
I laughed before I could stop myself.
Maya looked over.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“You're smiling.”
“No, I'm not.”
“You are.”
I locked my phone.
“It's nothing.”
She narrowed her eyes.
“Is it Edward?”
I immediately stopped smiling.
“No.”
She laughed.
“I didn't even say anything.”
“You were about to.”
“Interesting.”
I ignored her.
But my heart was beating slightly faster than it should.
And I didn't like that.
Not one bit.
By six, most of the office had emptied.
I was still finishing the final edits when I realized I was alone.
Almost.
Edward was still in his office.
I glanced at the clock.
6:13 p.m.
I packed my laptop.
As I stood, the lights in his office went off.
A few seconds later, he appeared in the hallway with his jacket over his shoulder.
“You're still here?”
“So are you.”
“Fair point.”
We walked toward the elevator together.
Neither of us spoke.
Then Edward looked at me.
“Are you hungry?”
“No.”
“You answered too quickly.”
“Because I know where this is going.”
“Where?”
“Food.”
“Correct.”
“I'll pass.”
“You haven't even heard the offer.”
“I don't need to.”
He smiled.
“You really like saying no.”
“I really like avoiding unnecessary situations.”
“It's just dinner.”
“Exactly.”
He pressed the elevator button.
“You don't trust me enough to have dinner with me?”
I looked at him.
“I don't trust men enough to have dinner with them.”
The words came out before I could stop them.
His smile faded slightly.
For once, he didn't make a joke.
He simply nodded.
“Okay.”
The elevator arrived.
We stepped inside.
I stared at the doors.
I wasn't sure why I'd said it.
Maybe because it was true.
Maybe because Edward had been getting too comfortable.
And so had I.
The elevator doors opened on the ground floor.
Edward stepped out first.
“Goodnight, Kasy.”
“Goodnight.”
He walked toward the parking lot without another word.
I watched him leave.
For the first time since I'd met him, I didn't feel annoyed.
I felt guilty.
And somehow, that was worse.
I walked outside and stopped beside my car.
My phone buzzed.
I looked down.
A message from Edward.
Edward: For what it's worth, you don't have to trust me.
I stared at the screen.
Another message appeared.
Edward: We can start with being coworkers.
I read it twice.
Then locked my phone.
Maybe that was exactly what I needed.
Distance.
Boundaries.
Just coworkers.
Simple.
Safe.
I got into my car and started the engine.
But as I drove home, one thought kept following me.
For the first time in years, I had met a man who didn't make me want to run.
And that scared me more than anything.
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