Page 85 of His Good Girl

“Was it?”

“Transformative.”

“Careful.”

The word slid across my skin.

I smiled before I could stop myself. “Engaging.”

“Avery.”

“Yes?”

“How was your day?”

“It was boring,” I sighed, dramatically enough to be a choice. “I’m sorry, did you call me in here to ask me a question you already knew the answer to?”

“I called you in here to see whether you’d answer honestly or put on a performance.”

“And?”

“You did both.”

“That sounds thorough.”

“It sounds like you.”

I should not have liked that. I did anyway.

He tapped his pen once against the legal pad. “What was boring?”

“All of it.”

“Specific.”

“The bribery module. The part where I was taught not to leave confidential drawings in a taxi. The twelve-minute video on respectful workplace communication.” I leaned back. “The quiz that asked me whether I should share my password with a stranger over the phone, and I want you to know that I heroically selected no.”

“I’m relieved.”

“You should be. I also learned not to accept diamonds from contractors.”

“Disappointing. Contractors are always trying to hand out diamonds.”

“I suspected as much.”

His mouth curved, but the amusement did not fully soften him. “You understand why the training matters.”

“Yes.”

“Do you?”

I rolled my eyes before I could stop myself.

His face stilled. The amusement left his mouth, though not his eyes. I tried not to notice, but his hands flexed too. My stomach dropped. Then, traitorously, lower than that, something else stirred.

“You rolled your eyes at me,” he growled.

I straightened. “I did not.”