Page 94 of Shark’s Edge

“No, not really. Are you?” She rested her head on my shoulder, and it felt so nice.

So right.

“I had lunch really late.” I smiled and tapped her nose with my index finger. It had been one of the longest days I could remember.

“Do you want to come up or wait in the car? I’ll just be a few minutes.”

“I’ll come in, if you don’t mind? I’d like to use the restroom. I didn’t dare go at that club.”

“All right. And that’s a very clean establishment, I’ll have you know. They have very high standards there. For the employees and the facility.”

“I’ll take your word for it.” She rolled her eyes at my defense of the club, and in the interest of not going back down that path, I dropped the subject altogether.

We were in and out of my building within fifteen minutes and back on the freeway heading to her place in Torrance. Since Rio had left her car at my building earlier in the afternoon and taken the catering van, we drove to Torrance in her car with Joel following behind to bring me home afterward.

“This still seems ridiculous. I drive all over this city by myself all the time.”

“It makes me feel better knowing you’re safe. That’s not ridiculous. And Joel gets paid very well to do what I ask him to do. All of my employees do.”

“Oh. Good to know, I guess.” She frowned and concentrated on the road.

“Explain.”

“Well, technically, I work for you, Sebastian. Do you expect me to just always do what you say?” She glanced between me and the road again.

“Ms. Gibson . . . ” I shook my head. “Do you really think any of my regular rules apply to you? I mean, really? Do you still think that at this point?”

She smiled slowly, but as quickly as the smile appeared, it faded. “There are times I think no, but then something happens and I’m completely thrown off guard and you treat me like everyone else. So, to be honest, I don’t know what to think.”

She had a valid point. I hadn’t been entirely fair with her or with the way I’d been treating her. “I’ve been . . . I’m trying to think of the right wording here because it’s important to me.”

She sat in silence, waiting for me to explain.

“I think I’ve been unfair. Maybe that’s accurate? I’ve been inconsistent with my . . . This is harder than I expected, Abbigail.”

It felt like the temperature inside the car spiked by about ten degrees.

“Why don’t you just speak from your gut? Or your heart or wherever it is your words are coming from? I’m not going to judge you or tell you it’s wrong,” she said gently, putting a hand on my leg.

“I’m in uncharted waters.” There. Perfect. That was exactly what I needed to say, and it felt like the weight of the entire land lifted off my chest.

“Okay . . . ”

She didn’t look any more enlightened, even though I felt like I just told her everything with that declaration. More explanation was needed, apparently. But it just about killed me getting that one sentence out.

Definitely not cut out for emotional engagements. Of any sort.

“I’ve been accused of being emotionally unavailable before.” Deep inhale. “That being said, I feel things where you’re concerned that are . . . ” I looked heavenward, searching for the best word again. “Different?” I nodded. “Yes, different from what I’m used to experiencing.”

“I’m not going to put words in your mouth, Sebastian. Or try to read into what you’re saying. So I’m going to take what you tell me literally. I won’t get hurt in this, whatever this is or isn’t, by making up some sort of fairy-tale romance that doesn’t exist.” She looked over to me while traffic was steady. “You already know I don’t have time for that in my life. Okay?”

“Yes.” I nodded firmly.

“That’s it? Just yes?” She looked at me expectantly. Hopeful, even.

“Should there be more?”

She just stared at the road, gripping the wheel with both hands again.