Page 92 of Shifted Desire

“No one important,” I squeak.

“Or someone very important,” Blair retorts.

“Dammit, stop sounding so smug! I know you don’t like me because I hit on your girlfriend one time when you were broken up, but nothing happened and it’s no reason to be a dick to me when I’m freaking the fuck out.”

Everyone stares at me after my outburst, and I wish I could disappear on the spot. Just vanish from existence and never be seen again.

I give Nathan an apologetic look. “Yes, okay, fine, he’s important, but we can’t be seen together like this. He’s…”

“I’m her boss,” Nathan supplies with a sheepish smile.

Grace’s eyes light up. “Oh shit, really? That’s hot.”

“Also very unprofessional,” Blair deadpans.

Nathan chuckles and nods. “We need to keep our relationship a secret until we figure out how to deal with the tricky…connections we already have. Which means not letting Samantha’s brother see us together.”

“I don’t see why Max would care about you sleeping with your boss…” Grace says, frowning slightly. “He has no room to judge after all the pseudo-stalker stuff he got up to with Mona when they were first dating.”

Dammit Grace, just go with Nathan’s very reasonable explanation.

“I’m always the family screw-up, and I can’t stand reinforcing that even more.” I know the words ring true because they are. “Please don’t tell Max and Mona that you saw us. I can’t handle being a disappointment yet again.”

“Oh, Sam,” Grace murmurs sympathetically. “It’s okay. We won’t say anything.”

I turn to Blair, expecting her to scoff at my request. “There’s nothing to say. We didn’t see Samantha and her boss. We saw Pearl and…”

“Wolf,” Nathan supplies, and Blair’s lips quirk into a half-smile.

“Thank you.” I go to hug Grace, but immediately think better of it, given how little Blair likes me and how possessive she is.

“We’ll get their attention while you head out.”

I give them a relieved nod.

We sneak out through the main club floor, not looking in the direction of where Max and Mona are, and make a beeline for the exit. My heart threatens to burst out of my chest with anxiety, every moment stretching out in anticipation of getting caught.

Only when we’re back in the safety of Nathan’s car do I let out a relieved squeak of a laugh. “Fuck.”

Nathan chuckles. “That pretty much sums it up.”

“I’m so sorry. I wasn’t thinking. I should’ve checked the calendar. It’s my fault we almost got caught, and if Grace or Blair even accidentally mention seeing me with my boss, we’re screwed.”

Nathan squeezes my thigh, a golden sheen in his gaze in the darkness. “Would that be so bad?”

“What do you mean?”

“If they slipped up. If Max or Mona find out you were there with your boss. With me.”

I scoff, not sure what he’s getting at. “Of course it would be! Then everyone would know we’ve been sleeping together and it’ll be a nightmare!”

There’s a flicker of something in his gaze, but it’s gone a second later. He sighs. “Yeah. You’re right.”

Even I know when I’ve said something wrong. Shit.

In the safety of the shroud of darkness, I make myself ask the vital question instead of moving on and pretending like everything is fine.

“Do you want them to know?”