Gavin swiveled to me. “I had no idea she worked for you.”
Elliot’s brow twitched, but that was his only reaction. “Everyone in the building is here in a professional capacity. They should be able to do their jobs without worrying about being hit on, that includes Catherine. Please remember that next time you go into areas where you were not invited.”
Gavin gawped at him. “Now, calm down. Kit—Catherine—and I were just having a friendly conversation, and I had no idea I wasn’t supposed to be up here.”
“The ‘no access’ signs didn’t offer you a clue?” Elliot asked dryly.
The last thing I wanted was for Elliot or Gavin to burn a bridge. This city was big, but word got around like it was a small town.
I touched Elliot’s arm, which stiffened under my hand. “Didn’t you say we needed to leave?”
“Yes.” Elliot stared Gavin down with the intensity of a thousand lasers. “I’ll ask that you vacate the premises and not return until your lease begins.”
He appeared as though he was going to argue but stalked off instead, not giving me a second glance. Only when he was out of sight did Elliot look at me.
“In the future, please keep your flirting confined to outside of work hours.”
He hadn’t spoken to me this coldly in so long I’d forgotten how to brace for it. He very nearly knocked me back a step with his arctic stare.
“I’m sorry. It just happened. I wasn’t expecting it, but it absolutely won’t happen again.”
His nostrils flared as he inhaled a deep breath. “See that it doesn’t.”
Elliot was quiet on the way back to the office. He worked on his tablet the entire time, poking at the screen with more force than necessary.
The rest of the day, my stomach was sour with worry. I knew this wall of his. He could put it up and take it down at will. I’d been on the inside of it the past few weeks, and now, being on the outside…it was a harsh slap in the face.
I had to remember this. Just because we were growing comfortable with each other didn’t mean he wouldn’t turn tail when I made a misstep.
And I would.
Because I was me, and that was what I did.
Chapter Twenty-one
Catherine
Saturday morning, I padded downstairs with Joey. We’d had a lie-in snuggling in my bed after we both woke up, her nursing like a maniac and me soaking up every bit of her I’d missed all week at work.
Now, I was starving, and she was chilling in my arms.
The house was quiet. Elliot was probably at the gym or the office. He didn’t spend much time relaxing, as far as I had noticed, which was a shame because he could have used it.
After the incident at Rockford yesterday, he was even more uptight than usual. It had been like pulling teeth to get one-word answers during dinner last night, so I’d given up and ate in silence while he’d held Joey, then disappeared upstairs with her as soon as I’d finished.
Like every morning, a note was waiting for me on the counter.
Catherine,
I’ll be home by 10.
We’ll go shopping after Josephine’s first nap.
Coffee’s in the refrigerator.
Yours,
Elliot
P.S. You did nothing wrong yesterday.
I reread his note, flabbergasted at his stating I’d done nothing wrong when he’d definitely acted like I had.
And shopping? I’d completely forgotten about that after the whole Gavin incident.
I hadn’t really thought he’d meant it.
“Do I want to go shopping with Elliot?” I nuzzled Joey’s nose. “Do you want to go shopping with him?”
She gurgled and windmilled her arms, which didn’t help me at all.
“You know, when you start talking, we’re going to have the best chats. Hopefully you’ll be able to give me some advice. I can’t really decipher what spit bubbles mean. Was that a yes or no?”
She gave me a gummy smile.
“That looks like a yes, honey. You want to go shopping with Elliot?” I walked over to the fridge, jiggling her bottom. “I don’t know, it might be a little awkward. Is he going to approve of my clothing choices? Or hold my purse while I go in the dressing room? I don’t get it. What do you think?”
The first sip of my iced coffee set off a Pavlovian response, instantly clearing my foggy thoughts away and straightening my spine. Joey giggled when I rattled the ice in front of her.
“Since I’ve never looked a gift horse in the mouth once, I’m not about to start now.” I kissed Joey’s fuzzy head. “That’s your first life lesson, honey. When you’re offered something generous, don’t hem and haw, grab it and figure the rest out later.”
Elliot showed up soon after I’d put Joey down for her nap. He was waiting for me outside her door and motioned for me to follow him to the study down the hall.
I hadn’t ventured into this room since I hadn’t been invited and was being extra careful not to overstep my bounds. But I’d peeked because I really hadn’t been able to help myself.
There was a wall covered in crisp white shelves with rows of books on each of them. It wasn’t full, so I imagined which books I’d want to add if it were mine. Lots of romance. I was addicted to happy endings. And hot sex. Had to have that too. Was it really a happy ending without that?
A fireplace was the focal point of the opposite side of the room, where there was a cozy-looking leather couch and two armchairs. The dark wood floors were made warmer with a thick, cream rug my feet sank into.
Elliot pressed against the small of my back, directing me to the couch. He sat down beside me and dragged his hand through his damp hair. He must have been home for a while and had taken a shower while I’d been busy with Joey.
“Did you go to the gym this morning?” I asked.
“I did.” His hand fell heavily in his lap. “You saw my note?”
“Of course. I’m so used to looking for them, I’ll be alarmed when you stop leaving them.”
“Then I won’t stop.” He sighed. “I was in the wrong yesterday. I’m sorry for being a dick to you.”
“What about to Gavin? You were a dick to him.”
“Fuck him,” he bit out. Then he sighed again, his hands flexing on his knees.
“Sorry, I’m teasing you.” I patted his tense hand. “I appreciate the apology. I was sure you were going to fire me at any moment.”
His head whipped in my direction, his brow deeply furrowed. “I’m not going to fire you, Catherine.”
“Ever?”
“Well, there are limits. Don’t burn down my buildings or shoot someone in front of me.”
I couldn’t quite feel relief because words and promises meant a lot less to me than they had before. So many had been taken back or broken. Elliot probably meant what he said now, but things could easily change. I had to tread lightly.
“Wow, I’m not sure if it’s safe to give me so much leeway. I guess it’s a good thing I like my job and really don’t like firearms or open flames.”
His frown deepened. “You like your job? You’d be the first.”