Clearly, Ari didn’t believe me either. I must be the world’s worst liar.
“No, you’re riding with us. You told him earlier you needed a ride. Remember? Anyway, it’s no problem to drop you off at home.” I pulled a candy bar out of my backpack and said, “See? Nothing to worry about. This bad boy will save the day.” The last thing I wanted to do was drop a chocolate bar onto my already churning stomach but I was determined to live-the-lie, so I ripped open the package and bit off a huge bite. Chewed. Swallowed. Smiled. “Yum. I’m already feeling better.”
“Whatever,” Ari mumbled. “Listen, Baker, whatever’s troubling you about Seth, you need to talk to him about it. He’s a good guy and loves you, like enough to be the poster child for a lovesick fool. Just talk it out.” He snatched the candy bar out of my hand and said, “And put that shit away. You aren’t hungry. Or having a sugar attack.”
I smiled. “It’s a good thing you’re gay, Ari. Women wouldn’t put up with that attitude of yours. Snatching chocolate from their hands could get you killed, no questions asked, and they wouldn’t feel the least bit bad about it afterwards. No touchy the chocolate.”
I looked over my shoulder and saw Seth tuck his cell into his back pocket. His eyes met mine, darted away guiltily, and then returned to mine.
He winked.
I frowned.
Ari rolled his eyes.
“You still need a ride, Ari?” Seth asked as he jogged to catch up to us. We reached the car at the same time, and Seth quickly moved to open the passenger door for me.
Aww, what a mother-fucking, cheating gentleman.
Smiling up at him, I said, “Thank you, Seth.”
“Climb in, Ari,” Seth said as he opened the car door for him, as well. “Why did you disappear?”
I turned around in my seat to look at Ari. Watching my friend squirm might work wonders for getting my attention off my own problems. “Yeah, Ari,” I said as Seth backed the car out of the parking lot. “What was with the vanishing act? And, before you answer, remember that you accidentally referred to the new employee as an asshole when we were talking earlier.”
He flipped me off. “He’s not going to be a new employee if I have anything to do with it,” he muttered in disgust. “I try my best to stay out of dad’s business, but I’m going to have to meddle this time. We don’t need Eli on our team. End of story. I’m going to tell dad not to hire him.”
Seth snorted out a laugh. “Yeah, I don’t think that’s going to work out for you, Ari. The interview tonight was nothing more than a formality.” Looking into the review mirror where he could meet Ari’s gaze, Seth added, “Trust me; I’m no more excited about his presence than you, my friend.”
My head whipped around in Seth’s direction. “Why would you say that? You barely spoke twenty words to him.”
Seth’s chest expanded with a deep breath before he answered. “The man we just met, Eli Wallace, is Samantha’s stepbrother.” He turned and looked at me, a naughty look twinkling in his eyes. “You remember Samantha, right? Your ex-Domme?”
My eyes widened in shock. Why was Samantha’s stepbrother suddenly interested in the business? I plopped back against the seat and realized that I didn’t know if this man was just suddenly interested in the business. He could have been working at one of the satellite agencies for years, and I wouldn’t have known it. Not only had I only been working for The Company for a little over a year, the Domme/sub relationship I’d had with Samantha had been strictly business. I knew absolutely nothing about her family or what, if any, their dealings in the company’s business might be.
Without considering the consequences, I seized the opportunity Seth had just tossed into my court and answered, “Why, yes, I do remember her. Maybe I need to visit her again…just so I don’t forget what the inside of a playroom looks like, of course.”
I heard Arizona’s gasp of surprise, but it was nothing compared to the look of pain that flashed across Seth’s face. I wanted to take it back the instant it left my mouth, but it was too late.
Fuck. I’d fucked up. Again. The fucking story of my life.
Seth’s hands tightened on the steering wheel, but he didn’t use words to fight back against my unfair and intentionally mean threat. He used his silence, and it hurt far worse.
“I’m sorry, Seth,” I whispered. “I shouldn’t have said that. I didn’t mean it. You know I didn’t mean it, right?”
“I’ll always want you to say what’s on your mind, Baker,” Seth finally answered. “It’s one of the many things I love about you. Your honesty.” He offered me a stiff smile and added, “Let’s change the subject, shall we? Perhaps this is something better left to discuss when we’re alone.”