“You . . . you’re not?” she asked.
“You can tell me if something’s wrong.”
“I can?”
She looked so befuddled. As though everything he said was a complete shock to her. Well, why wouldn’t it be? You’ve been only about work with her.
“Come on. We’re going to lunch.”
“Lunch?”
“Yes, lunch.”
“You never go out for lunch unless it’s for business,” she pointed out.
He sighed. “Thea, do you have to argue with everything I say?”
“I . . . I’m sorry.”
“Don’t say sorry. Say, yes, sir.”
Shit, man. Why did you say that?
“Yes, sir.”
Fuck. Those words went straight to his dick. Stupid move.
Had she fallen asleep? That was the only explanation for what was happening, right?
Because there was no other reason why she’d be walking along the street with Jardin Malone, on their way to lunch.
He stopped outside a small, quaint restaurant she couldn’t imagine him patronizing in a million years. She’d figured he’d head for one of the flashier restaurants where all she’d be able to afford was water.
She shouldn’t be going out for lunch. She couldn’t afford lunch. She had to find fifty freaking thousand dollars or shack up with a crime boss.
It was all so surreal.
It was not real life.
Right?
A female server rushed over. “Mr. Malone! How are you today? Usual table?”
“Thanks Rae,” Jardin replied warmly, surprising her even more. Had she ever heard him sound so friendly?
Nope. She wasn’t sure she had. She was in a bit of a daze as the server led them to their table and told them the specials of the day.
What the hell was she going to do? Should she even be coming to work? Maybe she should be working on an escape plan. But what if Silvers caught her? She had no doubts things would not go well for her.
“Thea? Thea?”
Oh, shit. She’d spaced out again.
“I’m sorry. What was that?”
She braced herself for him to give her an irritated look. Instead, he just looked thoughtful. Then he turned to Rae with a smile. “She’ll take an unsweetened iced tea. I’ll have my usual. And sparkling water for the table.”
“Sure thing.”