“Yes,” I tell her honestly. “But the truth is, I think I was foolish to think someone as brilliant as you wouldn’t figure it out. But Scout, I need you to not askmore.Be satisfied with what you know and the work. I’ll tell you if there’s anything that truly affects you. The others need to remain in the dark. It’s vital.” I hold her gaze, hoping she’ll understand. That she’ll agree. If Vince knows about this, he will literally kill me. I can’t risk anyone knowing she knows.“Not a word outside of this dinner.” I force a smile, holding out my hand. “Scout’s honor?”
I think she’ll appreciate the pun, and she does. Her face lightens, some of the color returning to her cheeks, and she takes my hand, giving it a firm shake. “Not a word,” she promises, and god help me, I believe her.
Or Iwantto believe her, and they just feel like the same damn thing now.
“What about you?” I ask as our food is delivered, wanting to lighten the conversation. “Do you have any siblings?”
Scout hesitates briefly, then nods. “A half-sister. Sailor.”
I go very still, looking at her across the table. “Please tell me that ‘Sailor’ and ‘Scout’ is on purpose. Sailor Scouts?”
“Like Sailor Moon!” Scout’s face instantly brightens, all the darkness of our previous conversation clearing away in an instant. “Exactly.” She grins. “Not many guys get that.”
“Well, I couldn’t exactly admit to liking magical girl anime in high school. I didn’t have the muscles then that I have now to defend myself. But I’m a bit of a Sailor Moon fan myself.”
“Oh?” Scout raises an eyebrow. “Your favorite?”
“Sailor Mercury, of course.”
Scout’s cheeks flush with pleasure. “Mine too! Of course, we both like the brainy one.” She laughs, and all I can think is that I could listen to the sound of it all night. I don’t want this dinner to end.
“So what about when you have kids?” I tease her lightly, mostly to keep the banter going, but also to remind myself that Scout isn’t mine to think about that way. She’s never going to be. She works for me, and one day some other guy will appreciate her the way I do, if there isn’t already someone, and they’ll have a family. “Jupiter? Or Mars? She’s pretty cool.”
Scout presses her lips together, tracing a finger around the edge of her wine glass. “Maybe,” she says finally. “If I ever plan on having kids.” There’s a small distance that forms between us at that moment, I can feel it, but I’m not sure why.
“You don’t want kids?” I laugh to break the tension that’s formed.
“No, it’s not– I just– I don’t date. So–”
“What?” I blink at her, surprised. “There’s no one waiting to be Mr. Scout Summers?” I phrase it in the same banter-y tone, but inwardly I’m shocked. She’s gorgeous and intelligent and funny, the whole package, but maybe she’s just too busy to date. That would make sense; it’s not as if I haven’t been distracted by my work for most of my adult life.
“Nope.” She laughs, and there’s a brittle edge to it. “And I don’t want to have kids alone, so—"
There’s a silence between us for a moment, and then Scout clears her throat. “What about you?”
I shrug. “My siblings are having enough children to keep the family going. My contribution isn’t really necessary. So I guess, if it happens, it happens.”
There’s that brief silence again, and then Scout picks up a piece of pizza, clearing her throat. “Well, we’re both clearly into anime, so, current favorite anime character?”
I give her a second to make sure she really wants to change the subject, and then I shrug, lightening my tone to match the shift in mood. “Well, like you, there’s honestly too many for me to choose just one--but if I’m going to ballpark it here….”
“Go on.” She grins at me, and it’s hard to ignore how full her lips are. How good it would feel to kiss them.
“I will.” I laugh. “Edward Elric.”
“Currently?” Her eyes go wide. “Out of all the choices?”
“Yeah.” I laugh. “Does that surprise you?”
Scout taps a finger on her chin. “Honestly? No. It fits with the whole “inventor” persona. At least you didn’t say you prefer superheroes and pick Batman.”
“I’m more of a Marvel fan.” I take a bite of my pizza, unable to tear my eyes away from her smile. It’s the most perfect fucking thing I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen some of my own inventions come to life.
“So, Fullmetal Alchemist is your poison of choice.” She laughs as she follows my lead and takes a bite of her cold pizza as well.
“I mean, yes. Mostly my comfort show. That and Naruto.”
“Naruto, I get. Fullmetal Alchemist, though--” She coyly grins, and I lean in as she rests her chin in her hand.