10
She shot a look at Brick as he walked her over to his truck. It was even higher than the one that Elias had taken her to work in yesterday.
This morning, she hadn’t come down until five minutes before they were due to leave so she didn’t run the risk of him trying to make her breakfast. He’d been waiting in the foyer, pacing back and forth.
The scowl he’d sent her almost had her freezing on the stairs. But then she’d forced herself to keep moving.
He’d simply grumbled something about women who took too long to get ready. She’d let that roll off her back. She didn’t care what he thought.
They reached his truck and he opened the door. She shot him a look.
“What? You don’t think I have manners?”
God, he was surly. Who peed in his Wheaties this morning? She grinned, wishing she had the courage to ask him.
“It’s amusing to keep me waiting? There’s a thing called common courtesy.”
She froze. Had she been rude, not coming down until the last moment?
“Get in,” he grumbled. “We’re already late.”
It was her job. Why was he so worried about being late? He wouldn’t get fired.
She glared at him. He was such a jerk, and she didn’t feel like getting in the truck with him in this mood. He let out a long sigh, filled with irritation.
“Come on. I hate being late. Although I guess when you’re rich, you don’t worry about losing your job.”
Far as she could tell, he hated everything. Grabbing out the small whiteboard in her purse, she wrote a message.
Where’s Elias? Why isn’t he taking me to work?
He glared at her. “Why don’t you just tell me what you want to say?”
She sucked in a breath. He knew. Was that why he was so surly this morning?
“Talked to your brother last night about your medical condition. You lied.”
Her heart raced, making her feel ill.
“You can talk. You just don’t want to.”
That wasn’t true. But she couldn’t explain how she struggled to talk to anyone beyond her closest circle. “Get in.”
Don’t react. Don’t show him how his words hurt.
If only he knew the truth.
She wrote another message. You’re a jerk.
The muscle in his jaw was ticking. It was clear he was angry. Yeah, she’d lied to him.
But she’d had her reasons. He just thought she was some sort of rich bitch.
Fine. Maybe she wouldn’t prove him wrong. Maybe she’d just be that rich bitch until he gave up and left.
You can’t do that. Think of Reuben.
Crap.