“You heading out?” Ethan asks, grabbing his jacket from the back of his chair.
“Yeah, my shift ended five minutes ago,” I say, smiling. “I had my weekly call with the Mainland. I’m glad that’s over. I don’t know why I get so nervous. I have them once a week, and it never gets any easier.”
“Oh, right, the big boss check-in.” Ethan makes a face. “How was Dr. Greenberg?”
“Thorough.” I smile.
Ethan laughs. “That’s one word for it. The guy’s intense.” He glances at Jarek, who now sits and pulls up the evening security protocols. “Hey, I’m heading to the parking lot. Want some company? It’s getting dark out.”
I glance at Jarek, who’s watching us with a smirk on his face. Maybe he picked up on Ethan’s earlier attempt to ask me out.
“Sure, that would be nice,” I say, because it would be rude to refuse.
“Have a good evening, Miss Lewis. Ethan,” Jarek says, his attention already on the security monitors.
“You too, Jarek,” I reply.
“Night,” Ethan says.
The evening air is still warm as we step outside. The parking lot is mostly empty at this hour.
“So,” Ethan says as we walk. “That guy who came in today with the runner. Grim, right? The enforcement officer?”
My heart does that stupid skip thing it always does when someone mentions him. “What about him?”
“Is he always that…intense?”
Despite myself, I laugh. “Yeah, pretty much.”
“Dude’s scary,” Ethan admits. “Like, I know he’s supposed to be scary because that’s his job, but damn. He walked past the storage area earlier, and I swear the temperature dropped ten degrees.”
“He’s very good at his job,” I say.
“Sally told me you have a thing for him.”
I stop walking and stare at Ethan, my face immediately flaming. “Sally has a big mouth.”
Ethan holds up his hands. “Hey, no judgment! I mean, the guy’s like…objectively attractive, if you’re into the whole tall, dark, and terrifying thing.”
“I don’t have a thing for him,” I lie. “Sally was just teasing me.”
“Uh-huh.” Ethan’s grin is knowing. “Is that why you turned down my dinner invitation? Because you’re holding out hope for Mr. Tall-Dark-and-Seriously-Freaking-Grumpy?”
“No!” Yes. Maybe. I don’t know. I do know…it’s a no! “I just… I’m focused on work right now.”
“Right. Work.” He laughs, but it’s not mean.
We’ve reached my car, and I unlock it with the push of a button. “Thanks, Ethan.”
“I mean it.” He gives me a smile. “Even if you won’t go to dinner with me, I still think you’re great.”
“You’re sweet.” I open my door. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Yeah, I’m on early shift.” He takes a step back. “Drive safe, Wren.”
“You too.”
I climb into my car and start the engine, watching as Ethan heads toward his own vehicle a few rows over. He really is a nice guy. The kind of guy I should be interested in. The kind of guy who smiles and knows my name and actually wants to take me to dinner.
