“Sure is,” replies Blake, glancing at my stuck-out hand and then back up to my face. “Don’t you think we’re a little bit passed shaking hands?”
I tighten my fingers into a fist, so I don’t reach out and wipe the little smirk from his mouth.
“Fine,” I grit out.
Keep it together, Calla. You need this sale to go well, before Mr McAvoy fires your arse.
“Are you still happy to go ahead?”
Blake tilts his head to the side, his eyes narrowing like a predator assessing his prey. “Why wouldn’t I?”
“Because…” My words tail off, hanging in the air above us, serving to remind me just how close together Blake and I are standing. He quirks an eyebrow and I resist the urge to stamp my foot like a child. “Just because, Blake.”
He fills in the blanks with ease. “Because we’ve slept together, you mean. Tell me, Calla, did you know I was your client?”
“No. How on earth would I?”
“The last name, perhaps?”
“Last name?” I question, furrowing my brow in confusion. “What the fuck—I mean, what on earth—does your last name have to do with anything?”
“Well—”
“We’re just going to leave both of you to it.”
Blake and I turn to face the lithe gentleman who arrived late.
“Grey, you don’t have to,” Blake starts. “Don’t you want to see inside the apartment?”
Greyshakes his head, sending a small smile my way and then squeezing Blake’s upper arm. “It’s fine, mate. How long do you think you’ll be?”
“Shouldn’t be longer than an hour,” I say.
“An hour then. We’ll be at the coffee shop down the street, come meet us afterwards, alright?”
He doesn’t look too pleased with the idea, but I see Blake nod, nonetheless.
I’m gifted a moment’s reprieve from the weight of Blake’s stare while he watches the two men, who I’m assuming must be his brothers, and their partners, make a swift exit down the street. But then he turns back to me, the full force of his gaze slamming into me like a brick wall. Why is he being so standoffish and uptight?
Straightening myself in my tall heels, which still only put me at the same level as his tight pecs, I paint a smile onto my face. It doesn’t matter that it’s waxy feeling and fake, or that I’m irritated at Blake’s demeanour. Okay, well, if I’m being honest, I’m a little more thanirritated.It feels more like he’s taken an elastic band, pulled it back and allowed it topingacross my heart, leaving a painful welt behind.
But if Blake thinks I’m going to show my cards, or allow him to see my cracks, he’s going to be sorely mistaken. I’m a master at shoving my messy feelings into a box and locking that shit up. Tight. I’ve been doing it for years, today isn’t going to be any different.
I just have to remind myself he’s a client; that’s all.
“So, this, Mr M”— I gesture to the block of apartments towering above us, my professional mask fully in place— “is the apartment building.”
Blake doesn’t even bother to look up. “Are we going inside, or what?”
I grit my teeth.
Standoffish, uptight and apparently a complete prick.
Without another word to me, Blake stomps ahead, leaving me to pick up the pieces and totter behind.
Chapter 10
Calla
