I peek at him sideways.
He’s gripping that wheel like he’s trying to strangle it. Like kissing me was such a catastrophic error he can’t even look in my direction without wanting to throw himself from the moving vehicle.
Before I can ask him to ease up, he slams on the brakes. My seatbelt yanks me forward.
“Sorry,” he mutters.
First word since the boat. Progress.
A sheep has decided to have a nap in the middle of the road. It just sits there, working its way through what I can only assume is truly fascinating cud, oblivious to the fact that it’s blocking the path of two humans having the most awkward post-kiss journey ever.
You couldn’t make it up.
Patrick lets out a heavy, frustrated breath and gets out to deal with our woolly roadblock.
I watch through the windscreen as he shoos the sheep to the side of the road, and I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing hysterically. Not just because it’s funny, but because my nerves are bubbling up from some deep pit inside me, threatening to spill over into inappropriate giggles at the worst possible time.
He climbs back in but doesn’t start the engine. Just sits there, staring straight ahead, Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallows.
“You know,” I say lightly, “you’re actually more dangerous in a Land Rover than you are in a helicopter. It would be pretty ironic if that’s what killed me.”
The joke dies a brutal death in the space between us.
He doesn’t smile. Doesn’t acknowledge I’ve spoken. His jaw might as well be welded shut.
For one terrifying second, he looks so furious I think he might order me out to walk the rest of the way back.
“Georgie.”
I flinch at the sound of my name.
He still won’t look at me.
“I’m sorry. What happened was my fault. I take full responsibility.”
Finally, his eyes meet mine. There’s something hollow and defeated in them. “I understand if you want to tell Jake.”
Tell Jake?What am I, five?
“Or HR. Whatever you need to do to feel safe moving forward.”
My mouth drops open. “What? I kissed you back. No one’s pressing charges.”
“That’s not the point.” The anger in his voice makes me shrink back against the seat. “I’m in a position of authority over you.”
He’s treating me like I’m a helpless little girl who needs protecting from the big scary CEO.
“It was a mistake. A lapse in professional judgment on my part. Completely inappropriate and inexcusable.” The coldness in his voice makes me wince.
“It takes two people to kiss, Patrick. You didn’t force me. I wanted—”
“What you think you wanted is irrelevant. It was wrong, and it won’t happen again. Don’t get any ideas about what this means.”
The bluntness punches the air from my lungs. What ideas? That he might actually like me? That when he groaned my name against my mouth, it meant something?
Asshole.
How did he go from apologizing to being such an absolute dick?
