This again?I crossed my arms. "Is that so?"
"Yes, actually." Her mouth tightened. "Do you know, after just a week of knowing him, he invited me to move into his building?"
Another surprise. "When did this happen?"
"During that one date – you know, the night he was rude to the waiter."
So she'd mentioned the waiter, but not Evan's offer?"Are you serious?"
"No joke," she said. "We'd barely had dessert when he said I should move in next door."
"Next door to what?"
"His condo downtown. He said he had this amazing place just sitting there empty, and why don't I take it so we could 'collaborate.'" Her tone grew bitter. "Collaborate. That's what he called it."
What an asshole.He'd invited her to move innext door?
Just the thought of it pissed me off. "I'm not asking you tocollaborate, not like that."
"And what about Maisie?" She gave me a challenging look. "Are you gonna moveherin, too?"
"Sure, if it helps."
She stared like I'd lost my mind. "And where would we stay? In your hotel?"
"Wherever. It's not hard to find a place."
"What you really mean is it's not hard foryou."
"Fine," I said. "Yeah, it's not hard for me. Is that abadthing?"
"I don't know. But it's an awful lot like Evan."
Something ticked in my jaw. "So you're comparing us?" I didn't sayagain, but I sure as hell wanted to.
"How could I not?" she said. "You're asking me practically the same thinghedid. And in the same timeframe, too."
"Yeah, but for different reasons."
"Yousay they're different, but how can I be sure?"
I felt the snap before I heard myself speak. "Well, for one thing, I didn't turn you into a training doll."
At this, she went very still. "So, youknewabout that? And you're justnowmentioning it?"
I had to say it. "That's a funny question."
"And why's that?"
"Because you didn't mention it either. And you knew before I did."
"And you know this how?"
I shrugged. "I've got sources."
"Sources, huh? Youdorealize the doll's not me? The prototype's like five years old. I've known him only a few months."
"It's still messed up. And if you stay with me, I can watch your back. You'd be off his radar."
