That thumb was still moving. “Did you like the ending?” Karim asked.
Luis turned his head to look at him, and they were close, so close.
“I did, yeah,” Luis said. “I don’t like love triangles.”
The corners of Karim’s mouth tipped up. “Me either. I don’t believe anyone should be left out.”
“Me either.” Luis’s throat was dry. He licked his lips and watched Karim’s eyes follow the motion.
Heat spiked through him.
“Luis,”Karim’s voice was almost a whisper, his breath tickling Luis’s cheek.
“Yeah?” His nerves were buzzing, his pulse thumping hard. Was it–was he–?
“Can I–?”
Karim’s phone started ringing loudly, making them both jump.
“For fucks sake,” Karim groaned as he pulled out his phone, hand sliding off of Luis. “What?” He barked into the phone.
There was an exchange with Julien, but Luis’s head was a swirl of thoughts about what had just happened. Had they almost…?
“You understand I’m going to fire him, right?” Karim growled. His eyes flickered back to Luis briefly, an up-and-down that made a new wave of heat wash over him.
He wasn’t imagining it. It was real.
But whatwasit? And was itallowed?
“Alright, coming. Just a second.” Karim hung up the phone and then levered himself to his feet. “Julien’s requested help, c’mon.”
Luis stood on autopilot. “Okay.”
“We’ll come back to this later,” Karim added as he led the way out.
Luis didn’t think he meant the movie.
“Okay,” he said again.
By the time they arrived at the office, Luis had shoved what had happened in a box. He wasn’t going to jump to anything. He was practicing being a braver person, but therewas a line between making himself go to the grocery store and kissing a vampire’s devoted husband.
But as they entered the room and Karim threw him a glance, Luis couldn’t help but hear those words again, spoken soft but earnestly.
I don’t believe anyone should be left out.
Chapter Eighteen
In the office, Julien was seated behind the desk, peering with an expression of annoyance at the computer screen.
“Do you still have him on the phone?” Karim asked, rounding the desk to look over Julien’s shoulder.
“No. Did you back up the inventory list recently?” Julien asked.
“Yeah,” Karim said, leaning closer to look at the screen. “On Wednesday.”
Julien blew out a long breath. “Okay, good. The website’s down and Gerald can’t figure out why.” Then Julien looked up to see Luis. “I’m so sorry Luis, this was supposed to be a nice, work-free weekend.”
“It’s okay,” Luis said with a shrug. He hoped the redness on his cheeks wasn’t noticeable. “Stuff happens.”
