I lapse into silence. His casual, relentless flirting is watering a small, hopeful seed inside of me that I fear won’t grow into anything meaningful. Not when Justin’s made it clear he’s not interested in a serious relationship. Or in any kind of relationship, for that matter.
“What did you want to talk to me about?” I ask, steering the conversation to less personal grounds.
A crooked smile shapes his lips, as though my transparency amuses him. “Tomorrow, I want you to start taking pictures whenever and wherever you can. Document as much of the conditions in the lab as you’re able to.”
I nod, feeling a flutter of nerves.
“If it’s too risky to take a photo,don’ttake it. Your priority is not to get caught.”
Now my nerves are all over the place. I swallow past the clutch on my throat. “I understand.”
“Good.” Still holding my stare, Justin extends an arm over the back of the couch. “Take off your shirt.”
I gape at him. “Excuse me?”
Amusement dances in his eyes. “It’s just too easy to tease you.” He studies my dark blue button-down shirt. “That top is perfect. I want you to wear it every day this week.”
I frown. “Every day?”
“Yep. Dress it up with a different jacket and accessories and hopefully no one will notice.”
“I don’t understand.”
“We need video footage. Cruelty’s not news unless there are photographs or video. I’m going to superglue a camera to your top buttonhole and run the wire under your clothes.”
“Won’t my lab coat obscure the lens?”
“The camera will be right on your collarbone so your lab coat shouldn’t be a problem.” He pushes to his feet in one lithe, unhurried movement and retrieves a T-shirt from his bedroom. He tosses it my way. “You can change in the bathroom.”
I stand, holding his shirt to my chest. “This feels like it’s becoming complicated.”
“It was always complicated.” His eyes never leave my face. “Trust me. I’ll hook the camera up so you’ll hardly know it’s there.”
I do trust him. At least, in this area. “The wires won’t be visible through my clothes?”
“Nope. I’ll make sure of it.”
“Okay.”
I get changed in the bathroom. Returning to the living room, I hand Justin my shirt and sit on the couch, watching him attach the camera and tape the wire in place.
“The camera will be powered by this portable DVR unit.” He shows me a small digital video recorder. “Keep it in your pocket, out of sight.”
I nod.
“Put your shirt back on and let’s see how it fits.”
In the bathroom, I slip my shirt on, careful not to snag the camera.
“How does it feel?” he asks when I return.
“A little weird.”
“Let’s have a look.”
He slips his hand under my shirt to adjust the wires. His movements are efficient and impersonal, but the feel of his fingers grazing my bare skin causes goosebumps to break out. It’s suddenly hard to breathe.
Once Justin arranges the wires to his satisfaction, he straightens my shirt and his hazel eyes collide with mine. I stare up at him fora stalled moment, my pulse pounding, waiting to see what he’ll do next.
