“I think he got a little too attached to Sona.” Eve’s expression had turned sad.
“She got under his skin that bad, huh?”
“Uh, yeah. You might say so. Things between them didn’t end well, so it’ll be interesting to see how it plays out.”
“Well, it’s almost time for dinner.” Darius gathered his papers. “What are you doing tonight?”
“I don’t have any plans. Since I’ve never been here before, do you have any recommendations for where I could eat?”
“Let me take you out to dinner. We have twelve years to catch up on.”
As Eve considered him, wariness crossed her face, colored by a touch of wistfulness. He’d seen that before, so many years ago, but he hadn’t been mature enough to recognize it for what it was. Darius arched a brow and gave her the I-dare-you look he’d used on her in high school. Her expression turned determined.
“All right. I’ll have dinner with you.”
When she picked up her papers, he didn’t miss the crease between her brows.
* * *
As they madetheir way through the building, Eve had to work at keeping up a calm demeanor. Had it only been an hour ago that she’d been hoping not to see Darius? It had seemed like the worst kind of luck that it’d been him on the other side of the table. If she weren’t so dedicated to the program, she might have walked out.
And that punk. Like she couldn’t tell when Darius was pretending, acting like he hadn’t remembered her. Anyone who knew him well could see it in his expression. Why had he done that anyway? Embarrassment at the way he’d treated her that last month before graduation?
But then he’d given her that look. It had taken her right back to high school, when they’d been the best of friends. It was like she was looking at the boy again, and her resolve had melted.
It took a long time to make it to the exit. Employees kept stopping him to ask questions. She hated to admit that he interacted well with the people, even handling one temperamental artist with finesse. Did that come from having been a high school art teacher?
She’d been happy for him when she’d read that Darius was one of the Harvard Billionaire Boys. Just before they’d sold their first game, he’d been named teacher of the year. At the time, she’d thought it was a shame to lose someone so good from the profession. Seeing him now, she wasn’t so sure. She had a feeling he was still teaching but in a different, less formal way.
“Phew,” Darius said when they finally exited the building. “I was beginning to wonder if we’d get out of there.”
“Do you mind very much?”
“Not really, but it can make it tough to get away from the office some days.” Darius pulled some keys from his pocket and pointed to a royal blue car plugged into a charging station.
“Wow, a Tesla. Nice.” She examined the vehicle. “What kind of range do you get?”
“Over six hundred miles with one charge. I can extend it by carrying an extra battery.” He opened the passenger door for her. “I wouldn’t take it for a really long trip yet because there aren’t enough charging stations in this part of the country. Rumor has it that’s changing as they become more popular.”
“It’s nice to know you haven’t lost your concern for the environment. I’ve wondered since I first heard about your success if the money would ruin you.” Eve paused between the car and the open door and turned to face him. She blinked at his close proximity.
Darius was better looking than he’d been in high school, when he’d been too tall and too lean, all arms and legs. He’d definitely filled out, and the scraggly wannabe beard he’d tried to grow in high school had filled in nicely. He kept it neatly trimmed, one of those beards that wasn’t quite a beard but wasn’t scruffy either. She had to push down the temptation to run her finger over his cheek to see if it felt like sandpaper or if it was soft.
“You’ve worked with Kayn. He’s not into acquiring a bunch of stuff. None of us are. I think that’s probably why we work so well together. None of us are conspicuous consumption guys.” Darius gave a familiar shrug.
“Well, I’m glad to hear it.” Eve slid into the passenger seat and took a deep breath when he closed the door.
He smelled sogood. And seemed completely oblivious to the attraction she’d been fighting. That was so typical. And unfair.He’dbeen the one who’d kissed her, turned her world upside down, and then stopped speaking to her. One day they’d been best friends and then strangers. No, worse than strangers, because he’d always acknowledged people on the street, even if he didn’t know them.
It was just as well. She hadn’t proposed this wish fulfillment to Kayn so she could get reacquainted with an old high school crush. Still, she wished this Darius didn’t seem like a more mature, self-assured, delicious version of his younger self.
He was silent as he got into his side of the car and turned the ignition.
“Where are we going to eat?” she asked, trying to sound as natural as possible.
“I seem to remember you being a hamburger girl,” Darius said, pulling out of the parking lot.
Eve was a little surprised he remembered that.
