“Exactly.There will be times when it may be especially important for you to be physically here.”
“I don’t understand,” Viktor said as they entered an empty conference room.“Why can Heath not take part in these group discussions online?It is quite a lengthy trip to fly thousands of miles for a meeting.The travel time alone would take from his work at the Citadel.Have you visited it?His family has quite a vibrant workplace there.It would not seem to be a good use of his limited time to spend it on an airplane when he could merely share your group energy via a video camera.”
A chagrined expression crossed Viktor’s face.“I most humbly apologize for speaking for you, Heath.It was not my place.”He gave one of those regal head bows.
“Go right ahead.You did it well, and I appreciate it.You’re observant.”Heath had been determined not to like the man, but it he was turning out to be a decent guy, it was hard.
“Fine, I concede.”Kayn shook his head.“It’s a shame REKD Gaming didn’t set up in Wildstone, Washington.”
“Right.”Heath wasn’t sure what to make of the comment.He’d never had an employer press so hard.It was gratifying but also a little intimidating.What if he disappointed Kayn?
By the time they reached the Wallachs’ door, Heath was dragging.
“Did he convince you?”Ezreal asked as he opened the apartment door for them.
“Not me, but you guys sure have got Viktor’s mind going.”
“Viktor,” Ezreal said with a yawn, “Rafe called to say he could meet with you tomorrow morning at nine.As for you, Heath, I told Kayn he wouldn’t be able to get you to move here.Maybe now he’ll agree to you joining the meetings digitally.Night, you guys.”
Opening his bedroom door, Heath barely noticed Viktor’s “Goodnight.”Quinn had placed one of the large pillows in the middle of the bed and appeared to be sleeping.
He watched her for a few seconds.Her relaxed face made her look younger, more vulnerable.
Heath quietly grabbed his sleeping sweats and went into the bathroom to change.As always lately, thoughts of Quinn filled his mind.He craved more than friendship, but he’d settle for it rather than risk losing her.
He tiptoed to the bed and crawled under the covers on his side.Would they have continued down the samefriendshippath if Viktor hadn’t shown up?Heath had resisted his growing interest in her for months because she’d done nothing to encourage anything else.
Yet when she’d needed an excuse not to be available to Viktor, she’d immediately claimed Heath as her fiancé.It might have been that he happened to be there.Or maybe it’d been instinctual, which could say a lot about how she felt about him.
If he wasn’t convinced she had similar feelings for him, he’d drop it.But he could see it in her eyes, feel it in the way she held his hand, had caught the occasional flutter like she’d meant to touch him.But she almost always stopped herself.
Heath rolled onto his side and pressed the pillow down to find Quinn watching him.
“Did the tour go well?”she asked.
“It was just of the programming wing, but I won’t get lost finding my way there in the morning.”
“That’s nice.”She started to turn away from him, but Heath held up his hand.
“We need to talk.”
Quinn let out a long breath, staring at the ceiling.“There’s nothing to talk about.We’re friends.Just friends.”
“I’m getting mixed signals from you.You keep saying we’re only friends.”Heath stretched over the pillow to take her hand.“Then we touch… or kiss.It doesn’t feel like we’re just friends then, and I won’t lie.I’m falling for you, Quinn.”
She watched as he brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles, her eyes filling with tears.
“Heath.”Quinn said his name like a plea.“This is a fake engagement.Itcan’tbe real.”
“I’m not stupid.I understand we’re not really engaged.But pretending like we’re a couple has made me face my feelings.Comeon.I’ve always been able to talk to you about anything.Can’t we please talk about this?”
“I’m sorry.We don’t suit each other, so there’s nothing to talk about.”She gently pulled her hand free and rolled to the edge of the bed, where she stayed the rest of the night.
12
Heath woke the next morning to the soft pinging of his phone alarm.He sat up and checked Quinn’s side of the bed.She was gone, her half already made.The girl really didn’t want to talk to him.
As he got ready for the day, Heath considered his options relating to Quinn.He didn’t understand what was holding her back.The excuse that she planned to leave Wildstone and he refused to didn’t cut it.There had to be something more, something deeper to her inflexibility.If two people really cared for each other, they’d make it work.
