"What?"
"That this isn't going to end badly."
My chest tightened.It's going to end badly. It has to. There's no version of this where both of us walk away unscathed.
Unless...
Unless I could prove Quentin was innocent. Unless I could find who really killed my father. Unless I could convince Carlo before it was too late.
"Quentin—"
"I know you're keeping secrets," he interrupted. "I know there are things you're not telling me. And I know that should scare me more than it does."
"Then why doesn't it?"
"Because every instinct I have says you're worth the risk."
Oh.
We were sitting close. Too close for just boss and employee. Too close for people who didn't trust each other.
Not close enough for what I was feeling.
"This is a terrible idea," I whispered.
"Probably the worst."
"You're my boss."
"I know."
"There are rules. Policies. HR nightmares."
"I know."
Neither of us moved.
"We should set boundaries," I tried. "Keep it professional during work hours. No one can know. Especially not Stone."
"He already suspects."
"Then we'll be more careful."
"Okay."
"Okay."
We both knew we were lying to ourselves.
But we needed the pretense. The illusion of control.
"I should go," I said. But didn't move.
"Julia—"
"Yeah?"
"I want to kiss you."
