Suddenly, she was very nervous.Her heart rate went up and a shiver of awareness rushed through her.She kept glancing at his mouth, wanting to kiss him.Frantically, she tried to think of something to say and just blurted the first than that came to mind.
“You know, um, I read a magazine article a couple of days ago about forced perception, and I hate to say it, but the arguments are very convincing.”
He cocked his head, studying her.Was he able to see through her nervousness?“I agree.I’ve seen many of the ones they focused on, like The Arnolfini Portrait, and remembering thinking along the same lines.”
They fell silent.The conversation hadn’t gone as far as she hoped it would.
“Quinn,” he said.“I want you to be comfortable in my home.”
They stared at one another in the soft light.She wondered what he would say if she told him she wanted to kiss him.Or if she even had the guts to say anything.The debate raged inside her and she wondered if she should pursue it.The only hesitation was what would happen when he got bored of her?
Her work had become the most important thing in her life.Even more than Bryan.Slowly, she came to realize that the feelings she had for Max went deeper than being merely his assistant.Every decision she had made in the past year had been with him in mind.Could she give that up if—when—things were over?
She wished she knew the protocols of sleeping with the boss.Should she ignore the attraction and continue on as they were?Would they be able to talk things out?Have everything fall back into place when it was done?Max was still Max, and she ...well, a tiny little part of her thought she was fast on her way to falling hard for her boss.
Did he feel the same way?Or was she projecting her own desires on to him?
“Quinn?”
She snapped back to attention.“Yes?”
“Where did you go?”
“Just, you know, would you ...like ...to watch a movie?”
A sly smile curled the corner of his lips.“Sure.”
For the next two hours they watched a horror movie, because the last thing she wanted to do was sit through a romance when Max’s leg kept brushing against hers.The jump scares didn’t even bother her because she was so hyper focused on him.When it was over, she bid a hasty good night and hurried off to bed, acutely aware she was running like a coward.
Chapter Eight
The next few days weremuch the same, and Quinn relaxed more and more in Max’s home.An ease existed between them, a comradeship she had never felt with any boyfriend from her past, not even Bryan.Max talked to her on his level, as his equal, and it brought her a little more under his spell.The only weird thing was he would leave at odd hours in the night.At first, she thought he was going to meet women, but nothing stayed consistent.
The swelling around her eye had gone down and the discoloration grew lighter.Even the small cut on her cheek was nothing but a thin line that would eventually disappear.It was time for her to go back to work, so that Sunday night, she cooked a nice dinner for her and Max.Once more, he had to go out but he texted her saying he was on his way back.It did make her curious, because what type of art business couldn’t wait until Monday?
She had just finished setting the table when the front door opened.Waiting, she thought he’d come straight to the dining room, but when he didn’t, she walked to the den.Figuring he wanted to wash up, she returned to the table.Roasted chicken, asparagus, potatoes au gratin and poached pears for dessert.Finally, Max showed up, his wet hair indicating he showered.
