“Understandable.” Graynodded. “I’m thinking what we do is call management and have them look at thelock. Then we’ll negotiate whether or not I’m staying here tonight.”
A lump suddenly forming inmy throat forced me to swallow.Negotiatewasn’t actually what he meant, Ithought. What hemeantwas that he was staying the night, and no amount ofarguing would change his mind.
Which was good, because Ididn’twant him to leave. I was tired of being on edge all the time.
“Sure,” I responded, notwilling to argue and figuring Gray knew what he was doing, anyway. “You think Icould maybe throw a robe on, or is part of this plan having the entire buildingsee me naked?”
To my horror, Gray backed upa step and looked me up and down slowly and deliberately.
Any chance I had of everhaving sex with him again had just evaporated, I was sure. There was no way—
“I mean, it’s not a bad lookfor you,” he said, meeting my eyes.
Smiling?
With his lower lip caughtbetween his teeth, like he’d just seen something hereallyliked.
I looked down, wonderingwhat the hell that could be.
“But I guess if youhaveto get dressed…”
“I have to,” I said, takinga step toward the bedroom.
Gray chuckled, which,ironically, made me feel a little better.
Hewasn’t freaking out.He was just taking charge of the situation and doing what needed to be done.
And he was right. I wasokay, if a little shaken. Nothing had actually happened.
“Can I make a joke about youslipping into something more comfortable?” Gray asked as I disappeared into thenext room, not quite brave enough to close the door after me.
I wasn’t sure if I wasrelieved or disappointed that he hadn’t followed.
EIGHTEEN
GRAY
THE BUILDING MANAGER—Louisa—was ashelpful and apologetic as she had been last time, and I couldn’t help thinkingthat she didn’t need this shit any more than Miles did.
“Is he okay?” she asked inlow tones while the maintenance people were finishing up with the lock,glancing over at Miles, who’d retreated to the other end of the apartment.
I didn’t mind takingover. Whatever I could do to help was fine with me.
“He will be,” I said, notwanting to give a full report on Miles’ mental state. She didn’t need to knoweverything, and I could see she was a little shaken, too.
I hoped she had someone togo home to.
“He’s got you, right?” sheasked, a tiny smile playing about her lips.
“He does,” I agreed.
Whether Miles wanted me ornot, he was stuck with me. I knew now that he was just being stubborn over notcalling me more often. He’d nearly passed out when he thought I was anintruder, and that meant this had affected him much more than he’d beenpretending it had.
I’d known, too. Or suspected,at least.
But I hadn’t been willingto push because I didn’t want to piss off a client.
Or, honestly, because I didn’t want Miles tofire me. I didn’t want to lose the only excuse I had to spend time with him. Ilikedhim.
