Page 80 of Dream Chaser

Alejandro and me? Alejandro’s eyes met mine for a beat, then he returned his attention to Manu. “Thank you. Please give my congratulations to Cami.”

Awkwardness lingered between us as he set aside his phone. His moss-green eyes paused on my face as if searching for clues about how I felt.

Not even I knew the answer to that.

Dinner at Manu’s restaurant was one thing, but attending his engagement celebration with Alejandro was intimate, and hardly something you’d do with a boss. Manu seemed to have gotten the wrong idea about the nature of my relationship with Alejandro. That was the only logical reason he’d invite me, a stranger, to an intimate gathering.

But what did Alejandro think? What was really going on between us?

Questions I didn’t have the courage to ask got stuck in my throat. I cleared it, lowering my gaze to my laptop. “I’m a bit surprised he invited me.”

Alejandro nodded, thoughtful. “It might seem unexpected, but he knew we’d both be in Spain, and he knows how it is between us.”

My pulse skittered. “How is it?”

The line of his throat moved with his swallow. He ran his thumb over the edge of his laptop’s keyboard in his lap. “You work for me.”

Invisible iron bands tightened across my chest.

Technically, he was right. I did—but it hadn’t stopped him from canceling his commitments for two days straight so he could take care of me. Hadn’t stopped him from holding my hand in the hospital. And it hadn’t stopped us from sharing a bed, either.

We’d crossed too many lines, and somehow, I still had no clue where we stood.

And I couldn’t let my attraction toward him ruin what I’d worked so hard for.

“I see,” I whispered. “I’d love to go, but I’m not sure I can. It’s Thanksgiving. I might have to go to Millford.”

I wouldn’t—not after the way my mother treated me—but what else could I say?

Alejandro nodded, drumming his fingers on the touchpad, the nonchalant gesture at odds with his solemn expression. “If you need to fly back home and return to Spain for the award ceremony later, that can be arranged. I can’t expect you to work over the holidays. But for what it’s worth, I think you’d love the mountains. The fresh air might be good for you.”

Spending time with him would be, too.

Too good. And too dangerous for my heart.

“I’ll let you know,” I said as the doorbell echoed through the apartment.

The couch was here.

Alejandro trailed behind me to the door. After I signed for the delivery, they carried the couch into the living room.

Once they’d left, Alejandro rid it of the wrap. Tension that hadn’t been there earlier crept in, wedging an invisible wall between us.

A few hours ago, he would’ve made a joke, and I would’ve called him boss just because he’d told me not to. But the fact that he’d downplayed what was happening between us had changed something.

Not something—it’d changed everything.

“It’s ready,” Alejandro said.

“Thank you for waiting. And for everything you did for me.” I mustered a smile. “You can go now. I’m sure you’ve got lots to do.”

“Are you feeling all right?” His voice—soft, concerned—tugged at my chest.

I was still weak. Exhausted. But I didn’t trust myself not to say something I’d regret if he’d stayed.

Like he said, I worked for him. We had to keep things professional.

“Absolutely. I’m going to take another nap and maybe call my friend Scarlett.”