Page 39 of Careless Whisper

He leaned over and kissed my cheek—soft, warm, careful.

“Thank you for a wonderful day, Gigi.”

I watched him walk away, my heart knocking against my ribs.

What the fuck?

He wanted this to feel like a beginning?

To what? A horror movie? Because no way was our life a movie on freakingPassionflixwith a happily ever after.

CHAPTER 14

Elias

Sex always clouds things. But good sex…greatsex with Reggie, it made everything clear.

Since the day we saved Owen Hauser’s life so he could live another day to go through another trial and sentencing—I felt like Reggie and I had begun a new courtship dance.

We flirted…okay, so I flirted, and she rolled her eyes. I found ways to be with her, and she looked at me with suspicion.

I had no idea what the fuck I was doing. I had a plethora of problems with what went down in Boston, butthatReggie was notthisReggie—I was certain of it. The woman she’d become was careful, poised, brave, and so capable.

So, I’d done the thing I was damn good at. I compartmentalized. Dumped my thoughts about Boston Reggie where they wouldn’t surface andinterfere with the relationship I was trying to have with Seattle Reggie.

But it was not going to be as easy as I hoped, I thought when I saw a message from Dr. Cabrera light up my computer screen:Want to move forward with Dr. Maren Loring. Let’s finalize interviews next week. Impressive CV.

I stared at the message, then leaned back in my chair, rubbing the bridge of my nose.

Fucking hell!

Maren here, with Reggie and me trying to get back together, would be a powder keg, especially since Maren was trying damn hard to get into my pants while I was trying to get into Reggie’s.

I’d hoped that this wouldn’t happen, but Maren had done everything she could to get herself in front of people at Harper Memorial. Cabrera had been floating her name around for days now. He loved her NIH portfolio, the metrics from her old program, and the citations. She was good on paper. Polished, smart, relentless. She also happened to be pushing hard for a private grant tied to a major foundation, and she was hoping my name and Harper Memorial’s attached to hers would get that grant—and Cabrera loved that setup as well.

On cue, my phone rang. I sighed when I saw it was Maren. I didn’t pick up. Instead, I sent a message saying I’d call her later.

Maren:I just heard from Harper Memorial. I’mcoming to Seattle next week. I think I’m going to get the job!

I didn’t reply. I didn’t want her here, not with her wanting us to become a couple again, not with her professing love.

Maren:We should celebrate when I’m there. This is big!

Maren:Oh, and I heard from the Lancaster Foundation.They want to talk. Everything is working out!

Was it? I didn’t want to do the fucking trial or write the paper with Maren. I didn’t like the way she worked. I liked her as a friend, but as a colleague, I often found her unnecessarily aggressive and judgmental. And how would she react to Reggie? Probably the same way I had. She’d go after her.

I ran a hand through my hair.

Maren:Your father knows Faye Lancaster, and he said he’ll put in a word for both of us.

Could she stop texting?I thought irritably.

Maren:Elias, thank you for recommending me for the position at Harper.

I didn’t exactly recommend her, but since I set up her phone meetings with Cabrera, it definitely seemed like I did. What the hell was I thinking?

Iwasn’tthinking. I just wanted to get her off my back and booked the meeting. I didn’t for a minute think he’d want to hire her. Sure, she’d be in my department, and I had the final say, but I’d thought Cabrera would have an issue with her personality, soI’d have an excuse. I didn’t have any now. I’d have to hire Maren.

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