40. Ravenna
Ravenna
“ S ome little bee told me that you have a particular liking for Earl Grey lattes. So cheers.” Devlin holds out a drink cup from the coffee shop around the corner, presumably of the beverage he just described.
When I don’t take it from him, he sighs.
“Look, this is my attempt to apologize for the other day. I think I came on a bit too strong. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.
You’re a beautiful woman and it’s impossible not to notice, but that’s no excuse.
I obviously over stepped. I’m sorry. Please take this latte as a peace offering, Ms. O’Rourke. ”
“ Mrs . O’Rourke,” I correct him.
His brows lift. “I see. Again, my apologies.”
“Thanks.” To be polite, I take the offered beverage and set it on my desk. There’s no way I’m drinking from that cup. Call me paranoid, but he could have spiked with anything from Rohypnol to a deadly poison.
No thank you.
Devlin grins, then straightens to his full height. “Got to get back to work. See you around, Mrs . O’Rourke.”
I wave an unenthusiastic goodbye.
As soon as he’s out of sight, I go and empty the cup down the break room sink.
One of my co-workers, Susan, appears in the doorway. “Hey, there you are.”
“Sorry, were you looking for me?” I rack my brain, trying to remember if there’s something specific on my schedule for right now.
“Don’t worry. It’s not work-related.” She coasts into the room. “Several of us are going for drinks on Friday after work. Do you want to join us? It’s just to the bar a couple blocks over.”
So far, I’ve been working here for several months and have yet to be invited to any social gatherings. “I’d love to!”
“Great!” She grabs a cup of coffee, adds two packs of sugar and disappears back to the work area.
I’m a little distracted throughout the rest of the day thinking about the end of the week and finally, hopefully, making some friends among my co-workers.
It’s not that they’ve been mean or anything.
They just seem like a close knit group. Not all of them, but the few women in the agency that I really like and respect.
Besides my cousins, I don’t really have any friends. My family has always been enough and I never sought that kind of connection elsewhere. Until now.
Plus there’s something novel in the idea of having friends who live in the normal world.
Women who aren’t connected to one crime family or another.
Who live their lives by their own rules, work for a living, and get where they want to be on their own merit.
It’s something I find intriguing, and I deeply respect these confident women. I’d love to be more like them.
I wrap up my work day and head to the elevator. Finn and Kody will be waiting for me in the car, ready to drive me home. I’ll have to figure out what to do with them on Friday. Knowing them, and my husband, they’ll have to wait around for me, then take me home afterwards.
I step into the elevator, along with several other people leaving work at the same time. Devlin spots me and gradually edges closer by squeezing his huge frame through the dense crowd.
“How was your day?” he asks, gazing down at me.
I tense beside him, trying my best not to be nudged any closer to his body. We’re already stuffed in here like canned sardines.
“Fine. Thank you.” I don’t ask about his day because I’m trying not to encourage his attention.
“Good to hear. Are you going straight home after work? I suppose your husband’s waiting for you.”
“He is,” I confirm.
“Lucky guy,” Devlin murmurs low.
I ignore his comment.
The elevator finally reaches the ground floor and everyone rushes out. A massive, sprawling marble lobby separates us from the multiple revolving doors.
I hurry to the exit, but Devlin’s long strides quickly catch him up with me. Even so, I don’t bother slowing down.
“Do you have any kids?” he asks.
“No.”
“So you’re a career woman?”
“Something like that.” I walk through the doors and emerge on the wide sidewalk. This time of day especially, the area’s bustling with activity. Mostly people leaving work.
Devlin steps in front of me, blocking my path to the waiting car. He hasn’t touched me, which is smart, since Kody, my bodyguard, hovers nearby.
He watches, waiting for any sign that I need him. Subtly, I shake my head, signaling him to stand down. This man isn’t a threat. Especially out here on a busy sidewalk where a million people can see us.
Oblivious, Devlin shifts closer. “Look, I’m just trying to be friendly. I’m new in town and this city’s rough. You seem nice. Unlike a lot of the other women at this agency. Not a ton of guys work here, you know?”
I soften toward him the tiniest bit. I know exactly how it feels to be the outsider, the newcomer.
“I’m not trying to be mean. It’s just that I’m happily married.”
He takes half a step back. “I’m sure you are. I’m not trying to seduce you.” Devlin holds up his hands in surrender. “Really. Sorry if I came across that way. I just want to be friends, or even friendly co-workers. Nothing more.”
“Oh. Sorry. That’s not the impression I got from you.” A faint heat settles on the back of my neck. I can’t believe I completely misinterpreted this situation, and his intentions.
“Fair enough. So, will you give me a chance to be friendly? Just as co-workers? Maybe gossip in the break room from time to time?”
I smile with relief. “Sure. I guess.”
“No harm in that, is there?”
“I guess not.” I glance around him at my waiting car. “I need to go. Have a good night.”
“See you tomorrow.”
I wave and head to the car. Finn and Kody give me curious glances but they don’t ask any questions and I don’t offer an explanation.