Chapter 16
sixteen
Amber rolls her eyes so hard, I hear it. “Your order, Alice? Sometime today, preferably.”
I force out my words, squeaking as I blink up at Marco Amir. “Oolong, please.”
Amber waves us off, muttering, and I pivot to face the man who has to be a figment of my imagination. Maybe my brain is so desperate to find an excuse to order my favorite tea that it created a mirage.
But no. Because when he reaches into his pocket for his wallet, his arm brushes mine. And it is very solid and very real.
I blink at it, thrown, and then turn my gaze back up to his square, chiseled face. A flicker of humor touches the curves of his lips. “You seem more agreeable in this coffee shop than in the last one.”
“I—I like books,” I blurt. My skin seems to know I’ve embarrassed myself before my brain does—by the time I realize that I sound like an idiot, my cheeks are already burning.
“Ah,” he replies, his smirk slightly more obvious as he drops a twenty onto the bar. “So, it’s all about proximity to books and nothing to do with me surprising you?”
Just like the first time, it feels like he’s flirting with me. But why? Last time he was trying to vet me. Is he still?
Oh God. Is that why he came over last weekend? To keep an eye on me?
I’ve been so stupid, I realize, my eyes burning as he smiles at me. Of course this is all part of his job.
My chest and neck flame along with my face. I pray he can’t see either under my marled blue cardigan and the matching navy camisole layered underneath.
But Marco’s too observant for that. He leans back slightly, widening his stance and slipping a hand into the pocket of his black slacks.
I realize he doesn’t have his whole suit on this time.
Just the onyx pants and an equally dark shirt, rolled up at the sleeves to reveal two bulging forearms roped with veins.
One wrist has a watch, the other a simple braided band of black leather.
His dark eyes flick right down to my chest and back up again. His lips don’t move, but somehow, his smile turns cocky.
My pinch of mortification smolders into offense. Before I can overthink it, a scoff bubbles out of my mouth, followed by a taunt I ordinarily would have swallowed. “You surprised me last time, and it definitely did not help my mood. So it’s probably just the books.”
That earns me a broad, mind-melting grin. It moves over his face slowly, as if every bit of it is a deliberate choice he makes to reveal his amusement to me. Even after he returns to his usual stony expression, the stunning sight lingers behind my eyelids like a camera flash.
Awkwardness starts to press down around us, and my stammer returns. “I-isn’t it a work day for y-you?”
The tense line of his brow relaxes slightly, softening the sharper edges of his features. “Yes. It is.”
Basically admitting this is his work. Watching me while I work.
I don’t realize I’ve started scowling until he frowns, staring at my face like he finds the whole scenario every bit as infuriating as I do.
But his velvet voice stays deep and quiet as he gestures to two couches. “Shall we?”