25. Chloe
25
CHLOE
T en minutes later, I met Sean in the lobby as I walked out after speaking with Will and Brianna.
Will had been happy to see me, and like us, he had been concerned about Brianna’s temporary absence.
It was easier to talk to him without Sean glowering by my side, and I left after an interesting conversation with him while Brianna kept craning her neck for a second look at Lucas.
Sean kept his gaze on me as I walked toward him and gave me his arm quietly as he led me down the steps.
Lucas was in the waiting car, half asleep in the seat when he noticed us.
He waved to us as we approached.
I waved back as he made room for us on the seat.
Sean’s throat worked, and he gritted the next words out.
“Did your meeting with Will go well?”
I flushed and nodded just as I remembered his reaction to it an hour ago.
The curt go ahead . He was kind enough to offer to drop me home, and I couldn’t ignore his question.
“It did,” I said breathlessly.
Eager to switch topics, I added, “Thank you for a wonderful evening tonight.”
Sean simply glowered at me.
“And for being so supportive when we lost sight of Lucas,” I added softly.
And for when I was panicking .
“Are you meeting him again?” Sean asked as though he hadn’t heard a word of what I said.
I hesitated. Will had asked, and while I’d wanted to avoid dating at all costs, something had told me I wouldn’t be able to get Sean out of my mind unless I dated someone else.
I nodded finally. “He did ask me if I could meet him next Thursday,” I added, recalling that Thursdays were my time with Sean and Lucas.
I hadn’t given Will an answer yet.
I was, frustratingly, hoping against hope for a sign from Sean that I shouldn’t.
“Wow, he isn’t wasting any time, is he?” Sean said, pulling the door out slightly more so I could get in.
“I haven’t answered him yet,” I blurted out.
“I realized that Thursdays were my days with you.”
His gaze roved over my face, and for a long, intense moment, I hoped that he’d demand I honor my obligation to him.
Guilt me into skipping my meeting with Will.
It wouldn’t be the first time I’d be skipping something out of guilt.
But it would be the first time I’d be skipping something because I wanted the alternative.
“You should meet him,” Sean said at last. “We met up twice this week, so I’ll take a rain check on next week’s meeting.”
I should’ve felt relief, but as I searched his face, my chest hurt.
I would much rather be with you.
My cheeks flamed with regret, and my throat was tight as I forced my voice to be steady when I thanked him before getting into the car.
In a few seconds, Sean followed.
Lucas had dozed off, and I clicked his seat belt in place just before the door fell shut and the car began to move.
It was a few minutes before Sean spoke again.
“Where is he taking you?” he asked almost belligerently.
I watched him carefully.
“Why?”
For a moment, it seemed like he was going to answer me honestly, but at the last minute, he drew back.
“Never mind. I don’t care. It’s none of my business.”
Things were glaringly complicated between us.
He’d made it clear he didn’t want to cross any professional boundaries, and as much as I hated that, I had to respect it.
Besides the fact that he was my boss, I also suspected that getting involved with Sean would be a bad idea for other reasons.
He was the kind of man who could leave me broken and hurt if I ever gave in to this attraction.
I couldn’t afford to get emotionally wrecked by him.
The way he had comforted and helped me when I was at my lowest tonight, our freaking kiss, and worse, these feelings, it all seemed to disappear into nothingness.
We were back to being strangers.
Our eyes met, and I could feel the intensity in his gaze, as though what I’d said wasn’t enough.
He shifted away in his seat, putting more distance between us, and my heart broke.
For the rest of the drive, we stayed like that.