Chapter 18
Serenity
Bryce was in an odd, eager mood.
When we left the station, he insisted on us going out for lunch, saying he was hungry and I must be too.
I knew we’d end up in a nice place, but we pulled up to La Esperienza, the most exclusive restaurant in New Omaha.
I’d heard Vance and several others chat about it at the club, saying it was virtually impossible to get into, no matter the time of day.
Even without a reservation, they recognized him as soon as we stepped in the door. They quickly showed us to a private booth in the corner and Bryce started our order with glasses of champagne to toast my first day.
I only took a few sips of mine, determined to keep a clear head no matter how lovely the cool, frothy fizz was, and as each course arrived, he seemed to take immeasurable joy as I tried incredible dishes I’d never experienced before. Like our main course, lobster ragu.
His eyes were unusually bright, small flames flickering in his irises. Surely all this expense and fuss wasn’t because it was my first day at his company?
Or maybe it was because I’d stopped him from tripping at the station?
It had just been an instant. So brief, I could barely remember more than it being an automatic reaction.
But he seemed to be looking at me with so much more intensity since then.
And gave me such a wide smile anytime he caught me looking at him.
With that broad smile on his face as we ate, he was like a child who’d woken up on Christmas Day. It was as if he’d been zapped with a reviving spell by some electricity elemental. He was glowing, crackling with life.
Back in his Benz, I turned to him. “Bryce, thank you. That was amazing. It almost felt like too much.”
He waved his hand in a casual manner. “Don’t be silly, I’d do absolutely anything—” He paused, a tad flushed, as he tugged at the collar of his shirt. “What I meant to say was, you deserved it. We both did after that near accident this morning.”
When we got back to the Midas building and up to my new office, I checked to see none of the floor’s bustling employees were paying attention, and whispered, “You really are very kind, Bryce. Thank you again for everything today.”
At my words, his fingernails glowed a mild red. Funny thing, he’d not even bothered to put his gloves on during the whole outing, and even sat on the same side of the limo’s seating as me. Way closer than other times we’d ridden together. And I’d liked it.
We were standing outside my office door, and I was itching to repay him for all his kindness but had no idea how.
He already had all the money in the world.
At least he appreciated my company. He seemed surrounded by people he couldn’t feel fully comfortable with, and it wasn’t helped by his condition.
“Well, thanks so much again,” I said. “I’d better get to it.
Those designs won’t remodel themselves.”
Gulping subtly, he said in a tone that was unusually hesitant for him, “You, uh, know, with this being your first day, why don’t you bring your laptop into my office and work from there today? There are a few pointers I think would be best given by me anyway.”
“That would be nice, really. But Clara from IT said she’d give me a tutorial on the company portal this afternoon. She said it might take a while.”
He cleared his throat theatrically and spoke in a mock stern voice. “And who do you think knows their way around the portal better than me? I’m on it so often, I’m practically one of the pixels.”
I giggled, though couldn’t believe he wanted to help with such a low-level task. I got serious again quickly. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. One minute.” He gently held up his index finger.
Taking out his cellphone, he swiped, tapped and held it to his ear.
“Hello, Clara? Yes, it’s me, Mr. Harding.
I’m going to be helping Ms. Dawson get to grips with the portal today.
I’ll do it while we work. Why don’t you take a break instead?
Get yourself something from the deli, on Midas’s tab.
” He paused. “You’re very welcome. Goodbye. ”
“Looks like I’d better grab my laptop, then.” I smiled, loving how easily he solved situations with generosity and politeness.
As we walked past Darlene’s desk, she flashed him a toothy smile. Bryce just nodded an absentminded hello to her. Once in his office, he suggested I set my laptop up on his desk. So I did.
Except, instead of taking his usual refuge behind the other side, he nodded at one of the guests’ chairs. “Would it be okay if I sat beside you?”
“Whatever’s easiest, boss.” I tried for a joking manner.
He drew the chair so its leather arm was virtually touching the one I’d sat in. His expression held an odd mix of happiness and hesitancy. “I’m not the boss right now, if that’s okay? Just friends working together.”
“Sounds good,” I replied, my lips unable to hide my happiness. He sat down beside me, all designer suit, enchanting citrus scent and handsomeness rolled into one.
Him walking me through the portal’s complicated features, directing me to clack keys and tick boxes, I couldn’t help but feel a flutter in my stomach.
His spicy scent, his glinting eyes—flickering subtly with tiny dancing flames—and glowing fingernails, the fact his suit was tailored sharp as a scalpel.
There was just no way around it: I was as attracted to him as I was to Hunter. I didn’t know how to feel about that.
His gaze kept getting drawn to me too. Not in any way that made me uncomfortable, but like I was something priceless. His eyes widening and latching onto mine like I was something he didn’t want to let out of his sight.
With the way he looked at me, I felt like I was a character in one of the few romance novels I’d read.
Sometimes there were fantasy romances amongst the books they’d thrown in my room at the vamp feeding den and I’d always reread them cover to cover before they were taken away.
Bryce’s sincere, open gaze was how I’d imagined those men looked when I’d read they couldn’t take their eyes off the woman they loved.
Was it possible Bryce Harding, the state’s most eligible bachelor, someone who had coldly brushed off even a stunning beauty like Monique, had a crush on me?
No, I was being silly. And I was just a bit worked up from my own crush on him and on Hunter. Bryce and I were friends and, like he’d said, he wanted me to feel settled in comfortably as the company’s sole human employee. Nothing more.
I focused on the laptop as we went through portal details. Struggling with my feelings.
His suited arm sleeve brushed the bare skin of my forearm several times. I said sorry, but each time I apologized he only smiled and waved it away. I trusted his respectfulness, but with his condition, shouldn’t he have been more careful about us touching?
One thing about him being super close was definitely not causing concern though, not like what had happened in Sebastian’s office. Unlike when I touched Sebastian, I didn’t have Bryce’s thoughts floating through my head.
Bryce had kept me distracted since it happened, but what the hell was up with hearing Sebastian’s thoughts?
I knew vamps had special powers, possibly unspoken communication, and the last thing I needed—or wanted—was a vamp’s uninvited thoughts.
Sebastian seemed like a nice guy, but I didn’t want him doing that.
It made me extremely uncomfortable. Problem was, Bryce seemed determined I should work with him, when all I wanted to do was keep my distance.
Perhaps at some point I could broach the subject with Bryce, but it was so awkward with Bryce thinking so highly of him.
I’d just have to tell Sebastian to knock it off next time I saw him.
Anyway, Bryce was excellent at explaining how to use the portal and even navigate what I needed on my crappy second-hand phone.
And with us laughing and joking so much, the end of the day rolled around quickly.
I couldn’t believe he’d spent the whole day with me and hoped he hadn’t neglected other things too much.
Standing and straightening his shirt collar and tie—he’d been gradually loosening them the whole afternoon—he asked, “Would you mind if I took you home? It’s getting dark outside early, the closer we get to winter.”
I didn’t want to take advantage of us being friends. But then Conrad and his motley friends were still out there. My suggestion was weak, willing to be disagreed with, as I said, “Oh, I can take the bus…”
“I’m happy to. Though I know the Benz doesn’t take the scenic route,” he teased, before his tone grew more serious. “And there are legitimate safety issues that are ongoing…”
Yep, he was right. Bryce’s limo was infinitely safer than a public bus.
Gerald met us with a pursed smile and nod as he opened the limo door. “The lady’s residence, sir?”
Bryce returned the nod. “Yes. I think Hunter will be at the club, so I might go up with Serenity. If that’s all right with her, of course. And uh,”—he looked at me then back to Gerald, his tone teasing again—“go slow. Pretend you’re a bus driver. Make her feel like she’s not missing out.”
I stuck my tongue out at him.
He laughed and sidled closer on the seat next to me.
Hunter was home. Several candles had been lit around the entry and living room. And the loft was swimming in aromas of lemongrass, coconut, jasmine and saffron. They smelled amazing as I breathed them in.
“Hey you two,” he called out from the kitchen.
“Shouldn’t you be at work?” I called back with a smile.
“I took the night off to surprise my girl with dinner after her first day working with Mr. Big Shot.”