Chapter 18 I was stupid. There was no other word for it. Why else would I have spent Saturday night-between taking orders, delivering drinks, and ignoring my aching feet-watching the door, half hoping Tore would ignore my no and show up anyway? He hadn't. He'd respected my wishes. And that had been both a relief and a letdown. By the time I walked into Nox Cyber a few days later, I was jonesing for a fix. Given he was already in the conference room, I wondered if he'd been feeling the same. He looked up from his computer, fixing his gaze on me. "Good morning, Bea." "Good morning." I put my hands on my hips, doing my best to glare at him, but I couldn't summon any heat behind it. "Is this always going to be a thing?" "A thing?" "Yes. You being in here while I set up." "Oh." He straightened his glasses. "Possibly. There are times my schedule is out of my control, but if I can help it, I'll be here." I sighed. "I thought that's what you would say." "I haven't been subtle about what I want." His gaze softened. "How was work Saturday night?" "Fine. It was a long day, and I was glad when it was over, but that's not unusual." Turning my back to him, I went about doing my job-the reason I was here. "Is your catering business not doing well enough for you to quit your waitressing job?" I nearly jumped out of my skin when he appeared next to me. He always stayed in his seat, pretending to work on his laptop. It seemed things were changing. "That's a pretty personal question," I replied. He nodded. "I know. I've told you a lot of personal things about myself. You can ask me anything you like." "That doesn't mean it's a two-way street." He plucked up one of the muffins I'd just set out and methodically peeled the wrapper. "Then you can tell me it's none of my business." I placed the final snack cup down and checked my list, making sure I wasn't forgetting anything. Me from a few years ago would have been shocked-but impressed-at how organized I was. Judging the way Tore was eyeing the checklist like a juicy steak, he was impressed too. "Technically, I'm making plenty, but I don't feel safe enough to quit waitressing yet." He lifted his eyes to meet mine. "What would it take to make you feel safe?" "I don't have a number in mind." I shrugged. "I've always juggled multiple jobs. I don't know if I'm capable of quitting." "You deserve rest." "Doesn't everyone?" I scrunched my nose. "I doubt you take much time off work." "I do, actually." He twisted the ring on his finger. "I don't work weekends, and I have time set aside for vacation." I was surprised, but not quite convinced. "How many years were you running Nox before giving yourself a break?" His mouth tugged into a reluctant smile. "Longer than I care to admit. You should take me as a cautionary tale. I do not recommend working seventy-hour weeks. I lost many years strapped to my desk instead of experiencing life." "Luckily, I've never forced myself to sit at a desk. That wouldn't fly." I glanced from his ring to his eyes, finding them pinned to me. "I get your point. I'll have to think about it. Maybe I'll set a monetary goal and let myself quit when I reach it." That seemed to please him. "Good." I held up a finger. "I said maybe." Tore snagged my hand before I could drop it and rolled his thumb over my ring. "This isn't the same one you were wearing that night." My breath caught, and warmth flooded my belly. I wasn't sure if I was reacting to his touch or the fact he'd remembered such a small detail from so long ago. It was probably a little of everything. "I lost that one." He rolled the spinner back and forth. "I like this. I never see you playing with it." I swallowed the lump in my throat. "I don't. Not really. But I like knowing it's there." "Bea-" A knock on the door stopped him from saying anything else. Paul strode in, glancing between us, while Tore took his time letting go of my hand. "Hey, Bea. Do you have a minute to talk about changes in the menu?" Paul asked. "Yes." I swiped my hands on my pants and edged away from Tore. His scowl burrowed into the side of my face, but I refused to look at him. "Should I find you when I'm finished?" "What's wrong with the menu?" Tore bit out. Paul held up his hands. "Nothing. Bea's food is perfect, but she mentioned switching it up so people didn't get bored. If you don't want to change, we don't have to." Tore frowned at him. "Who's bored? Did someone say they're bored?" He shook his head. "Absolutely not. I've only gotten positive feedback since we brought Bea in." "It was my idea, Tore," I cut in. "No need to bite Paul's head off." He whipped his attention back to me. "I don't like changes being made without notice. Paul knows this." I arched a brow. "I find it hard to believe you manage this company on such a micro level. Do you also pick Paul's ties out for him every morning? How do you possibly get anything done?" Paul looked like his head was going to explode at the way I was speaking to his boss. Technically, I guessed he was my boss too, but I doubted I was in danger of being fired. "I don't like change when it affects me," he repeated, his jaw tight. "Paul is more than capable of picking out his own ties." Shoot. I'd probably stepped over the line. In my day-to-day life, that wasn't unusual. At work, though? Never. I was even more mortified I'd done it at Tore's expense. "Of course. I'm just teasing." I leaned around Tore to address Paul. "Hey, I'll talk to you in a few minutes, all right?" "Got it." He backed toward the door like he couldn't escape quick enough. "I'll be at my desk." When we were alone again, I exhaled slowly. "Sorry. Paul's your employee. I shouldn't have poked fun at you like that in front of him." "Thank you. I appreciate that." He snagged my hand again and went right back to rolling my ring. "Do you have a boyfriend?" I blinked at the sudden subject change, then laughed. "Do you think Paul and I are having a secret affair?" The idea was so wild to me, it might've been from outer space. Paul was fine looking, but as far as I was concerned, he was sexless. Nothing about him piqued my interest. Unfortunately, Tore had been the only one who'd captured my attention in a long while. "Paul?" He cocked his head. "It hadn't crossed my mind. Are you interested in him?" "I'm not." His jaw rippled. "Are you seeing anyone?" I curled my fingers around his. "No, and I don't have a boyfriend. I'm not the type of woman who'd let a man hold my hand if I did." He looked down at our joined hands, his brow furrowing. "I didn't realize we were holding hands." His eyes found mine, wide with wonder. "Why are you allowing me to hold your hand, Bea?" "I- I don't know. You just did it, and I let you." He shuffled closer, wedging our hands between our chests. "You don't like it?" "No, I do." I rubbed my lips together, hoping to spark the right words. It was fruitless. I couldn't think with him standing so close, smelling like a forest after a heavy rain, piney and fresh, warm and tall, watching me intently, noticing my every tic and breath. It was too much. "Go out with me," he uttered lowly. My pulse fluttered in my throat like a trapped butterfly. How was it possible to feel so much for this man? I could count our interactions on two hands, but that didn't seem to matter. Logic couldn't touch the way I reacted to him. "Tore..." "Bea..." His lips curled at the corners. "Say yes." My teeth dug into my bottom lip. I didn't want to be stubborn just for the sake of it, and I couldn't decide if that's what I was doing. There was no question I was immensely attracted to him. Like, way beyond attracted. And there was an undeniable pull between us that had been there from the start. But I still had this twinge of resistance that made me want to run from him. He'd chase me... ...and I'd like it. "Okay. Yes." A grin spread across his face, and the tips of his ears glowed bright red. "Yes? Really?" "Mmmhmm." My stomach churned, and my overactive sense of self-preservation wanted me to take it back, but I fought it. "Tonight. I'll send a car for you." "I'll drive." He shook his head. "You won't make it easy." "I'm not an easy woman." "Good. I wouldn't want you any other way." He squeezed my hand. "I'll let you go." His unsaid words rang loud and clear: For now. Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!