Love Thy Enemy (Red Stone Security #13)(5)

“If you say so.”

He found himself grinning at her slightly sarcastic tone. At least she didn’t seem annoyed with him anymore. The woman made him crazy. “Did you get enough to eat tonight?” He knew she usually skipped lunch and basically seemed to exist on caffeine.

She snorted. “I didn’t get anything. I meant to, but got too busy. Hey, why are we going this way? My car’s in the parking garage.”

“I had one of the guys take it back to the office for you.” It was a company vehicle so they all had keys to it. “Viktor wanted to make sure you got home safely tonight. My driver will take you.”

“Oh…thanks.” There was an odd note in her voice, one he couldn’t define.

“Besides, I heard you say you wanted to see the Sanchez exhibit. I asked one of the staff from the art center if we could check out the display and they’re allowing us in before we leave,” he said as he opened the door to the art center. But he would make sure she got something to eat on the way home.

Sanchez was an up-and-coming photorealist artist in Miami. Abram didn’t give a shit about art but he could appreciate the man’s talent. The images were all of places in Miami or Florida and had soul.

Lucy blinked up at him, paused in the open doorway. “That’s very nice.” Did she have to sound so surprised by that?

He lifted a shoulder, uncomfortable with the way she was watching him.

She gave him a soft half-smile he felt all the way to his core. “Thank you.”

It took a moment for his legs to catch up to his brain. He fell in step with her in two strides then had to slow down because of their height difference.

After walking through the exhibit—which she seemed to thoroughly enjoy—they finally left the art center. His current driver, Kir, was waiting by the curb, just like he’d instructed.

He held open the door for Lucy before Kir could get out and do it. When he slid into the backseat after her, she looked almost surprised. Maybe she hadn’t realized he was coming with her. He didn’t care that Viktor had just said to make sure she got to her car safely. He was making sure she got home safely. There wasn’t even a threat against them at the moment, but he still wanted to take care of her. Because she is a good employee, he told himself. That was it.

“Does he know my address?” she murmured, strapping herself in.

He nodded, strapping in as well before telling Kir to head out.

“Did you have fun tonight?” she asked, her dark gaze on him.

“It was fine.” The bright city lights played over her delicate features as they drove toward downtown.

Her mouth quirked up. “That’s not really an answer.”

“It was…business. Not for fun.” Fun would be stripping her naked, making her come, seeing her lose control. He didn’t do relationships. He’d never had time, but lately he found himself thinking he’d make an exception for Lucy. Which, again, was stupid since she was an employee.

Now she shrugged. “So? You can still have fun at events.”

He’d seen her talking to a multitude of people tonight, some clearly for business, but others he knew she was friends with. Because everyone seemed to adore Lucy. It was hard not to. “It was fine,” he said, repeating his earlier statement. He felt stupid and tongue-tied around her. Always.

She gave him one of those frustrated looks and started to respond when her phone dinged from her giant bag, indicating an incoming text. Instantly she reached for it.

“You don’t have to worry about work anymore. It’s okay to go off the clock.” He worried that she might burn out. Maybe they were working her too hard?

She laughed as she responded to the text. “When you and Viktor slow down, I’ll slow down.”

He swallowed hard, looked out the window. It was doubtful he and Viktor would slow their pace anytime soon. Money gave him security and some days he couldn’t seem to make enough. Abram had grown up poor, unlike Viktor. But it didn’t matter. Viktor’d had it bad too. Abram was glad he’d only had limited contact with their father when he was young. After he’d turned eight he’d cut off all contact with the bastard, told his mom he didn’t want to see him again. Thankfully his mom had been more than happy to, even though it had meant cutting off any support from the sperm donor.

He’d assumed Viktor was just like that monster but he’d found out differently when he’d started to dig into him more. Only then had he approached him and had been surprised Viktor had no clue about his existence. It had taken time, but they’d eventually become friends.

Best friends. The first one he’d ever had. Abram didn’t trust many people. Just some of the guys he’d served with from his Marine Corps days. And his brother. No one else.

When he realized Lucy was still texting, he plucked the phone from her hands.

Letting out a soft gasp, she stared at him. “What are you doing?”

“You’re done for the night.”

“Damn it, Mr. Ivanov—”

“Abram. My name is Abram,” he gritted out. She called his brother by his first name. But she’d never called him by his first name. She either completely avoided using his name, or when she was annoyed called him Mr. Ivanov. It was ridiculous and made him insane.

She let out a frustrated growl. “I know that. Please give me my phone. I just need to respond to one thing and then I’m done for the night. Promise.”