Page 81 of The Gathering
She carried the pail back, locking her eyes on the infirmary, struggling to keep humiliation out of her posture and step. She was surely going to have a word with him about that kind of physical behavior. It was forbidden with the nuns, and he of all people should know that rule!
She went into the infirmary and made her way to the kitchenette table, seeing him out the corner of her eye, loading wood into the stove.
She gathered her courage and dignity and a little anger to keep it steady, ending near the sink. “I’m required to inform you that all physical altercations must be reported to my superiors.”
He straightened, his smile soft, his gaze even softer on her. “Yes ma’am,” he said, roaming his stare over her hair and face. “Think I’ll get time in jail for it?”
“You’re making light of it which tells me you’re not even sorry.”
“Veryperceptive.”
“I will likely be relocated,” she said.
“That would be terrible,” he said, walking up to her. “Excuse me, I need to get by.”
She looked on either side of her, seeing no room for him to pass. She stepped aside and he went to the sink. “Gonna put on another pot of coffee. Was thinking we could discuss our next project.”
He was ignoring this! Mocking her! “There’s no point in discussing projects if I’m not going to be allowed to work with you on it.”
“And who is your superior?” he asked, adding grinds to the pot.
“Sister Isla.” It was technically true, she was above all, and given his obstinate arrogance, she needed her biggest guns. “Wife of the Quantum King,” she added, in case he forgot.
“Ohhhhh,” he said with dread, turning on the pot and facing her, palm on the counter.
Not dread. Mockery.
She crossed her arms over her chest, her gaze fluttering over him, his male perfection scarring her virgin retinas.
“I’ll call her and ensure you’re allowed.” He put his hands in his jean pockets and crossed his legs. “I’ll explain everything that happened.”
Her eyes got swallowed by his midsection and everything bulging there. She gulped down the sudden burn in her throat. Her eyes snapped up. “What did you say?”
He was smiling. “I said I’ll call your superior and explain everything that happened.”
The scenario played out in her mind, dumping icy panic in her veins.
“Unless you don’t want to be my apprentice anymore. Then there’s no point.”
She stared at him. He was being something else!
“I’m sure there’s plenty of sisters I can train that would happily help,” he added.
She barely caught her gasp. He was surely right, there wereplentyof sisters that would love to be hisanything. Was he trying to make her jealous? He would have to think she liked him to try that, and he’d have to want her not to leave. Or was it to test her? See what she wanted and how much?
What a dirty trap! And a magnificent one!
She shoved up her mental sleeves, not prepared to lose whatever game he seemed to be playing. But she also didn’t want to go too far and lose what was most important to her—their beautiful friendship. She would never want to jeopardize that.
“Maybe take some time to think about it.” He pulled his phone out of his back pocket. “You can call me and let me know what you decide. Give me your number and I’ll text you mine.”
Really! Give me your number! Call when you want! I’ll get more sisters to help me!
She thought quickly. “Alright,” she said, using her professional voice while hurrying to her bag hanging near the door. “I don’t want to cause unnecessary trouble,” she assured, trying to remember what she was even defending. Yes, the shoulder hauling assault! Fresh humiliation emboldenedher resolve as she walked back with her phone, finding him chuckling at his.
She looked at her own, remembering how difficult the contraption was, her eyes flicking up to see what he was doing, only to never make it past his hips and all that still bulged there. She cleared her throat, finally getting the thing turned on.
“Booting up now,” she announced.
