Page 80 of (Mostly) Human Resources

Okay, maybe shewasthat stupid.

It was insanely frustrating how easily Nic managed to flip a conversation back around on her. She tried to swallow her embarrassment just as Nic stopped walking and grabbed her arm, forcing her to do the same. He pulled her toward him, and his gaze was so pointed she felt obligated to meet it.

“I want you to be entirely honest with me, alright?”

Alexys nodded, surprised by the sudden seriousness of his tone.

“Every time the topic of friendship comes up, you either make a sarcastic comment or make a point to emphasize our status as coworkers.” Nic’s brow furrowed, and his expression began to look genuinely hurt. “Does the idea of us being friends make you that uncomfortable?”

Her mouth opened to answer with whatever conversation-dodging comment she could come up with fastest, but he interrupted her first.

“I want you to establish your boundary here and now. Be clear, Alexys, because I’m not willing to ruin our work relationship by putting you in a position to feel uncomfortable. This trip is going to have enough repercussions as it is, so tell me where you want that line to be drawn, and we’ll draw it.”

Something deep inside Alexys yawned open as Nic all but forced her to finally address whatever was happening between them these past few days. It was the topic she’d been wrestling with ever since he’d crash-landed in her work trip. Perhaps longer, if she was honest with herself. But his blunt approach made her feel guilty as all hell because the only thing standing between Nic and Alexys having a friendship was her own pride.

She was clinging to the security of that first bad impression, and the way they pushed each other in meetings and always sought the other out for an argument. So long as they remained combative, everyone was safe. Alexys wouldn’t have to entertain the idea that maybe she did seek his approval, his admiration, and now, maybe even his attention.

She cringed at the thought. Surely a few days with Nic Dyre couldn’t result in a full-blown crush, right?

Ugh.

Baby steps. She had to figure out her current issues first. If she could find Elliot, get home and not lose her job, then get rid of her nightmares, maybe then she could explore whatever was happening between them.

Nic sighed and released her arm.

“Wait, Dyre,” she started. It was now her turn to grab his arm and pull him back to her. “I don’t hate you.” Not the question he had asked, but it felt like a good place to start. Her emotions were all rushing together and made her words come out in a jumbled mess. “I’ve never hated you, not really. I actually wanted to be friends when we first met, but I thought you never liked me.” It sounded so pathetic when she said it aloud. Alexys wanted the earth to open up and swallow her whole.

“I never disliked you,” he said, surprised. “You’re one of the few people at Entity I find capable of intellectually stimulating conversation.”

A questionable compliment, but she’d take it. “Then why are you always rude to me?”

Nic puffed his cheeks. He looked sheepish and fished around for an answer before muttering, “Because people are hard.”

If Alexys didn’t think it would undo all of their tentative progress, she’d have called him a moron. Instead, she bit her lip.

“You know, for the smartest person in the world, your people skills are incredibly bad.”

“Maybe, but you like it.” Nic quirked a smile at her, that sunny, toothy grin she was beginning toreallyenjoy seeing. “That’s why you haven’t given up on me yet.”

“Yeah, well.” She could feel a heated blush creeping up her neck as he continued to smile down at her. “Somebody’s got to teach you how to navigate basic human interactions.”

His hand reached up, and he bumped the back of his knuckles against her chin. His voice was soft and almost tender. “I’m glad you’re the one to do it.”

Alexys’s eyes, those traitorous bastards, slipped down to his lips, and she considered what it would be like to shut him up in a different way. How high would she need to go up on her toes in order to kiss him?

Baby steps, remember, her poor ego whispered. They agreed on baby steps. Friendship first. Elliot first. Getting out of here alive, first.

She forced herself to look away, but everywhere she looked was dangerous. His tousled curls that she wanted to comb her fingers through, the white t-shirt, and his broad chest that she wanted to run her hands down and …

“I’m sorry for making you feel that I disliked you.” He drew her attention back to his face and her stomach flipped.

“You don’t need to apologize,” Alexys said, their faces stupidly close for absolutely no reason. “I was just as rude to you as you were to me.”

Silence. Alexys spun on her heel, before she could do something foolish like grab his face, and hurried along the creek bed. Nic trudged after her.

“Reckon you owe me a coffee when we get back then, you know, to make it up to me?”

She glared playfully back at him. “Absolutely not. I still owe Natalie at least three coffees as it is. I can’t add you to my bill.”