Countdown - Iris Johansen [39]
He was afraid of Trevor, Jane realized. And why not? In that moment Trevor was intimidating as hell. But, scared or not, Mario was still sticking to his guns, and Trevor was obviously in no mood to be tolerant. “I don’t want coffee.” She pushed back her chair. “You promised to show me where you work, Mario.”
Mario eagerly grasped at the rope she’d thrown him. “Of course. At once.” He jumped to his feet. “It’s time I got back to work anyway.”
“Yes, it is,” Trevor said. “So you can show Jane your workroom later. Perhaps she’ll change her mind and stay with us and have her coffee. We don’t want you distracted.” He glanced at Jane. “And she’s definitely a distraction.”
Mario gazed at her uncertainly. “But she wanted to—”
“She wouldn’t want to interfere with your work.” Trevor looked at her. “Would you, Jane?”
It was clear he didn’t want her to go with Mario and was using Mario’s nervousness as leverage to ensure she didn’t. And it was going to work, dammit. She wasn’t going to cause Mario trouble just because she was irritated with Trevor and wanted to make a gesture. She slowly sat back down. “No, maybe I will have that coffee.” She smiled warmly at Mario. “You go ahead. I’ll see you later.”
“If that’s what you want.” Regret and relief fought for dominance on Mario’s face. “It will be my pleasure to show you my work at any time. Perhaps tomorrow?”
She nodded. “Tomorrow. No perhaps about it.”
He smiled brilliantly before turning and leaving the room.
She stood up the moment he was out of sight. “I’m out of here.”
“No coffee?”
“I wouldn’t give you the satisfaction.” She glared at him. “Are you proud of yourself?”
“Not particularly. It was too easy.”
“Because you’re a bully.”
“Not usually. I was annoyed. I watched you murmuring and giggling with him all through dinner and it had its effect. I had it pretty well under control until he decided to lecture me.”
“Mario’s only a kid. He’s no match for you.”
“He’s older than you.”
“You know what I mean.”
“That he’s soft and full of dreams.” He met her gaze. “And some of those dreams are of Cira. If you’re looking for someone at MacDuff’s Run who won’t compare you to Cira, come to me.”
“Bull. You can’t separate the two of us in your mind.”
He shook his head. “I never said that. You’re the one who jumped to conclusions. From the moment I saw you I knew exactly who and what you were to me.” He paused. “And it wasn’t Cira.”
Heat tingled through her, catching her unaware. Christ, she didn’t want this response. It made her feel confused and weak. She’d been angry only a moment ago and now she was— She was still angry, dammit. “You weren’t fair. Mario’s like a friendly puppy.”
“I know, and you like puppies.” His lips twisted. “Maybe that’s my problem. I’ve never resembled a puppy in my life.” He got up. “Don’t worry, I’ll make it right with Mario. It was only a temporary blowup. I like the kid.”
“You didn’t behave like it.”
“Actually, I did. I was very restrained for the way I was feeling. But if I upset you, I should probably make amends. If you want to go running after Mario and soothe his feelings, I won’t stop you.”
“What a sacrifice.”
“You have no idea.” He stood looking at her. “I suppose this isn’t the moment to ask you to go to bed with me?”
She stiffened in shock. “What?”
“I didn’t think so.” He turned and headed for the door. “It’s too soon and you’re mad as hell at me. But I thought I’d throw it out there and let you become accustomed to the idea that it was coming. I’ve got some work to do, so I’ll leave and get to it.” He smiled at her over his shoulder. “Since I’m ridding you of my presence, there’s no reason that you can’t stay and have your coffee. I’ll see you in the morning.”
She couldn’t find the words to speak. She could only stare after him with her mind and emotions in chaos.
“Well, evidently we took long enough to resolve the situation,” Bartlett said as he came in carrying a platter of cheese. “I trust there was no violence?”
“No,” she said absently.