Shit!
What did I do? I can't remember. My face burned with the realization of what I had done, and I could feel Daniel above me demanding an explanation, even if he hadn't said a word.
His intense stare says it all.
I think I might be coming down with something, given how hot I feel inside. I hope my face doesn't show what I truly feel.
If only the ground could swallow me right now, I'd be spared this awkward and embarrassing moment.
How do I get out of this? I panicked.
Lie!
The light bulb went off at this idea, and I felt a little brighter inside. I know I said we'd always be honest, but a little white lie doesn't hurt anyone.
I looked down, pretending to be sad. I mumbled, "I was having a nightmare," as my shoulder sagged. I hate pulling this trick with Daniel, but it's better than the alternative.
Admitting I was having a sex dream about my boss—a man I'm supposed to hate—would be too embarrassing. Knowing this already is bad enough; telling Daniel would make it twice as cringeworthy and make me look weak. That's the last thing I want Daniel to think of me.
I value Daniel's opinion.
Suddenly, Daniel drops to one knee before me, his face full of concern. "Are you okay?" he asks softly, reaching out to touch me but stopping midway when he remembers I don't like being touched.
I smile at him, a shaky smile, trying to show I'm okay.
"I will be," I say, taking his hand for comfort.
Daniel quickly wraps his hand around mine, squeezing it gently while gazing at me in a way that's more than friendship.
My heart skips a beat—not because I love the way he looks at me, but because I feel a little anxious. Our friendship works because feelings don't complicate it, and Daniel knows about my fear of intimacy and relationships.
If he starts asking for more, it's going to get awkward fast, and I really don't want to lose Daniel.
I do what I usually do when I catch glimpses of his feelings—ignore them.
Playing ignorant is the best strategy. If I don't say or acknowledge it, it's like it doesn't exist.
Or maybe I'm just imagining things. Daniel has never said or done anything to make me think he feels more than friendship.
"Still want to eat?"
My smile brightens. My appetite has improved over the past few months. In the years that followed my trauma, I couldn't eat. I was diagnosed with depression and anorexia. It was a struggle to get myself to where I am now, but I didn't do it alone.
I stared at Daniel fondly and whispered, "Thank you."
He didn't need to ask what; he knew exactly why I was thanking him, and he smiled.
"You are welcome."
"Now, let's go and eat."
As we settled in to enjoy the delicious sandwich Daniel had prepared, I asked him about the investigation.
"So, how is the investigation going?"
He took a bite of his sandwich, and mid-chew, he responded to my question.
"We are unable to speak to Mrs. Tandell as she is out of the country."
I frowned. "Isn't that suspicious? I mean, if they are going to cover the murder, leaving the country would make them seem even more guilty."
"It is not yet a murder case."
My brow furrows at Daniel's words. "What do you mean?"
"Without a body, we can't investigate this as a murder case," Daniel answers, looking a bit unhappy. "Our chief asks us to treat this as a preliminary inquiry, investigating a claim of possible violence."
His words don't instill confidence in me. I became anxious that the Blackwells might actually get away with this murder. And with the way things are going, I am starting to think I imagined the whole thing.
"You believe me, though?" I asked, feeling very insecure. The last thing I want is for Daniel to think I am losing it—that interacting with Ryan has affected my reality.
"Of course," Daniel says without hesitation, his voice firm, and the look he gives me is just as steady. I relax in his faith.
"Thank you," I whisper.
We finished our meal, chatting about other aspects of our lives, and that's when Daniel revealed he had met someone.
Since his divorce six years ago, Daniel hasn't had any serious relationships, so his words shocked me.
"What! Who?!" I gawked at him curiously, my eyes as wide as an owl's.
Daniel laughs at my shocked expression.
"Her name is Belinda, and she is our new forensic pathologist."
Leaning with a twinkle in my eye, I asked, "Is she hot?"
Daniel smiles shyly, a little flush on his face. "Not as beautiful as you," he answers, and once again he looks at me with that I am interested in you kind of look.
I blush, muttering my thanks without acknowledging whatever he is trying to say with his eyes. We are not going there.
Everyone knows sex messes up a good relationship, and I already have enough baggage to deal with without adding this.
"I am happy for you," I tell Daniel, feeling genuinely happy for him. He is a good man and deserves someone in his life.
A flash of disappointment crosses his eyes briefly, as if he expected more than I gave, then it's gone, and he smiles brightly at me.
"Thank you."
We moved on to another topic: Daniel taking something out of his pocket and giving it to me.
I looked at his outstretched hand, as if it held bugs rather than the tiny containers.
"What are those?"
"Bugs!"
My eyes snap to his, with both my brows raised in question.
"I want you to bug your boss's office and his car," he explains.
My curiosity turns to shock. "Are you insane!" I stared at him like he had lost his damn mind, and he has.
What if Ryan catches me bugging his car or office? He would probably kill me, dumb my body somewhere I could never be found, and carry on with his merry life with no one giving a fuck about his missing assistant.
He probably goes ahead and hires someone hotter.
My heart clenched at the idea of Ryan having a new assistant. My heart's reaction surprises me. Since when did I become attached to this job?
"Come on, Lyra, it is the only way we can get anything about his sister's husband."
I stared at him skeptically, not sure if I agreed with his plan.
"I will pay him a visit in his office tomorrow. If he sees the bug, he will assume I planted it."
Not taking the fall if anything goes wrong kinda settled me, but I was still worried about his car.
"And his car?"
"He would still think it is us."
Grudgingly, I accepted the bug from him.
After explaining how it works, how to install it, and where to install it so it is not easily seen, Daniel took his leave, and I went to bed.
The following day, I arrived at my cubicle to find a fancy box waiting for me on my desk, along with a cup of hot coffee.
My heart skips in reaction to the sight of the cup of coffee. I already have an idea who it might be. There is a sticker note attached to the box.
I peeled it off and read its content.
"You were mad last night, and I hope this makes your day better."
Curious, I opened the pink box to find a delicious-looking cheesecake inside.
Without meaning to, a fond smile appeared on my lips.
Gently, I replaced the lead on the cake while my thoughts drifted to the man behind the other door, and what a bundle of contradictions he is.
One moment, he's making me furious, and the next, he's buttering me up with treats.
If he doesn't stop, he's going to drive me insane with confusion, though I honestly don't want him to stop.
I set my bag down, picked up my coffee, and headed toward his office. As I neared his door, my heart raced, pounding faster as my legs carried me forward.
The anticipation of seeing his gorgeous face has my emotions and body on edge. I had to pause by his door to calm the raging feelings inside me, then slowly turned the doorknob.
My eyes lock on him, spotting his familiar figure behind his desk, head bent over something. Seeing Ryan in his work mode is so sexy that it takes my breath away.
"Do you plan to read me my itinerary for the day from over there?" he asks without looking up, his tone serious.
I blush and step further into the spacious office. When he lifts his head to acknowledge me, I see those cerulean eyes twinkle with humor, as if he knows his effect on me and is enjoying it.
My heart melts at his teasing expression, and I find myself falling even more for him.
"Lyra, control yourself," I snap at myself, pinching my hand to snap out of whatever spell my boss has cast over me.
I'm acting like a schoolgirl with her first crush.
"Thanks for the cake," I say softly, my voice a little shy. I've never spoken to him like this before, and I can feel my body temperature rising.
What the hell is happening to me?
He shrugs, as if his actions aren't a big deal. "I hate seeing you upset," he casually says, and my heart flips, but he continues as if he's just stating facts instead of trying to make me fall for him.
Are they lines? Or honesty?