“I was planning on it. Why don’t we go together?”
Her brow knitted with worry, and she sat up, curling her feet under her knees. I instantly wanted to tug her back to me. “I don’t know. I don’t want people to get the wrong idea.”
“That’s something you worry about?” I pressed.
“Of course,” Eva said. She smoothed her hand over her hair, her eyes flashing with frustration. “For a man who understands how hard it is for women to be respected in our field, I can’t believe you hadn’t considered that.”
“Of course, I have. But—”
She shook her head. “You know how people talk. It wouldn’t surprise me if people thought I was trying to get ahead by sleeping with you.” She leaned her elbows on her knees, resting her face in her hands. After a moment, she straightened, brushing her hair back. “I don’t know.”
“We’re not just sleeping together. This isn’t just some hot fling for me,” I said, surprised at the fierce emotion that crested inside me.
Eva stared at me quietly, all the while my heart felt as if it were stumbling and falling again and again.
“What are we, Zane?”
Chapter 16
Eva
“What do you mean?” Sarah asked.
“I don’t know. It just feels like, well, he wants to commit to dating forever.”
“You are dating.” Sarah looked puzzled.
“I know that.” I leaned my face in my hands, and my breath sifted through my fingers as I released a sigh. “I think I’m falling in love with him,” I said when I finally lifted my head.
“Of course, you are. Zane’s totally sweeping you off your feet.”
“It’s not just that. But I get the sense that the words and the actual commitment are going to be hard for him.”
Sarah leaned her chin on her hand as she regarded me from across the conference room table. “Maybe you’re going to have to let him know how important commitment is to you. Actions are more important than words, though. Not to state the obvious.”
“I know that.” I paused, considering how things felt with Zane recently. “It feels like there’s a little distance between us lately. Plus, he’s out of my league. It’s crazy that we’re together anyway.”
“Why is he out of your league?” Sarah pressed, looking offended even though I’d made the observation myself. “You’re smart, you’re independent, and you run your own company. Very well, I might add. You don’t have to push it. Maybe just give him some time.”
“Fine,” I grumbled. The intercom buzzed, and the day carried on. We moved through a busy afternoon and evening, and that night, I didn’t see Zane. We often didn’t see each other during the workweek. My schedule was too busy, and the same was true for him.
“Hello, hello,” a female voice said from over my shoulder.
Glancing back, I saw Mara Trent approaching. I didn’t know her, but I knew of her. She was a model, and her job required her to be absolutely stunning.
Standing beside Zane, I suddenly felt inadequate. It was hard not to feel as if I fell short with her standing right in front of us now. Mara’s blond hair was pulled up in an artful twist with several strands dangling around her face. She had smoky eye shadow that illuminated her big blue eyes. She wore a strapless dress, classy and sexy.
Meanwhile, I now felt frumpy. I wore a skirt that hugged my hips and a loose silky blouse. Zane had been talking to Harry Glenn, a CEO of another software company. He turned and cast a smile at Mara. His look was bland enough, but I didn’t miss the look in her eyes. She looked practically feral.
“How are you, Mara?” he asked politely.
“Very well, Zane. Yourself?”
“Doing well. Busy with work.”
Her laughter was like soft bells. “Of course. I haven’t seen you recently. Have you been to the club?”
Tension bundled at the base of my neck. Zane and I teased occasionally about how our relationship had started all because of my fated bad first date at Club Temptation. I occasionally wondered why he’d been there that night and if it was a place he frequented.
Zane’s stance was casual and easy, but I didn’t miss the subtle thread of tension in him. His eyes looked shuttered, and lines of tension bracketed his mouth. “Can’t say I have. Have you met Eva?” he asked, reaching for my hand and curling his warm palm around it.
Mara turned her gaze on me, her smile entirely polite. “I haven’t had the pleasure.” She held out her hand to shake. Her palm was cool, and her grip light. “You run Games in Heels? Am I right?”
“You are.” I dipped my head in acknowledgment.
“I love meeting accomplished and brilliant women,” Mara replied.
Uncertain what to say to that, I simply smiled.
Mara flicked Zane another glance. “Good to see you, Zane. Please do call.”
He nodded, and Mara moved along. He dropped my hand, and his conversation continued with Harry peppering Zane with questions about a few projects they were collaborating on. We were at the tech and arts fundraiser I’d asked Zane about, and it was popular with the movers and shakers in the tech world.
I was the one who insisted that we not come to this function together. I was the one who insisted we interact only as we would have before. Two professionals, working in the same field and potentially collaborating on projects.
As I watched Mara sashay away—and sashay she did—I felt uncomfortable and insecure. As much as I worried about how my relationship, or whatever it was, with Zane might be perceived, I wanted Mara to know he was with me. I wasn’t just some brainy girl.
The night wore on. The experience was unusual for me. I was acutely aware of where Zane was at all times, and I had to remind myself not to linger too much around him.
The evening was winding down, and I was departing from a conversation with Sarah and a potential supplier when I heard Mara’s melodic laugh. Since when did I freaking remember another woman’s laugh?
Apparently, starting tonight. When I glanced in the direction of her laughter, I saw her standing beside Zane. He had his jacket folded over his arm. She had stepped close, and her palm was resting lightly on his forearm. I was too far away to see his face, but jealousy bolted through me, heat followed by a chill.
Frustration and embarrassment at my own reaction followed immediately on the heels of the jealousy. My eyes absorbed Zane. He was so handsome, so hot in a suit. His suit was navy, bringing out the blue of his eyes. It was tailored, of course, and fit him delectably well.
“Eva?” Sarah prompted from my side.
Glancing at her, I asked, “What?”
“Uh, you’re kind of staring. Since you told me you guys were not making your situation public, I thought you might want a reminder.”
I forced my feet to move, turning my back to Zane and Mara. “Why is he talking to her?” I muttered.
Sarah looked sympathetic enough that I felt even more ridiculous than I already did. “Maybe you shouldn’t worry so much about trying to keep this private?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, but you know how that might look. People would claim I was trying to find influence.”