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My mind went into overdrive. Now that the passion had worn off, would Serena’s anger return? Did she regret what we’d done? Why hadn’t she tried to contact me last night?
When two in the morning had rolled around without a peep from her, I’d had to face the fact that I was a big mistake in her book. Would she go to Lucas and file a complaint? How screwed was I?
Now, I waited for her to come down and either smile at me or not, either pull me aside to talk or not. How pathetic was that? As in a game of she likes me, she likes me not, I was powerless to affect the outcome. If I’d knocked on her door last night, maybe we could have talked it out and I could have had a say before she had time to solidify her stance.
Worse than all that, I was now roped into facing the bane of my existence, her father, Lloyd Benson. And this time as the fake new boyfriend of his daughter. That was going to be one epic shitstorm.
If she didn’t file a complaint, I could beg off the assignment and leave it to Winston and Constance. Serena would be more comfortable, and I’d avoid saying something that drove her to out me and my conduct. If what I’d done got out, I’d be toast—not only at Hawk but with anyone who knew Lucas, which was a wide net.
“She’ll be right down,” Constance said from behind me.
I tended my pan and didn’t turn around.
“Good morning,” Serena said a moment later. “You’re here early, Constance.”
“I plan on going into the building with you.”
Serena gasped. “You managed clearance overnight?”
“Let’s just say Bill Covington’s uncle, Garth, knows all the right people.”
“Wow,” Serena noted.
She’d said not a word to me, and that appeared to be my answer. The cold shoulder meant she’d at least put last night in the mistake category.
“I hope you’re hungry,” Constance added. “Duke has cooked for us.”
“An omelet,” I said without turning around.
“I’m not really hungry,” Serena said. “I’ll wait in the front room.”
I started to plate the omelets, not daring to look and get the doom stare. I turned around only after adding the English muffins and fruit to the plates.
Serena had left the kitchen, and I had my answer.
CHAPTER 17
Serena
Duke turnedin at the entrance to the federal building parking lot.
My nerves had built steadily during the quiet ride as I sat with Constance in the back of his SUV. He’d given me only the briefest of glances in the rearview mirror during the trip.
He pulled to a halt in front of the employee entrance. “Let me know when you’re ready to leave,” he said.
Constance opened the door. “Copy that.”
I followed her after thanking Duke for the ride, as was proper to do.
While we waited in the security line, my stomach took the opportunity to gurgle and announce my hunger.
Constance smiled. “Sounds like you should have had some of Duke’s cooking after all.”
“Maybe,” I admitted.
“He made that omelet especially for you,” she added.
My mouth dropped open in a gasp. “He did?”
