Bella's first instinct was to shut it down. "There's nothing worth telling."
But the words felt too abrupt, too defensive. She softened her tone. "Besides, you already know my name and I'm working for you. Isn't that enough?"
His lips quirked faintly, but he didn't answer. He only watched her, as though waiting for her to fill the silence with something more. "Is it? I want to know more," he said, cocking his eyebrows up.
Bella looked at him and her pulse quickened. Something didn't feel right. The atmosphere. The questions. She sitting across from him and having lunch.
Could this be.....
The thought crept in slowly, unwelcome but persistent. What if there was no meeting? What if he had set this up, right from asking her to cancel his appointments, driving them here himself, choosing this restaurant — just to have her here, across from him, forced into conversation?
