The quiet that bathed the interior of the car was a clear sign I shouldn’t have let my mouth run away. But the damage was done so I spent the last five minutes of the drive wringing my hands in my lap wondering when I’d become such a presumptuous idiot.

Asher pulled the BMW next to the silver Mercedes, cut the engine, and turned to me.

“When we get in there, they’re gonna ask a lot of questions. If you’re overwhelmed or need a break, speak up.”

Right. Personal Q and A was over and it was back to business.

The disappointment I felt was shameful.

Elise.

“Okay.”

“I’m serious, Sloane. If you need a break, speak up.”

I hadn’t been nervous about talking to Wilson and Cole but now I was.

“I said okay, Asher.”

He looked like he had more to say—no, he looked like he was holding his body tight like he was fighting the urge to touch me. Or maybe that was wishful thinking—my silly, love-struck heart wanting him to reach over and pull me into his arms.

“Okay,” he whispered.

With more force than necessary, I opened my door and all but flung myself out of the car. I followed Asher to the front door, grateful he couldn’t see my scowl—or more apt, my pout.

This time when I walked in, there was no greeting. Wilson was at the huge dining table with a laptop open, papers stacked around him, and while I couldn’t see him in his entirety he didn’t appear to be in a suit.

“Where’s Cole?” Asher inquired.

Wilson jerked his head toward the open door to the back deck. “Run. He should be back any minute.”

The vibe in the room was anything but friendly, which of course made Asher’s warning more ominous.

“Want something to drink? Coffee? Water?”

A shot of tequila, I thought.

“Water, please.”

“Wilson?”

Without taking his eyes off me Wilson answered, “I’m good.”

Asher broke off to get my water, leaving me standing alone under Wilson’s watchful stare. I was not getting a good feeling about this.

“Have a seat.” Wilson dipped his chin indicating the chair across from him.

I walked woodenly to the table and pulled out the chair. Before my butt made it to the seat Asher was back setting a bottle of water on the table in front of me. I didn’t want to acknowledge how much his presence calmed me, but it did, especially when Wilson was studying me like I was the last person on the planet he wanted to see.

“Any word on Lorenzo?” Asher launched in.

I didn’t miss the tiny jump in Wilson’s cheek at the mention of my boss’s son.

“Yes, his secretary got back to me. I’m meeting with him tomorrow.”

“And the party?” Asher continued. “Does Sloane still need to put something together?”

The party? I figured that was bullshit, part of Adam’s plan to get me to go out to dinner with him.