Chapter 10: Ten to Six

Ivo looked at the screen for three rings.

Then he turned the phone face down.

"Who is Father?" I asked.

"A man who calls once a year to tell me what I did wrong."

His voice was even, but the muscle in his jaw had gone hard.

I put my hand on his chest. "You said the library."

"Did I?"

"Before you came. You said you've wanted me since the library."

"I was out of my head."

"Ivo."

"Ask me after six on a day I'm not naked."

He kissed my shoulder and got up. "Sleep. I'll drive you home at dawn."

He did not drive me home at dawn.

He made me eggs on his terrace, in his shirt, and then he took me back to bed.

On Friday I walked into the office with my ankle wrapped.

A mark on my neck showed above my collar, and Maud saw it from forty feet away.

"No," she said.

"Maud."

"I said nothing. Not a word. I'm just going to hum."

She hummed all morning.

Ivo was a perfect boss.

He called me Brandish and gave me four edits and one sharp note about an adjective.

He did not look at me one second longer than he should.

At five-fifty, the floor emptied.

I was packing my bag when I heard the door of his office open.

I looked up.

He was standing at the end of my desk with his jacket over his arm.

"It's ten to six," I said.

"I know."

"The rules say..."

"I made them." He stepped around the desk, took my face in both hands, and kissed me.

It was slow this time, and deep, and I forgot to breathe.

When he let go, my hand was fisted in his tie.

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