Page 29 of Anything To Be With You

I smile. "I would never do such a thing. And I got here just before you."

Her beautiful eyes narrow. "I don’t care what he thinks. He pissed me off this morning," Dani shoves the fork full of fries in her mouth.

"How so?" I question.

She leans back in her chair. "He had something to say about what I’m wearing."

I give her a once over. "I think you look amazing."

She snorts and takes a bite of her burger. "I look like a hot mess."

I point a fry at her. "My point. You look hot."

Her lip tips up as she chews. "Charmer."

I can’t tear my eyes away from her. She’s everything I want in a woman. Sassy, beautiful, funny. Before my brain decides to stop me, I blurt out, "are you free for dinner tonight?"

Dani chokes on her food. "I’m sorry?"

"You heard me," I lean on the table, "but I’ll ask again. Are you free for dinner tonight?"

Dani sits back and gawks at me. "Um…" she scrubs her face. "Look Gabe, it’s sweet of you to ask but…" she trails off, looking anywhere but my face.

"Is it because of Luke?" I question.

Her eyes snap to mine. "What I do is none of his business."

"That’s not what I mean, and you know it." I state.

Dani blows a couple of stray hairs off her face with a sigh. "Is it that obvious?"

I take her hand and turn it over. "To everyone but him," I kiss over the scar there.

Panic takes over Dani’s features as pulls her hand back. "Please don’t say anything. I really need this job."

I smile wide at her. "He will not fire you because you have a crush."

"And how do you know that?" Dani asks.

"Because he feels the same."

Her eyes widen. "Does not."

I wink at her. "Does too."

"You lie," Dani challenges.

"There are two things I don’t do. Relationships and lying." I take a huge bite out of my wrap and try not to laugh at the look on Dani’s face.

"He treats me like shit. He’s not interested."

"I’m going to fill you in on something," I say, waiting for her eyes to meet mine. "Luke has a huge heart, and he loves hard. Harder than anyone I know. Including myself." I take her hand in mine again. "But he was burned badly four years ago, and he’s scared that it’ll happen again if he opens himself up."

"I would never hurt him." Dani whispers.

I kiss her hand. "I know you wouldn’t. However, after what his ex did, he has a tough time trusting women with his heart. And because of that, he’s keeping you at arms length. Even though he would rather hold you close."

Dani blinks at me for a moment, before shoving a forkful of fries into her mouth. Her cheeks flush and a small smile forms on her lips.

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