Page 108 of Crave Me

You know how to reach me

Unknown:

Consider it done

I erase the text message thread and power down the phone before slipping it back into my stash space. Not feeling anything but peace, I replace the wood and lock up my business for the night.

The world will have one less piece of shit walking on it soon enough, and Blaire will be free.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Dallas

Knowing that Blaire and I never got the opportunity to date each other, I decide to take advantage of the forced proximity. This morning, I left a Bean Haven coffee on her bedside table and scrolled out a message for her that I would see her tonight at five. She didn’t text me, and while I wish she had, I expected her not to, so I tried not to let it disappoint me. I want to get us to a good place again, and hopefully she’ll start to see that I’m not giving up on her.

Creeping into my old bedroom with a large pizza in my hand and a gift bag in the other, I set everything up while Blaire’s still in the shower. I queue upBridgerton, lay the pizza out on the bed, dump the candy around it, and set the gift bag on her spot. I haven’t ever had a serious relationship before, so buying a gift for a female who isn’t my mom or Kinsey was different. But in a good way. I’m glad that she’s the only one.

The door to the bathroom opens and steam pours out. It’s wild how hot she likes her showers, and I don’t know how she can stand the blazing temperature besides being half-demon. She walks into the room in one of my T-shirts—a navy blue Seattle Kraken shirt that makes her eyes pop. Her skin is flushedfrom the heat of her shower, and her red hair hangs off her shoulders in wet curls. She’s so beautiful.

“What’s all this?”

“A date.”

“Dallas . . .” she says with a little attitude.

“Blaire. Now that everyone knows I am head over heels in love with you, I’m going to date the shit out of you and you’re going to like it if you know what’s good for you. I can’t take you out, so I’m bringing the date to you.”

Her eyes widen at my underlying threat. Good. She may be in charge, but I’ll be damned if she gets her way one hundred percent of the time. Especially if she’s trying to ice me out. Fuck that shit.

“You don’t have to go through all of this, Dallas.”

“I want to, baby girl. Come open your gift.”

Exasperated and a little timid, she pulls the tissue paper from the gift bag and pulls out a beautiful leather-bound sketch pad and charcoal pencils.

“This is gorgeous, Dallas,” she says, her voice choking with emotion as she runs her fingers over the soft grain of the cover. I scoot closer to her, watching her face and loving that this makes her happy. “No one has ever . . .”

“I figured, baby. But that’s the past. And I’m happy to give you so many firsts.”

She reaches her hand out and scratches her fingertips lightly over the scruff of my facial hair, and I melt into her hand. Any touch from her is a gift I won’t take for granted.

“Thank you. This is the best gift I’ve ever been given.”

“It’s not completely selfish, I have to admit. I’d like you to fill it with sketches, and I’d like to add it to the proposal for the changes to the current structure of the distillery events. You’re so talented, baby, and I want to see you reach your dreams.”

“How would that even work, Dallas?”

“I don’t know yet. It won’t be overnight, but I think you’re right. If we focus on weddings and large-scale events that are scheduled in advance, it puts us on the map as an elite venue. And you and I will both be happier.”

She brushes a tear away from her sweet face. It’s so hard not to kiss her right now, but I know she wants space, as much as it’s killing me.

“You ready to eat?”

She opens the lid to the pizza and gives me a knowing look.

“Really? You hate pineapple and pepperoni.”

“But it’s your favorite, so I’ll eat it. Next time we can get one loaded with meat.”

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