Page 122 of Dark Love

“Vex?” Dahlia sets the containers down on the island.

“Yes?” I’m going to give her space. Let her come to me like a street cat. Instead of asking questions to fill the silence, I dump the pre-sliced stir-fry vegetables into the sizzling pan.

The sound of Dahlia moving around the kitchen should be comforting, but it makes the need to demand answers even more intense.

“You don’t think… Just because I didn’t say… I know you don’t plan to kiss me… But...”

She’s still obsessing about that kiss.

“You don’t think…You brought your clothes…I’m not…I’m not easy.”

Easy? “What did you just say, Dahl?”

“Nothing,” she mutters into her chest as she shifts things around on the bar.

If dinner burns, I’ll order something. I step away from the stove and walk right up to her. “What did you say?”

“I’m not easy.”

A snitch afraid of getting caught would have spoken louder than Dahl just said those words. “Are you confused about the definition of easy? Because a woman worth the world, like you, is hardly easy.”

“But you plan on sleeping with me.”

“I do—”

Her head pops up as her eyes fill with shock and ire.

“—eventually.” Slowly, so as not to frighten her, I step closer, setting my hand on the soft silk of her hair. “Earlier, I gave you one of the reasons I won’t kiss you yet. But the main one is because I can see the value of the woman standing in front of me. You’re worth fighting for. You’re worth getting to know. And kissing you is worth waiting until you’re ready. Your worth isn’t based on yourlooks or how soon you have sex with someone.” I reach out and tap her head, then her breastbone as I say, “Your worth is hidden in your head and heart. If there is anyone unworthy in this relationship, it’s me.”

Oh… Oh… “Mom says never to sleep with a man until he gives you two rings.”

Even though I told her I was lacking worth, Dahlia is thinking about marrying me. That should have me running in the opposite direction. It certainly did when other women tried to talk me into marrying them. A slow grin spreads across my face. “Your mother is a smart woman.”

“Do you like milk chocolate or dark?” She lifts up one bag in each hand. “You had a piece of both yesterday.”

Dahlia notices the little things like I do. She prefers milk chocolate and any candy with fruit in it. “Milk chocolate. Why eat a sweet that tastes bitter?”

“Exactly.” She sets the other bag to the side.

“Dinner should be done in a few minutes.” I turn back to stir the vegetables in the nick of time.

***

“You can cook dinner for me anytime.” Dahlia sets her chopsticks down on the little rest next to her empty bowl. She might not cook, but she knows how to make a plate of food look beautiful.

“Invitation accepted.” This weekend definitely won’t be the last.

“What do you want to do now?”

Kiss you until you’re dizzy. But since that’s not an option, I want to see her library again. Do women invite strangers into their library? I don’t. I hoard my books like a dragon hoards his gold. “Show me your favorite spot in your house.”

“My favorite,” she squeaks. “It’s embarrassing.”

Now, I have to know which room it is. “Show me.”

“Fine. It’ll just make you realize how boring I am even quicker.” Dahlia stands up and grabs the book off of the bar. “It might take a while if you want to grab a drink to bring with you.” She nods towards my beer.

“Sure.” I follow her up the stairs, keeping my eyes firmly on the stairs. This is it. She’s bringing me into her inner sanctum. The room that makes her feel the safest. It’s going to tell me so much about her. Will it be one of the crafting rooms, her office, or her library? There’s no way she’s going to show me in that safe of hers. And her library is the one room that isn’t finished. For a person as organized and detail oriented as Dahlia, she probably wouldn’t show a room that’s not flawless to a guest.

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