Page 190 of Dark Love

“Did anyone hear about the call Marge got?” Mindy breaks the tension.

It seems if anyone can’t keep their cool, it’s me.

And I was worried about Vex.

***

There’s a car waiting as we step out of the restaurant. Vex opens the door for me and I slide in. It shouldn’t feel this unsettling to be driven around. I have a service take me to work every day.

But none of those men are trained killers.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

Vex takes my hand, squeezes it, and then he wraps his arms around my shoulder, pulling me in close. It’s been a long day. I snuggle in and let my body relax.

There might be snow in a few weeks, but you couldn’t tell it from the bright lights and cement all around us. I miss foliage. If Vex was a normal boyfriend, we’d be talking about visiting my parents soon or traveling together in the future.

Is travel even an option for us? Vex said he never leaves town. Could there be something preventing him from leaving? Probation? Another crime lord?

Even thinking about that makes me wanna giggle and cry.

“That’s an awfully serious face.”

“My parents are on the beach right now.” Wow. Smooth. Really smooth.

The shadows and lights from the road outside play across Vex’s wrinkled brow. “Are they having a nice time?”

How would I know? “I like going on vacation.” Maybe not to the beach, but I like traveling once in a while.

Vex's frown turns into a slow, lopsided kind of smile.

“I know we’ve only known each other for a short period of time, but… um… we could… maybe…”

“Where would you like to go, Dahl?”

That means. “You can go on vacation. I mean, not tomorrow or anything, but eventually we could plan a vacation together.”

“Sure. Payne can cover for me.” Vex leans down and whispers in my ear, “You grab some bikinis and I’ll arrange everything else.”

The darkness hides the blush that steals up my face from Vex’s guards. “I hate the beach!”

“Noted.” Vex pulls me in closer.

My suitcases! “We have to go to my place to get my suitcases.”

“No, we don’t. I have everything you need at my place already.”

No.

No.

No. “We aren’t talking about your excessive spending and need to buy me things that are completely unnecessary.” But beautiful. “I need to go grab my suitcases.”

“Dahl, I have everything you could need. Don’t worry.”

Vex doesn’t understand. He can’t understand because I haven’t told him about my trip. Why have I kept it a secret this long? There were so many times that I could have mentioned it throughout the week.

But they were sweet moments.

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