Page 22 of Dark Love

“Call me Max. All my friends do.”

What would I like my friends to call me? “Everyone just calls me Dahlia or Prue.”

Sweet Treats

Dahlia

Why don’t I drink coffee? Seriously, why? I stayed out way too late last night at the Vincenti’s house. Now I’m dead on my feet, and my shift hasn’t even started.

The cab comes to a stop right in front of work. “Thanks.” I tip the driver and climb out of the back of the car with my hands full of brownies and my big purse.

“Here let me help you?” My boss jogs up to the door. All smiles and energy.

What would I give for a little of that energy?

“What have you got there?” He leans over to peer inside the box I’m holding.

“Brownies. I brought some in for the team.”

“It was really nice of you to buy everyone brownies.” He pulls the door open and steps back so that I can enter without feeling crowded.

“Oh, I didn’t buy them.”

“You brought in homemade brownies?” he whispers the question.

“Yes. Is that a bad thing?” Did I break the rules at work already?

“Only if you tell people before I get mine. When word gets out that there are homemade brownies, people will descend on them like vultures.”

Really?

We move into the elevator.

“That shouldn’t be surprising since most of us don’t often eat home cooked meals let alone treats. You’re going to make a ton of friends today.”

Hopefully. That’s the whole purpose of the brownies.

“How did drinks go with Mindy and Diane?”

Um… “Interesting.”

“That’s never a good word.” He gives me a kind smile. “Did you not get along?”

“Oh no, nothing like that. I just don’t think I’m a ‘drinks after work’ kind of person.” Or a club person at all.

“You should come to dinner with us tonight then.”

I would. If I didn’t already plan to do something incredibly stupid. “Raincheck. I have plans tonight.”

“Sure. Next week we’re getting Thai food. This little place a few blocks down has the best Pad Thai.”

Pad Thai like with peanut sauce? “I haven’t ever had Pad Thai.”

“What? How is that possible? Your food education is seriously lacking. We need to remedy that.”

“I grew up in the burbs. There weren’t any Thai restaurants.”

“Why did you—”

---