Page 81 of Dark Love

“Quit.”

He is joking, but it’s still sweet. “You work weekends, and I work weekdays.” This isn’t going to work.

“But I’m the boss. I can take you to dinner on Friday.”

“You shouldn’t miss work…”

“Are you trying to let me down easy, Dahlia?”

“No. No. Nothing like that. I just…” My eyes go to the table.

“Then what is it?”

How do I even explain it? “Last weekend wasn’t real. And I’m afraid… I don’t know. I’ve never met a man like you. And what if on Friday you’re different? Or I’m different? And you realize we can’t be friends.”

“Dahl, last weekend was very real.”

But I’m working hard to pretend it wasn’t.

“You don’t need to worry. It’s just a meal.”

But I am worried. I like a man that I shouldn’t like way more than I should. “Just a meal?”

“And a movie afterwards.”

“Will you try not to be too perfect? It’s intimidating.” No. No. No. “Ignore that. I didn’t say that.”

He chuckles.

The joy spreads through me, pushing out the stress of the morning.

His phone rings in the background.

“Do you need to get that?”

“Probably.” Vex doesn’t hang up.

It’s my turn to laugh, but I do it silently.

The caller doesn’t hang up. “Where do you want to go for dinner?” Vex ignores it.

“I’m not picky.”

“Seafood, sushi, steaks…”

The phone rings again.

“You eat sushi?”

“I will if you want to.”

My heart melts. “You’re too sweet.”

“That’s not a term I hear often.”

I bet.

Adonis walks into the breakroom.

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