Page 109 of Dark Love

“This isn’t funny.”

“It’s hilarious. My best friend is falling in love.”

Love?!? I can’t be falling in love with Dahlia. It’s one thing to want her. It’s another thing to need her… But falling in love. “Impossible.”

“Then explain to me why you’re jealous of an idiot with a bowl of soup.”

“I—I…”

“Exactly.” Payne folds his arms across his chest with a smug grin on his face. “This is going to be hilarious.”

“Love is a weakness. I can’t have any weaknesses.”

“You’re an idiot.”

“If you weren’t my best friend, I’d shoot you, too.”

“But I am.” Payne holds out a hand. “Give me a swig of that.”

“Go get your own.” I move my glass away and down it in one gulp. The fire burning its way down my throat does nothing to soothe the beast inside me.

“That was mine. You showed up at my house all grumpy.” He pushes himself up and takes my glass.

“I can’t be falling in love with her.”

“Then break up. Walk away now, before your heart gets involved.”

“Walk away?” Every fiber of my body cringes at those words, even as my mind knows I should. “I can’t.”

“Then you’re too far gone already.” Payne leaves the glass and just grabs the bottle.

“We haven’t gotten drunk in years.” I take the bottle from him and tip it up to my lips. “At least it’s the good stuff this time.”

Payne sits down across from me. “So how are you going to deal with Adonis without killing him, because, as far as I can tell, he’s a good guy?”

That’s right. Payne researched Dahlia. A thorough job involves all the people around her. “What do you know?”

“I thought you wanted to get to know her on your own?” Payne raises an eyebrow and steals the bottle from my hands.

There’s no way I want a clinical knowledge of Dahlia. I want her to trust me. But Adonis is another story. “Tell me about him without telling me about her.”

He takes a shot and hands it back. “I’ll tell you what I can.”

Why is it so hard to tell me about the idiot I should be killing? I take another drink. This is going to hurt tonight.

“Adonis Holmes Graysen is a honorable man in every sense of the word, even when it comes to his entertainment. They could put him up for sainthood.”

I hate this guy. “Anything else I should know about him?” I can’t keep the sneer out of my voice.

“He still goes to Sunday dinner with his family every week. He holds the door open for others and walks old ladies across the street,” Payne laughs as he says the words.

It would be wrong to break my best friend’s jaw, but a few bruises wouldn’t be a big deal. “So killing him isn’t an option. How is any of this helping me get him out of her life?”

“Ask her to move in with you. Problem solved. Women never want to work when they can live in the lap of luxury.” Payne doesn’t even blink as he takes the bottle from me.

“Dahlia isn’t like that. She’s stubborn. And sweet. And beautiful.”

“Are you trying to make me puke up this exceptional whiskey?”

---