Page 188 of Dark Love

Dahlia’s two friends walk over. “Are we going to eat? Everyone is hungry.”

And that saved Adonis from dying.

Dahlia and I lag behind the group.

“Brownies. You made him brownies,” I whisper once we’re out of hearing range of the rest of them. Dahlia wasn’t kidding about it being a huge group of people.

“I didn’t make him brownies. I made everyone in the office brownies. My mother insisted. She wants me to make friends.”

“And you listen to your mother?”

“Occasionally.”

“And did you make friends?”

She shrugs.

“Dahl, what am I going to do with you? No more baking for the people at work. If you want to bring them bribery, I’ll show you where the best bakery is in Urbium.”

Dahlia squeezes my hand. “This jealous thing is sexy, but you do know that’s not going to happen, right?”

She’s going to drive me out of my mind. “I’m not jealous.”

“So that means you don’t hate Adonis?”

How could I not hate that creep? “I don’t trust him.”

“Do you trust anyone?”

“I trust you.” Those words feel so right on my lips even though they’re foreign. It took Payne years to earn my trust, and this woman earned it in just acouple of hours. It makes no sense. Then again, she shouldn’t have ever trusted a man like me with her life. But that’s exactly what she did.

“Then know it doesn’t matter how many cookies I make for other men—”

A growl escapes my lips.

“—that it will never change the fact that I love you.”

Those three words take my breath away and give my soul an inkling of life. Kiss her! I stop and tug Dahlia into my arms. In the blink of an eye, I’ve threaded my fingers through her hair and tipped her head up.

Giggling up ahead pulls me out of the moment. “Are you sure they aren’t friends of yours?”

“Huh?” Dahlia's eyes never leave my lips.

“Your two ‘non’ friends are watching us.”

She glances their way briefly. “They can’t decide if you’re going to kill me or marry me.” Dahlia slaps a hand across her mouth. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. Dating. I told them we’re just dating.”

Was that a Freudian slip? Has Dahlia been thinking about marrying me?

Dahlia and I married… “What I’m going to do is order everything you need to make me brownies tomorrow.”

“Vex.” She grins up at me.

“Say it again. Quickly, before those two have a heart attack.”

Dahlia giggles and steps out of my arms.

Mindy and Adonis?

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