Page 412 of Dark Love

“What do you want with Dahlia?” And why are you showing up at my woman’s house without an invitation?

“I’m her boss.”

Her boss… The one that wants to date her. My hands flex into fists. That was the easiest bet I’ve ever won. “Employers don’t make house calls.” Though I have once or twice, but I don’t live by anyone’s rules. Nor was I hitting on my employees like this creep.

“I don’t normally, but she isn’t feeling well. Could you point out—” He stops, probably recognizing the threat on my face. “Never mind. I’ll just get the right address myself. Sorry for interrupting—”

A small hand touches my shoulder.

She didn’t listen. Stubborn woman.

“Who’s at the door?”

“Prue?” the soon-to-be-dead man asks.

“Adonis?” Dahlia pokes her head out from beside me.

“Prue? I didn’t know you were married.”

My hands ball up into fists. It doesn’t matter if there is a ring on her finger or not, Dahlia is mine. How dare he give my woman a nickname?

“I’m not. This is Vex. He’s my… um Vex.”

Did she want to say boyfriend?

“Why are you here? Is something wrong at work? Did someone get hurt?”

What? Why would she even ask something like that? Is her job dangerous? I should have done the research myself. Why did I trust Payne?

Because I can trust him with my life. If Dahlia had a dangerous job, Payne would have mentioned it.

“No. No. Nothing like that. I just brought you soup since you weren’t feeling well.” Adonis lifts up a takeout bag. “It’s the best chicken noodle soup in the city. I get it at this little deli—”

“She doesn’t need your soup.” She doesn’t need anything from you.

“That was so sweet of you.” Dahlia taps my arm like she’s reminding me to mind my manners.

What she doesn’t get is this is me controlling myself. If she wasn’t standing right there, I might have beaten Adonis up… or worse.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t feeling up to coming into work today.” She reaches an arm out to take the bag from him.

“Not a problem. Any time you need a day off, all you need to do is call me. I understand that some days—” His eyes move between the two of us. “—you just need a day off to spend with the people you care about.”

“Are you insinuating she’s not sick?” How dare he think Dahlia is capable of lying?

“No. No. Just letting her know that she’s supported at work. And if she needs anything, I’m there for her.”

I’m going to kill him. This guy thinks he can steal her away from me while I am standing right here. “She doesn’t need anything from you.” I shift slightly to move Dahlia’s arm and slam the door in his face.

“Vex! What was that? You just closed the door in my boss’ face.”

“You have plenty of food upstairs.” Food I provided for you with no expectations… well, almost no expectations.

“That’s not the point.” She puts her hand on her hips.

“Are you still hungry? Do you want chicken soup, because I can get you—”

“Ugh.” She flings her hands up in the air. “You’re being purposefully obtuse. I don’t want soup. Those garlic knots are about the best thing in the world. But that’s not the point. Adonis was just trying to be kind, and you slammed the door in his face.”

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