Page 483 of Dark Love

No. “Dahlia would like flowers.”

“Then ask her where she works, and then send her flowers.”

I might hate this woman, especially since she’s right.

“Wait, aren’t you supposed to be having dinner with the people from her work on Friday?” Payne chimes in.

Ugh, I shouldn’t have told him about that while we were waiting for the girls to finish gabbing and hogging the cinnamon bread. “Yes.”

“Awww. That’s a big deal. She must really trust you.”

I can almost hear Imogene say too bad you don’t trust her. Irritating woman. “Fine, don’t tell me.”

“Would you two like to have dinner with us again sometime next week?” Payne has the nerve to ask.

No. Absolutely not. I don’t want to share any of my time with Dahlia. “We should be able to do that. I’ll ask Dahlia what day works the best with her schedule.”

A knock sounds on my office door. It’s too early for Max to be here. “Gotta go.” I click off the phone. “Come in.”

Shock bounces in. “Did you get it? Tell me you got it, and that’s why you had me clear my schedule this afternoon.”

How is Shock going to handle the fact that he’s going to meet Massimo Vincenti? “Sort of.”

“That isn’t an answer. There are only two choices.” Shock taps his leg. “Did you get it?”

“It will arrive at three today.”

“You got it. You actually got it.” Shock's eyes practically go in circles. “How long can I keep it? There can’t be very many prototypes. This is wonderful. I need to go get set up. There isn’t a moment to waste.”

“It doesn’t come without contingencies.”

Shock freezes. “What contingencies?”

“Massimo Vincenti will be here at three.”

“No. NO! He can’t come.”

“Max knows about what you will be researching.”

“He can’t because you don’t even know. You need to get me the tech without him.”

Could Shock have been compromised? Those are the words of a man up to no good. “You have two seconds to explain what that means.”

“I’m doing a project of my own. The tech will help with your research, but mainly, I needed it for my own project.”

Take a breath before you chew out the best hacker you’ve ever found. “What project?” Is it that one for a girl?

“You don’t want to know.”

I might not, but I need to. “Tell me.”

“You can’t tell her.”

A woman! All of this is about a woman. “Now.”

“Barb. It’s about Barb.”

Don’t whap Shock upside the head. You might knock something loose. “Does Barb know about this little research project on her behalf?” Lie to me.

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