That woman is going to drive me out of my mind.
When the bedroom door closes behind her, I say, “You can open your eyes.”
“Are you sure? I’d like to keep my head attached.”
We both know there’s no guarantee I’d win a fight with Torment. “Do you want a cup of tea?”
“I wouldn’t say no to one.”
He follows me into the kitchen. “So, you finally fell in love.”
Why does everyone keep saying it like that? It’s not like that was out of the realm of possibility.
“My father keeps asking if I’m going to find someone.”
Torment would have to stay in one spot for more than five minutes in order to fall in love, which seems impossible. He lives like a ghost, disappearing as fast as he appears. “You should. I highly recommend falling in love.” I put on the teapot and walk over to the cabinet to get the ingredients out for Dahlia’s cocoa.
“Does your woman have a sister?”
A sister? Could Dahlia have a sister? She’s never talked about anyone but her parents and brother.
Not that we’ve had any in-depth conversations about family, because that would open me up to questions about my own.
“Well, if she does introduce me.”
“Like I’d want to be related to you.”
Torment chuckles.
Dahlia rushes into the room. “Sorry, I took so long.”
There isn’t a single inch of skin showing from her neck, which is covered in a boxy turtleneck sweater, to the soles of her feet. She even has a thick stocking covering the space between her shoes and her slacks. I hate when she wears her hair slicked back into a tight little bun.
“My name is Dahlia. It’s so nice to have one of Vex’s friends over. I’ve only met a few of them so far.”
“Vex has more than he lets on.” Torment steps away from the counter to give her a small bow. “My name is Toru, but my friends call me Torment.”
“Did you both go to the same school for scary men?” Dahlia almost slaps a hand across her mouth as she does occasionally when words just slip out.
“I really like this one.” Toru grins at her.
“Have you known Vex long?”
There’s no way I want to explain to her my first encounter with Torment. “We’ve done business with each other for many years now.”
“It must be very important business for your friend to show up this early. Why don’t you two go to your office and I’ll make breakfast while I figure out something to make for later?”
“Dahl, Torment doesn’t eat sugar for breakfast.”
A hand goes on her hip. “I’m fully capable of making a healthy breakfast. You’re not the only one who knows how to cook a meal.”
I raise an eyebrow at her.
She walks over to me with a twinkle in her eyes and kisses me right on the cheek. “Go talk to your friend. I’ve got this.”
“Torment likes green tea with no sugar and a squeeze of lemon.”
“Got it. Now go.” She shoos us out.