Page 6 of Dark Love

“Do you think this is funny? Because let me assure you, it isn’t.” Why did I say that to a scary— except he doesn’t feel scary to be around—guy?

“Definitely trouble.” He nods like that makes his words facts. “Who is Adonis?”

“My boss. That’s his name, Adonis.” I tip my head to the side.

“Don’t have dinner with him.” Bone Crusher lifts up a finger in the direction of the bar.

“Why not? How else am I going to get to know my coworkers?”

“Because dating your boss is a dumb idea. Those things never work out. If you like the job, avoid the boss.”

“Dating my boss? He didn’t ask me out on a date. He asked me to go with the work group to eat dinner.”

“It’s a precursor to asking you out. He’s seeing if you’re worth the effort first.”

“Excuse me? First, you tell me that I’m trouble. Then, you drink my drink. Now, you’re telling me that my hot boss wants to ask me out.”

He nods.

“My boss isn’t interested in me at all.”

Bone Crusher shakes his head. “You’re wrong.”

“Am not.” Now I feel like a five-year-old fighting with my brother.

“Fifty bucks says he asks you out within a month.”

“I don’t gamble.”

“You don’t gamble, and you don’t drink.” His eyes move to the champagne glass. “What do you do?”

Um… I can’t tell him the truth…but a lie just won’t come out of my mouth.

A man in a suit sets down a drink in front of Bone Crusher and walks away.

Bone Crusher takes a long swallow of the amber liquid. “You should leave.”

His words hurt. It’s not like we were going to end up being friends, but he didn’t need to be so blunt about it. “Fine, I’ll go, but you need to answer one question first.”

“What?” he barks out.

“What kind of cookies do you like?”

“Chocolate chip.”

“With or without nuts?”

Bone Crusher raises an eyebrow. “That’s not one question.”

“Fine. But you’ll be stuck with whatever I pick.” I move to stand up, but can’t because his arm is still wrapped around me. “Um…” My eyes move to the thick muscles of his arm that his suit is doing nothing to hide.

It slips off of me, leaving a whisper of cool air in its wake.

“Thank you again.” I stand up and walk away without tripping over my own two feet.

Friday Nights

Vex

---