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“I just want to ask. Are we doing anything here? I mean, we’ve been mixing business with pleasure for some time now. Is this just our thing, should I be looking for more, or?”

Quentin was slightly taken aback, especially after his previous thoughts.

“Do you want more, Cindy?”

He was testing her of course, wanting to know if she was expecting more out of their friendship.

Cindy shrugged. “I want whatever you want.”

Quentin wasn’t sure if that was a proper answer.

“I like the way things are between us,” she added, “and when people decide to turn a friendship into a relationship, it never ends well.”

“You speak as if you’ve experienced this before.”

“Haven’t we all? You think because you get along with someone well for months or years that you could possibly make a perfect couple. Then when things go wrong, trust me, nothing is always good. Things will go wrong, and when they do, your friendship is ruined. Just like that.” She snapped her fingers.

“So all of that history you have with a person no longer matters if things don’t work out between the two?”

Cindy shook her head as she chewed and swallowed her jambalaya.

“It won’t make a difference how long you’ve known each other because the hurt or disagreement will be all that matters. It would ruin everything.”

The kitchen became quiet with only the soft clinging of utensils meeting the plate. Quentin stood across from Cindy eating his food and pondering her words. Pushing thoughts of him and Phoebe to the side, he refocused his attention and asked another question.

“So you’re cool with our arrangement then?”

“Yeah. Are you?”

Quentin exhaled a breath and took a sip of his water.

“Phoebe and I are dating,” he said frankly.

Cindy glanced up from her food.

“Phoebe Alexandria Rose?”

“That’s the one.”

“Wow.”

“Is it that surprising?”

“She just seems a little reserved, not really your type.”

Quentin raised a brow. “What’s my type, you?”

Cindy stared at him for a moment. “I just mean, she seems a little innocent and sweet. Not like the daring, long legged women you chase after.”

“Chase?”

“You know what I mean.”

“Yeah, I think I do.”

“What will you do with a sweet girl like her, huh?”

Quentin had a round of wicked things he wanted to do with Phoebe. But he wouldn’t share those thoughts with Cindy.

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