Page 32 of Twisted Fate

I leaned across the opposite side of the island and braced my weight on my forearms. “What are you making?”

“Fried rice, chicken, and veggies,” Delilah replied, not looking up.

“That sounds great. Is there anything I can do to help?” Her gaze lifted to mine, a hint of surprise gleaming in the crystalline depths. I wasn’t usually home when she started dinner, and therefore had never helped, but I needed to feel useful. I couldn’t just stand here and watch her cook. It was already giving me ideas of things that could never be.

“Sure.” She shrugged and slid a cutting board and pile of vegetables my way. “You can chop these up.” I nodded and set to work.

Before long, our plates were full, and we were gathered around the table. Delilah almost always ate dinner with us these days, and I got the impression she stayed to take advantage of every last minute she could get with Charlie. Tonight, I’d need her to stay longer. As much as I wanted to avoid the elephant in the room, it was unwise to let it go any longer.

“Do you want to pick out a movie to watch?” I asked Charlie once she finished her dinner.

“Anyfing I want?” she asked, a hopeful gleam in her eye.

“Anything,” I promised.

“Yay!” She jumped from her chair and ran to the family room. I followed close behind, knowing Delilah wouldn’t leave right away. She always made sure the kitchen was tidied before she left. I got Charlie settled in with her favorite blanket and scrolled through movie selections until she found one she wanted to watch.

As I returned to the kitchen, Delilah turned on the dishwasher and shut it. “Delilah,” I said softly and took a tentative step toward her. She turned to face me, her eyes full of trepidation. “I think we need to talk.”

“I think you’re right,” she confirmed with a sigh, resignation settling over her features.

“I owe you an apology.” She winced and glanced away. “I… What I did the other night—” my voice fell away. I didn’t know what to say. I regretted it, but at the same time, I didn’t. It was explosive, and I wanted more than anything to do it again, but I couldn’t. “I shouldn’t have done that. It was inappropriate.” I inwardly cringed at my word choice. I was going to royally screw this up. She stood stock still for a long moment, then her eyes finally lifted to mine.

“Why did you do it then?” she challenged.

I swallowed thickly, knowing I couldn’t lie to her. “Because I wanted to.”

She nodded, letting my candid response sink in. “Did I, at any point, give you the impression thatIdidn’t want you to?”

Her response caught me off guard.

“No, but it still shouldn’t have happened. You work for me. I can’t go around kissing you just because I want to.”

“Is that why you were sitting there alone in the dark, drinking? Because you wanted to kiss me?” Shit, she was playing hard ball. She wasn’t going to let me off easy. It both infuriated and aroused me.

I scrubbed a hand over my face, frustrated this conversation wasn’t going how I expected. “Yes,” I answered honestly. “I knew it was wrong, but I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I thought a night cap would help.”

“Do you do that a lot?” she asked, her expression morphing into concern. She stepped closer. Only a couple feet separated us now.

“Never,” I admitted. It was true. The last time I’d had a drink was the night I went out with my buddies. I’d had that bottle of whiskey for over a year, and there was barely anything missing from it. I’d wanted to drown my sorrows in it after Sarah died, but I couldn’t. I had Charlie to take care of.

But two nights ago, I’d needed a distraction and something to soothe the ache. If Delilah hadn’t come downstairs in my shirt with those gorgeous fucking legs on display, I’d have been fine. I’d have had another drink and gone to bed. But she’d tiptoed into the kitchen like a thief in the night, my shirt riding up to reveal the curve of her ass in those cheeky panties as she reached for a glass and wrecked my carefully laid plan.

She studied me for a moment, and I nearly balked under her scrutiny. I felt bare and exposed, as though she could read my mind. She moved in closer. Only a foot separated us now.

“Do you want to kiss me again?” she asked.

“I can’t,” I whispered. My gaze fell to her lips despite my proclamation. Her pink tongue darted out to wet them, and I almost faltered.Almost. I straightened and broke the trance her pretty pink mouth had on me. “It was a mistake. It can’t happen again,” I announced. Pain and embarrassment washed over her face. My jaw ticked as I ground my teeth together to keep from taking it back. I couldn’t look at the hurt in her eyes, so I side-stepped her and slipped out of the room into the hallway. A few minutes later I heard the front door shut and breathed a sigh of relief.

I uncurled my hands and ran my fingers through my hair. That wasn’t how I’d hoped our conversation would go, but it had to be done. I was no good for Delilah, nor was I in any position to offer her what she needed. She would thank me later. At least that was what I told myself.

32

Delilah

I never expectedVance’s rejection to sting like it did. Tears filled my eyes as I gathered my things and hugged Charlie goodbye. At least I didn’t have to see him tomorrow or the next day. I had the entire weekend to work on getting over my disappointment. I would forget about this silly crush I had on my boss and move on.

So, when Shayla texted me on Saturday asking if I wanted to go out, I said yes. I desperately needed the distraction, and she was stressing over the ongoing fight between her and her stepmom, Phoebe. Her father was taking his wife’s side, and Shayla was understandably upset. She was fuming mad, but beneath all that anger, she was hurt. His allying with Shayla’s stepmom felt like a major betrayal, and sadly this wasn’t the first time something like that had happened.

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