Page 34 of Dex

“He had a meeting this morning,” I say, my voice oddly detached.“With her.My… wife-to-be.”The words feel foreign coming out of my mouth.

“You’re really going to do this?”Jett asks for the third or maybe the fourth time.

“Does this mean there’s going to be a wedding?”Zach asks.

Fuck.A wedding.I hadn’t really thought about the details of it all.All I know is that twenty-four hours ago, my life was fine.I had a casual arrangement, nothing tying me down, no responsibilities.

Lexi, my friends with benefits counterpart has been out of my life for months, and that’s been the biggest headache in my life so far.

But now, this.

I showed up at a networking event, thinking I’d have a few drinks, play along.

And now?

I’m getting married.

Chapter 10

DANI

Paul Knight has summoned me to another meeting, this time at his office.I arrived here early in the chauffeured car he sent me.

Now I’m sitting outside his office, my nerves twisting in my stomach.I told him I like Dexter, and now, in the cold light of day, I wonder how things will play out, because Dexter doesn’t like me.

I assume Paul’s going to tell Dexter now, in front of me.He can refuse, in which case I’ll have to accept it and fly back and … fall back on the only option I have left.

Paul’s assistant, a woman in her sixties with sharp eyes and a no-nonsense demeanor, glances at me from behind her desk but says nothing.And then, just as I’m trying to steady my breathing, Dexter walks in and my stomach tightens.

He stops short when he sees me.We stare at each other and I swear he almost growls, as if the sight of me makes him sick.

Before I can react, the door to Paul Knight’s office swings open.

“Daniela, nice to see you.”He gives me a smile that falls short of his eyes.“Dex.”He nods at his son.“Come in, both of you.”

I get up, half-expecting Dexter to let me go in first.Some small, stupid part of me assumes he’ll be a gentleman, but he strides past me without hesitation.

Of course he would.

At least he holds the door open.I suppose that counts for something.But just as I start to step through, he shifts and blocks my entrance a little, so that I’m forced to brush past him.Our arms touch, and I catch a whisper of his intoxicating scent, feel the heat of his body.See his dark glare cutting into me as I walk past.

By the time I sit down, I’m having palpitations.I wish I had something to fan my face with.We sit across from his father, tension thick in the air.Paul’s cold-gray eyes settle on me.“Daniela, I’ve had meetings with your father this morning.He’s very happy with this arrangement.”

I freeze.“You told him?”

“I told him last night.”

I blink, thrown off balance.Paul Knight said he was going to discuss it with me first.He said he wasn’t going to tell anyone yet.

He robbed me of something.

Everything is moving too fast and my head spins as I try to keep up.

“I didn’t realize my decision was final,” I say, my voice tight.“You asked me a question and I answered.”I feel sick, because I’ve realized that not only has Paul Knight has told my father, he’s also told Dexter, which is why he’s here.

Dexter snorts beside me.

“Yes,” Paul answers, casually.He sits back, his eyes moving between Dexter and I, like he’s enjoying my unease.

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