Page 62 of Darling Obsession

I shake my head. “No. I… I don’t want to make a deal. What I’m saying is thank you, but no thank you.”

A muscle along his jaw spasms, and he skewers me with those switchblade eyes of his. “You’re being stubborn.”

“I’m being independent. In other words, true to myself.”

“No, you’re being obstinate.”

“You know what? This is on me. It was my mistake for trusting you.”

His gaze drops to my lips. “Mulish.”

Okay, now I’m getting pissed. “I never should’ve let you arrange a job for me. I’m perfectly capable of finding employment myself.”

“Employment that pays as well as Bliss?”

“I already found another waitressing job,” I inform him, sidestepping that. “It’s much closer to home. And I won’t have to worry that any of the clientele mistake me for a sex worker. We actually get to wear pants while we serve people alcohol. It’s revolutionary.”

I’m actually kind of bracing myself for his wrath. I can’t imagine he enjoys my sarcasm.

Instead, he seems to be struggling to process what I just said.

Then he says the weirdest thing. “Are you still angry with me?”

I struggle to understand where he’s coming from. He’s got me spinning in circles again. “About what, exactly?”

“About losing your job at Crave.”

Huh. I thought we were ramping up. But he doesn’t seem quite as furious anymore.

“I… it’s not that I loved working at the bakery.”Ugh.Am I getting into this, really? “I needed access to the ovens, okay? Justin let me use them, to bake cakes for my own business on the side. That’s why I was so upset to lose the job.”

Harlan stares at me for a long, intense moment. Calculating.

“Areyoustill angry?” I ask him.

“I’m not angry. I’m regretting my decision.”

I’m not sure what decision he means, so I wait for more as he silently simmers, looking gradually less angry.

“I should’ve offered you the job Savannah suggested in the first place,” he says tightly. “At the Crystal hotel, in the restaurant. It was a baking position, and you could waitress there, too, if you wanted. It was the perfect job for you.” He addssolemnly, “I’m sorry. I should’ve given you that opportunity. I’ll call her immediately, and have it set up.”

He stares at me expectantly, like it’s all wrapped up now, and he’s waiting for that thank-you cake.

“I just told you,” I say carefully, “that I don’t want to make a deal. I don’t need you to find a job for me.”

“But it’s the perfect job,” he repeats. “I can make sure you’re allowed to use the ovens to bake your cakes.”

Well, shit.

Do not cave to temptation, Quinn.

This is just the same damn situation I had with Justin, isn’t it? Though possibly worse.

I can’t owe this man anything for doing favors for me.

I can’t rely on him and his network.

I need to be strong myself.

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