Page 8 of First Comes Love… Then Denial

“You better not leave me, Nelson! I swear if you do and I’m murdered, I will come back and haunt you until you go insane and find yourself in a damn nuthouse eating pink crayons!” My words came out as fast as a speeding bullet. The color red filled my vision. I knew if I didn’t calm down that I was going to blow a gasket and end up getting the electric chair.

“Carol go his information. If you come up missing, she can tell the–”

“If I come up missing?If?IfI come up missing it won’t fucking matter! I’ll be dead! D-E-A-D!” I jiggled the door handle. “Now, unlock this damn door and let me in.”

“I can’t. Don’t hate me.” With that, he sped off down the road leaving me holding a bag of food and my head ready to explode.”

“Hello, Miss Delaney,” a familiar, husky voice said behind me.

“Seriously?” I groaned and turned to face… “Whoa,” I said under my breath.

The man looked damn sexy. He wore khaki shorts, a button-up light blue shirt, and tan loafers. I shouldn’t have found anything about his outfit attractive since it was the stereotypical pretty boyuniform.However, he made it look good. Damn good.

“I’m guessing by the shouting that no one told you?” he asked, walking over to me. He took the bag from my hand.

His cologne smelled so good. I couldn’t help but inhale sharply. I tried desperately to not close my eyes to bask in the aroma.

“Miss Delaney?” Zane’s voice snapped me from my thoughts. I looked at him and he smiled. “Want me to take you home?”

“Why did you want me here?” I sighed.

“We got off to a bad start. I wanted to show you that I’m not an asshole like Donald,” he smiled.

“Could have just said that at the office. Right?”

“Yeah. I thought about doing that then I chickened out and sent a currier to your office… Andthencame up with the bright idea to have dinner with you.”

I wasn’t sure if I should feel special or if I needed to go file a restraining order.

“Do you always trick people into dinner?”

“Only when it comes to you apparently,” he groaned. “I look like a complete fucking psycho.”

His facial expression said it all. The poor man looked mortified. Clearly, he hadn’t thought the plan through.

“A smidge,” I said, holding back a giggle.

“Let me go grab my keys.” His shoulders slumped and he turned to walk towards the yacht.

“Wait,” I let out a heavy sigh. Zane turned and faced me. “Against my better judgment, I’ll have dinner with you.”

“Really?” He seemed almost as shocked as I was by my words. “Isn’t it creepy that–”

“Oh, it’s definitely fucking creepy,” I teased and he groaned. “Fortunately for you, I haven’t eaten all day.”

“Why not? That’s not healthy,” he frowned, making me laugh.

“Have you seen my curves? I can afford to miss some meals.”

Zane frowned and shook his head.

“That’s not funny,” he said flatly. His entire demeanor changed. I had hit a nerve. I wasn’t sure what triggered that nerve, but it had definitely been set off.

“Sorry.” My voice was soft and I offered him an apologetic smile; however, I wasn’t sorry because it was true. I could afford to miss a few meals.

My entire life I had been thechubbygirl. As I grew older and entered high school I went from thechubbygirl to thethickgirl. Some guys liked my curves, but let’s face it, no man would choose me over a super model. Super models had small waists, big breasts, and were toothpick thin.

“Not that my opinion matters, but your body is my ideal type,” Zane said with his eyes locked on mine.

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