Page 20 of Daring to Love You
“It was interesting. I shouldn’t have gone out with him again since I knew I wasn’t really feeling him. Except maybe as a friend, but after that night, he’s history.”
Dorian told them about shooting pool with Glen, and the more she thought about the night, the more she realized she should’ve ended the date sooner. She had vowed to herself, earlier in the year, that she was no longer dating just to be dating. That meant not going out with anyone who she couldn’t see herself having a future with. No sense in wasting their time or hers, especially since she was ready to fall in love, get married, and have a few kids.
But now she was taking a step back regarding her dating life. It was mentally and emotionally exhausting getting to know men and weave through the BS that some of them dished out. Maybe she’d get lucky and her Mr. Right would just fall into her lap, which was highly unlikely. At any rate, she was done. All she had to do now was keep her mother off her back.
“Tell them the rest,” Raven said, a twinkle in her eyes.
Her sister-in-law had been angry about the reckless driving part of the story. Especially since some teens, who were joyriding, had slammed into her car a few months ago. She and the twins had been rushed to the hospital, and her car had been totaled.
But when Dorian told Raven about Glen getting pulled over by officer Lynix Mathews, Raven had laughed for a solid minute. According to her, the incident was a sign that she should’ve been on a date with Lynix instead ofBonehead Glen.
Dorian trusted her sisters to keep her business to themselves, mainly away from their mother, but the last part of the date was almost too embarrassing to share. Still, she told them about Glen’s driving, Lynix pulling him over, and then driving her back to the B&B to pick up her car. She also told them abouthow Lynix had been asking her lately why she kept turning him down.
Cree already knew of his interest, and Essence admitted she’d suspected something was up between them. Mainly because of their behavior during Zion and Raven’s wedding reception. The more than usual bantering between them. Stolen glances at each other. She had also noted how Lynix kept hovering, which was something Dorian hadn’t noticed.
“When Glen refused to pull over, you should’ve called the cops right then and there. Or hell, even pretended to call,” Cree said, anger in her tone.
Dorian wasn’t like her. She didn’t speak up half as much as she should. She also tended to give people too many chances, as well as give them the benefit of the doubt. She also didn’t like the idea of anyone getting into trouble because of her. Calling the cops on Glen could’ve landed him in jail for his driving shenanigans. Though he might’ve deserved that, she wouldn’t have wanted to be the reason for it.
“You know, I get why you’re hesitant to go out with Lynix. But if you’re interested in him, which I know you are, maybe go out with him at least once,” Essence said, which surprised Dorian. “It might be fun.”
She and her oldest sister were the most alike of all of them. Like her, Essence was introverted, didn’t like drama, and never dated the proverbial bad boy. Though she didn’t date much, she typically gravitated to men who were considered a “nice guy” who were also clean cut and had professional jobs.
But maybe her sister was right. Maybe Dorian should at least spend some time with Lynix—away from her family. Normally, when they were in each other’s presence, some of her family was around. Except for him being a babe magnet, there was so much she didn’t know about him. Yet, there was so much about the man that appealed to her.
Like seeing his twin dimples that were sometimes barely visible because of the scruff on his cheeks. Then there was his sense of humor, his generosity, and she liked how attentive he was with her. And after the other night, she had to include the fact that he looked damn good in his police uniform. Despite being pissed at herself and at Glen, seeing Lynix had made her body hum with need. The man was big, bad, and intimidating on any given day, but in his uniform? He looked downright lethal… and yummy if she was being honest.
That, along with how sweet he was to her the other night had her thinking about him more. Her curiosity about him was piqued, but going on a date with him still gave her pause. Yet her defenses were weakening. Maybe they could hang out without dating. She wasn’t sure if that would be enough for him, but right now, it was all she was willing to do.
Nyla rushed back to the table and dropped down in her seat with a huge grin on her face. “Dee, you arenevergoing to believe who I just saw on the other side of the restaurant. Guess who.”
Dorian rolled her eyes and shrugged. “Serious, Nyla? It could be anyone. I wouldn’t even know where to start guessing. Just tell me.”
“Lynix!” she whisper-shouted. “And you’re never going to believe who he’s in a meeting with—your old boss, Shauna, and your loser ex-boyfriend whose name shall not be mentioned.”
“What?” Dorian said, the word barely audible. “Why on earth would he be meeting with them?”
Shauna had been Dorian’s direct supervisor when she worked for Concept Marketing Agency. As for Dorian’s ex, Rodney, the loser, had worked for the company as well. She and he had kept their budding relationship quiet, or so she’d thought. Ultimately, he had betrayed her in the worst way, and her work environment had become too toxic to remain at the company.
And now they were meeting with Lynix?
“I think I heard somewhere that Lynix’s family recently took over ownership of this hotel and restaurant. Maybe your former coworkers are trying to drum up some business,” Cree said, and learning his family owned the place surprised Dorian just as much as knowing he was there.
Nyla tapped her fingers on the tabletop. “I think you should go over there and see what’s up. What if they are trying to get his family’s business? You could stop him before he makes a mistake.”
“She has a point,” Cree added and picked up her strawberry mimosa and took a sip.
“Most importantly, you lookhot!”Raven added, and the sisters chuckled. “Girl, this is the perfect opportunity for you to show your ex how good you look, while you swoop in and save your new man.”
“Lynix is not my man, but I don’t want him to get involved with those two,” Dorian said. The agency as a whole did good work, but Shauna was a shark. As for Rodney, he was still trying to make a name for himself at the company, no matter how many bodies he had to walk over.
“How do you know it was a meeting?” Dorian asked, wondering if she should crash their meet up or just mind her business.
“By the way, your ex was talking with his hands and periodically pointing to the electronic tablet in front of him. He was definitely pitching some idea.”
“I don’t normally agree with Nyla,” Cree said, ignoring the way Nyla glared at her. “But what could it hurt to stop by and say hi? Considering Lynix’s behavior the last time I saw you two together, I’m sure he’d love to see you. Just go over and act like you have a right to be in his face.”
Dorian shook her head. She wished she had half the confidence and badassness as Cree. As an entertainment lawyer and a former stripper, the woman always walked into a room and carried herself as if she owned the place.
