Page 84 of Sweet Sinners
"Come in," I say, motioning him inside. "You're a lifesaver."
He sets the sushi down between us on the desk, easing into the chair across from me, his gaze thoughtful. "I thought you might be rattled after this morning. Anna wasn’t exactly quiet."
I sigh, reaching for a piece of sushi, my fingers trembling slightly. "I'm sure everyone's whispering about it by now."
"Only a little," Dean says carefully, giving me an encouraging smile. "But people talk around here anyway. It’ll blow over."
"Yeah," I murmur absently, glancing at my phone again. Still nothing from Connor.
Dean clears his throat, leaning forward slightly, eyes narrowing with concern. "I have to admit, though...Anna said some things—"
"Anna says a lot of things," I interrupt gently, studying him. "I wouldn't put too much stock in it."
He nods slowly, but his gaze is sharp, almost calculating. "I know. It's just—people talk. And ever since your stepbrother moved back in with you, it’s raised a lot of eyebrows."
My shoulders stiffen instinctively, pulse racing faster. I take another bite to hide the sudden tension. "Connor was cleared, Dean. People should remember that."
He shrugs, picking casually at his food, eyes never leaving mine. "Oh, I'm sure he's innocent. But still, living with a man accused of murder? Aren't you worried how that looks?"
His tone is light, casual—but there's something there, hidden beneath his easy smile. Something sharp, probing.
"I trust him," I say softly, meeting Dean's gaze evenly. "And appearances are the least of my concerns."
He studies me quietly, then nods, his smile returning like it never left. "Fair enough."
Silence settles between us as we finish eating, but it isn't comfortable. Something nags at me, twisted and uneasy. Anna’s wordsecho back suddenly—Dean moping around, talking too much. Has he always been this inquisitive? This interested?
"I should get back to work," I say abruptly, hoping he gets the hint. "Thanks again for the sushi."
"Anytime," he replies smoothly, standing from his chair and turning to leave, but pausing in the doorway, his eyes glinting strangely. "Be careful, Cali. Sometimes it's the people closest to you who cause the most damage."
The words feel like ice sliding down my spine. I watch as Dean walks away, unease tightening my chest again.
When my phone finally vibrates with a message from Connor, relief floods me—but it doesn't erase Dean's quiet warning or the heavy feeling that I've just missed something critical. I tell myself I'm just overthinking this, he's being protective and maybe a little jealous after hearing what Anna had to say.
Tonight, Connor and I are definitely finding a new way to unwind—one that has nothing to do with cooking.
Chapter thirty-eight
Connor
WhenIgetCali'smessage I don't waste any time, I send Nathan a quick message asking him to dig up everything he can find, I text Cali, telling her to call me as soon as she's alone. My pulse kicks up as I wait, needing to hear her voice, to know she's safe, to understand exactly what the hell happened.
When my phone finally buzzes, I pick up immediately. "Hey," I say softly, voice gentler than I've ever allowed it to be. "You okay?"
Cali exhales heavily into the line, and the sound tightens my chest. She’s trying not to cry—trying not to let the cracks show—but I hear them anyway. "Connor, today was a disaster."
I grip the phone tighter. "Tell me whathappened."
"I fired Anna," she admits, her voice shaking slightly. "She screwed up meetings on purpose. She—she practically admitted it. Then she threatened me, right there, in front of everyone." Cali pauses, sucking in another shaky breath. "She said she'd tell everyone about us. That we're sleeping together."
I squeeze the phone tighter, jaw locking with anger. "Cali, she can't prove anything. She's grasping at straws because she's desperate."
"What if she tries anyway? Everyone heard her. They looked at me like—like I was exactly the mess they always thought I’d become." Her voice wavers, anxiety strangling every word.
"Listen to me," I say firmly, interrupting her spiral before it can get worse. "Breathe, Cali. She's trying to scare you, nothing else. We've survived worse than some bullshit rumor. We know the truth."
She pauses, and I hear the soft hitch in her breath, the hesitation, the need to believe me. "I just—I feel like I’m losing control. Everything’s falling apart."
