Page 5 of Mr. Right Now
Ryan chuckled. “That’s what I thought.”
He shifted his gaze to Ryan. “What are you talking about?”
“Jayana. You want her. Don’t bother denying it because I’ve caught you staring at her more than once since she started working here. I said what I said to get a rise out of you, and the way your body just tensed up proves I’m right. If she has you this tied up in a week, what do you think it’s going to be like in a month or two?”
“Nothing’s going to happen.” The lie sounded hollow in his own ears. He was a heartbeat away from dragging her into his office and taking her up on her offer. And he had the perfect wall. “She’s an employee, remember?”
“We don’t have any written rules about dating, and it definitely wouldn’t apply in your case since the two of you hooked up before she started working here.”
That thought had crossed his mind, as well. However, Dante knew one more time wouldn’t be enough with Jayana. Everything about her screamedrelationship, despite claiming that she wanted nothing more than an afternoon of good sex. “I never said we hooked up.”
Ryan gave Dante a look that said,don’t insult my intelligence, then folded his arms, as if waiting for Dante’s confession.
Sighing, he shoved his hands in his pant pockets and turned toward the window again. “It was only once. I finally figured out it was the same day she interviewed here. We ended up on the same flight to Dallas.”
“I was already impressed by her, but she just moved up a few notches. Any woman who can stay on your mind for longer than it takes me to finish my dinner has to be special.”
He laughed softly at Ryan’s wacky humor. “I don’t know how I put up with you all these years.”
Ryan snorted. “I don’t know how I put up withyou,with your nerdy ass. If it wasn’t for me, you’d still be trying to figure out how to eventalkto women.”
Dante just shook his head. “Shut the hell up.” Whereas Dante fell somewhere on the ambivert scale with a tilt toward the introverted side, Ryan was a straight up extrovert and had nearly every girl in the school fighting for his attention. Dante, on the other hand, preferred to date one girl, and had for almost two years until their post-graduation endeavors took them in different directions Neither had wanted to deal with the hassle of juggling a long-distance relationship and college courses, and had parted amicably. The same couldn’t be said about the next two women he’d dated. Both had been into drama, definitely not his style. But it was his most recent ex, who’d made him decide to discard any notions of marriage and the proverbial happily-ever-after.
“Seriously though, bro. Your self-imposed exile has gone on long enough.” Ryan gestured toward the now empty playground. “I have a feeling Jayana might be the perfect woman to help you get back out there. If you need some pointers, I got you,” he added, clapping Dante on the shoulder.
He shrugged the hand off. “Shouldn’t you be working on securing a few more grants?” Ryan handled the center’s finances.
“I’m handling my businessandmaking time to play. You should do the same.” He glanced down at his watch. “It’s after five, and I’m taking off. How late do you plan to be here?”
“Probably another hour or so. I have a few things to do for the Juneteenth festival.” All the vendors had been secured, but he wanted to add a youth-focused piece and wasn’t quite sure what he wanted to do yet.
Ryan nodded. “Let me know if you need me to do anything.”
“Mom wanted to know if you were coming to Erika’s birthday dinner tomorrow evening.”
Ryan rubbed his hands together and a huge grin spread across his face. “You’d better believe it. I willneverturn down a meal prepared by Mama Daphne.”
Dante smiled. The first time he’d invited Ryan over to dinner in second grade, Ryan had praised his mother’s cooking. Going forward, he found every reason to stop by during dinner, and still did.
Erika stuck her head in the door. “Hey, guys. All the kids and teachers are gone, so I’m leaving. Don’t be here all night,” she added, her gaze focused on Dante.
“I’m on my way out too, so I’ll walk you to your car,” Ryan said. “Later, bro.”
“See you at Mom’s tomorrow.” Dante crossed the room and kissed his sister’s cheek. “Drive safely, sis.”
“I will.” She pointed two fingers toward her eyes, then toward Dante. “I meant what I said.” She did it once more for emphasis. “I’m watching you.”
Smiling, he said, “Girl, go home. I’ll be out of here no later than six-thirty.”
Erika rolled her eyes, then said to Ryan. “He acts like we don’t know him.”
Laughing, Ryan slung an affectionate arm around her shoulders. “You have a point. We’re out.”
Dante chuckled and threw up a wave as they exited, then went back to his desk. He opened the festival file on his computer and before he could start, a knock sounded on the door. Without looking away, he said, “Aren’t you supposed to be gone?”
“Um, I was on my way out and saw your light on.”
His head snapped around and he slowly rose to his feet. “Jayana. I thought you already left for the day.”
