Page 13 of Exposed to You

I glanced over at Jackson, but he was busy restocking the pastry fridge. “And why the hell not?”

“Because I know the types of creeps that go there,” Dallon said in a low voice. “I don’t want you working there.”

“Because you’ve been one of those creeps?”

Half of his mouth turned up.

“It doesn’t matter—you don’t have a say,” I said, striding past him to wipe down the pastry fridge, where Jackson was still pulling the goods. Dallon appeared at the counter.

“That’s not my choice. I want a say.”

We stared at each other until Jackson cleared his throat. “I’m going to go count the money in the back.”

Great. I’d approached Jackson on purpose and he’d taken off.

“I don’t want you working there,” Dallon repeated, his face hard. “The place is full of assholes. Why would you even want to work there?”

“I don’t, I need money!” I responded, my voice growing shrill. “It’s not a big deal and really none of your business!”

Dallon narrowed his eyes and sweat broke out on the back of my neck. I’d never seen him this angry before. “So you’d rather work there than take the job I offered you. You’d rather let a bunch of drunk creeps grope you and talk to you like you’re a piece of meat than let me photograph you.”

“It’s temporary and can hardly be compared to the prostitute position you offered me!”

He snorted. “Yeah wearing the tight little outfits they give their servers isn’t prostitution at all.” He leaned forward on the counter, placing his weight on his palms. “I’m going to say this again, Amy. Do not work there.”

I crossed my arms. “You really don’t have a say, Mr. King. You’re not my employer or even my friend.”

He frowned momentarily, but in a flash, it was gone. “I would if I was your boyfriend.”

My mouth went dry. He continued to stand there with an unreadable expression.

“But you’re not,” I said eventually, my voice a whisper.

He came around the counter and stopped in front of me. He was standing too close and looking down at me with those intense eyes.

“I’ve been thinking a lot over the last few days, since we went for drinks. I didn’t hear from you. I…” He cleared his throat. “I missed you, and it surprised me. It didn’t make any sense and wasn’t what I’m used to. And then it hit me: I haven’t done it in a while, but I could try having a relationship. With you.”

“You want to… date me?”

“That’s what I just said, isn’t it?”

“Yes, but I thought you wanted me to work for you.”

“I did.”

I reached up and put a hand to my head. Dallon King was really starting to confuse me. Who was this man, and what was he about? First he’d come off as a con man looking to take nude photos of unsuspecting women and asking them to move in and be his plaything. Then he’d let me delete the pictures and continued to pressure me to take his job offer. Now he was asking me to date him.

“Look,” I said, turning away and putting soap into the dishwasher to put some much needed distance between us, “I think you have an idea of me from your fantasy woman or something. I’m not her.”

Dallon sighed loudly and ran a hand through his hair. “Are you seriously this difficult? I’ve tried everything with you, Amy. I’ve bent over backwards trying to make you happy and see that I’m not some jerk, and you’re determined to believe otherwise.”

I closed the dishwasher and hit the button to run it before responding. I knew that part of what he was saying was correct, and there was definitely a part of me that was more than interested in dating him. His caring side led me to think there could be a future between us, and his dangerous side... Well, as much as I hated to admit it, that side kind of excited me. So why was I acting like this?

Because you don’t trust him.

“Amy.” Dallon approached me, gently reached out and tucked some loose hair behind my ear. “What are you so afraid of?”

I swallowed, unable to look at him.

“I know you’re attracted to me. I can see it in the way you blush and I felt it the first night we met.” He smirked at the last sentence, and my cheeks heated. “What’s the point of denying it?”

“I don’t know,” I whispered. “Because I know I’m going to get hurt.”

Dallon frowned and put his hands on my shoulders, his eyes searching mine. “How can you be so sure?”

Just then, Jackson walked back in. Dallon straightened and flash a smile at him. “Hey man, if I give you a fifty, will you do the cleanup yourself? Amy and I need to talk.”

I turned red again, but this time out of anger. “You can’t just throw money at people!” I seethed.

I turned to Jackson. “Just ignore him, I’m not going anywhere.”

Jackson looked back and forth between us before settling on Dallon King. “It’s okay, you two can take off. I get it.”

“Thanks man,” Dallon grinned at Jackson and then looked down at me, serious again. “Get your stuff.”

I was beyond mortified. I stood there for a moment, debating my options, until Dallon raised an eyebrow at me. I was ready to ream him out, but I wasn’t going to do it in front of Jackson, so I stomped to the back, where I grabbed my purse and jacket. When I returned to the front, Dallon and Jackson were chatting happily.

Unbelievable.

“Let’s go,” I muttered.

Dallon reached out and slapped the fifty on the counter. “I mean it. Take it. And thanks.” Then he turned and put his arm on my back, steering me toward the door.

Chapter Nine

“I can’t believe you just did that!” I turned on Dallon the second we were away from the café. “Do you know how embarrassing that was?”

Dallon rolled his eyes. “Don’t be so dramatic. He was more than happy to take the money, and it’s better

than us continuing that discussion in front of him, don’t you think?”

The Audi SUV was idling on the street. Arnold jumped out and opened the door for us. I climbed in, still reeling about what had happened with Jackson. I was going to have to talk to him about loyalty where Dallon was concerned. Why was everyone around me so intent on helping Dallon out?

“Home please, Arnold,” Dallon said before climbing in himself.

“We’re going to your place? No way.”

My hand reached for the door handle, but Dallon pulled me back against my seat, putting a firm hand on my leg. When he spoke, his voice was low. “I’m going to make us dinner and then we’re going to talk. Nothing more.”

I crossed my arms. His lip turned up at the gesture and I realized how silly I looked—like a pouty teenager. I uncrossed them and looked out the window.

“How do you do that?” I asked, still looking out the window.

“Do what?”

“Charm everyone into being your friend.”

“Oh, that.” He shrugged. “I’m a nice guy.”

I turned to him and he raised his eyebrows playfully. I couldn’t help but smile, so I looked down to hide it.

He chuckled softly and stretched an arm over the back of the seat, played with some strands of my hair. His touch sent shivers down my spine and my heart rate instantly picked up. He was right; I was attracted to him, more attracted than I had been to anyone in my life. Even if I’d thought I’d loved my past boyfriends, the excitement I felt at their touch paled in comparison to the simple act of Dallon King stroking my hair.

His fingers moved to the back of my neck and then he was massaging it gently. I closed my eyes and held my breath, afraid to move in case the feeling stopped. The seat shifted under his weight as he leaned over to whisper in my ear.

“The things I’d like to do with you, Miss Clair. If only you were mine…”

My eyes flew open and he chuckled and leaned back, his fingers leaving my neck. I sat there trying to catch my breath for the few minutes it took to arrive at Dallon King’s residence.

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