Page 18 of Flirt Away

“Both,” she said.

“Well, last girl I dated ended recently because she didn’t like me working at Club Allure, which I can understand. I’m not opposed to finding a new career, I’m just not into ultimatums, which she gave me.”

“Oh. That’s not cool,” Dixie said. “Okay, what about the serious relationship?”

“Not much to tell. We were together for a year. She was the jealous type. Again, that doesn’t go well when your boyfriend works in a sex club.”

“Is that why you broke up?”

“That was only one part of it,” Zane said. “I’m a private person, and she betrayed my trust.”

Dixie narrowed her stare. “So, you broke up with her.”

“It was just best for us to end it.”

“Where is she now?”

“Dating some dude from her work. I think she’s happy, which is all that matters.”

“Did you love her?” Dixie really wanted to know what this chick looked like and if she was a size two or not, but she had no idea how to ask that without looking like an asshole.

“I cared about her, but I wasn’t in love with her. So, in the end, it was for the best. Now, what about you? What was your last relationship like?”

“Not great, to be honest.”

Dixie didn’t want to have the conversation about her ex-boyfriend who’d been married, because it always ended with a discussion about her blubber—and ultimately, her mother. But given how Zane stared at her with his piercing dark eyes and bombarded her with probing questions, she knew he wouldn’t let up.

“How so?” he asked.

“We just weren’t meant for each other.”

“Come on, Dixie. Why won’t you answer my question? I answered yours.”

She stared down at her plate, which was now devoid of the asparagus and about a third of her steak—the rest she’d cut up and pushed around her plate.

Sadly, she was still hungry.

Zane had managed to scarf down all of his and now picked at the cheese and crackers she’d put out.

She’d noticed him glance with an arched brow between her lips and her plate.

“There is never a good way to bring this up, and I’m probably jumping to conclusions, but I can’t help it based on the way you’re dodging my question and avoiding the food on your plate.” He set his glass down a bit harder than usual, and some of the red liquid sloshed over the sides. “Is part of the reason you weren’t meant for each other because he’s an asshole who took issue with your beauty?”

She pressed her hands against the table, ready to lay into him about how everything wasn’t always about weight. Only she didn’t expect him to deflect the obvious and flip it to make it sound as if Jeff were just a moron who didn’t know a good thing when he saw it.

“That’s an interesting way of asking whether Jeff didn’t like my figure.” She forced herself to take another bite, resenting the mental sound of her mother’s voice, telling her she should have gone for a dry salad or perhaps only a glass of water.

As if that would fill her up and nourish her body.

“If he had a problem with your size, he’s a dick.”

“He’s an asshole for more than that reason,” she said, letting out a long breath. She stabbed two pieces of meat and placed them on her tongue. She had to admit, it was the best steak she’d had in a long time. She shoved her plate to the side since she was finally full. She wiped her lips with her napkin.

“What was the sex like with your ex?” Zane asked.

She coughed. “I’m glad you waited until I was done eating to hit me with that not so great segue.” She took her wine and moved from the small table down to the lower part of the deck, closer to the water.

Zane followed.

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