Page 53 of The Donor’s Dilemma

“Sure, you were,” she teased.

“I was,” he lied. He was thinking about her, he was always thinking about her. The way she looked in that moment, like she belonged there. The way she smiled when presenting her festival plan. The way she said “yours” and meant it.

“Hold it for me?” he asked, handing her the coin.

It looked bigger in her hand, fingers tracing the dents and grooves in the face of a long forgotten emperor. She still toyed with it when he bit, still examining the flaws as he started to drink.

Chapter Sixteen

A sweep of black across her eyelids and a flick of mascara was as much as Verity had time for. Yanking the hem of her dress down for what must have been the hundredth time, she ran out of the cafe bathroom, threw her work clothes behind the counter and grabbed her handbag.

“Holy hells, look at the pins on her!” Cora heckled as she cleaned tables. Half the customers turned to look with nods and smirks.

“Stop it,” Verity snapped. “I’m so late.”

“Make him wait,” a man called, and Verity turned on him.

“Don’t you encourage her.”

He laughed. “As if she needs encouraging.”

Just two nights into the contract from Elliot, and the cafe was buzzing non-stop. Most of the customers were from out of town, visiting for training courses. One meal at Cora’s, served with her special brand of wild sweetness, and many chose to come back for the morning rather than sitting in their hotels or bars. It felt homely and casual and everyone loved Cora. Verity couldn’t be happier.

Cora ran over, pulling out a tissue to wipe at the black smudge of eye shadow. “I mean it, you look fucking gorgeous. Adam’s gonna just eat you up.” She made slurping noises and Verity turned on her heel, heading for the door.

Lying to Cora was horrible. She felt awful when her friend accepted her every word so easily, and positively dreadful when she jumped about, excited for her best-friend.

“I know it’s only the second date, but I wouldn’t judge you…” Cora sang out across the room.

“Stop it or I’m calling in sick tomorrow!” Verity called, slipping out and searching the street.

There, at the next junction, sat a familiar SUV. The engine burst to life as she ran up and opened the door.

“Do you even check your phone?” Theo asked.

“I do.”

“Then reply to my messages,” he snapped but Verity was having none of it.

“If you’re gonna be a dick, this is going to be a very long morning,” she warned, pulling the sun visor down to examine her makeup again.

“You look nice.”

“Nice?” Who wants to be told they look nice. “I look like a fucking panda.” Theo’s snort marked the end of her resolve. “Fuck’s sake!” She scrubbed at the makeup, desperate to get it off but only making the corner of her eye sore.

“Stop, Verity. Stop that. You look good.”

“Good?” Good was hardly better than fine!

The car pulled over and Theo turned, grabbing her face with one hand and licking the thumb of the other.

“Don’t you fucking dare!” she raged, pulling away.

“It’ll sooth the irritation,” he said, lunging for her with his thumb.

“Eww! No!”

“Hold still or I’ll lick you!”