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“I just don’t think we should, at least not when Rob isn’t around. Even as a business dinner, it feels too much like a date, and that doesn’t sit right with me. Besides, I know Rob won’t like it, and I don’t want to make this dinner with you a secret. Telling him will start a fight. I shouldn’t have said yes. I’m sorry. Can you please just take me to my car?”
The smile slowly falls from my face.
“My apologies. I have meals with colleagues all the time. But you are dating my brother, and that does put a different perception on the meal that I haven’t considered. Please forgive me.”
She shakes her head and looks down at the sketchpad and purse on her lap.
“You don’t need to apologize. Maybe I’m making too much out of a meal, but…” Her eyes lock with mine, and I feel the same spark as at the coffee shop. “I just feel it’s best if we keep our interactions at the office or family gatherings.”
Her tone is firm, but I can’t ignore the feeling that she wants to say something else.
Does she see me as more than her boyfriend’s brother or a business associate? Questions like that lead people down paths they shouldn’t travel.
I pull into the parking lot, and Emily points to the small, black shoebox of a car. As soon as I roll to a stop, Emily looks at me.
“Have a good night, Alden. I’ll see you tomorrow and thank you…for everything. Sorry again for the trouble.”
“Goodnight, Emily.”
And just like that, she gets out and walks to the driver’s side door of the Mini Cooper.
She climbs inside and starts the car. I wait for her to leave and tail her at a distance until she pulls in behind the building where her flower shop is located.
Confusion sits heavy on my chest. Emily has stirred something in me that leans dangerously toward interest. She’s right. We need to keep our distance.
It takes half an hour to get to my condo. Instead of using my personal elevator, I go into the lobby.
“Joel, how are you tonight?”
The security guard looks up from the book he’s reading.
“Mr. Mitchell, I’m well. My wife has me hooked on her newest dark romance novel.” He holds up the book to show me the cover—Bloody Quarter. “Would you believe that this guy kills his victims and then processes the meat to feed his dogs?” He chuckles. “Police dogs, no less. Now that is giving them the middle finger.”
“That’s certainly creative.”
“And you should see what he does to this poor girl.” He shakes his head. “So wrong, but so hot.”
“I’ll have to look it up. Has my takeout arrived?”
“Oh yes, sorry. Here you go. It was delivered just before you came in,” Joel says, handing over the bag.
“Enjoy your book.” I nod to him, but he’s already reading and not paying attention to me.
I’ve just sat down to eat when I hear a knock. Apparently dinner isn’t in the cards tonight.
Heading to the door, I open it to find Camille. We have done battle more than once on opposite sides of the courtroom, as well as between the sheets with our no-strings-attached friendship.
“Well, isn’t this a surprise,” I say as she slowly smiles.
“As long as it is a pleasant one. I brought a bottle of wine,” she says, her voice sultry. She holds up a bottle of my favorite vintage, then pulls the sash on her dress. The material parts, revealing her naked body underneath.
“Well, my evening is looking up.”
I smirk and back up to let Camille inside.
Camille is sound asleep. My stomach growls, reminding me that I still haven’t eaten. The bottle of wine doesn’t count.
Getting up, I pull on a pair of track pants and wander out to the kitchen. My ginger chicken and rice is still on the counter. I toss it into the microwave but pause when a breeze swirls around my ankles.
