Page 58 of The Bluffing Game

I laugh and then reach over to grab my water. I take a sip and turn my gaze to look around my large, luxurious bedroom. It’s my favorite room in the house, but it’s all gray and black, and it needs a woman’s touch. I wonder what Sage would think of the room. I bet she’d hate it.

“Dalton, why were you texting me?”

“Do you not want me to text you?”

“No, I didn’t say that. I was just curious why.”

“I was just trying to figure out how your first weeks of work are going, if you were enjoying yourself.”

“Enjoying myself at work?” She bursts out laughing. “Now, I don’t know if you want me to lie and say it’s the best job I’ve ever had in my life, but⁠—”

“What do you mean, that would be a lie? It’s not the best job you’ve ever had in your life?” I tease.

She laughs again. “Dalton, what is going on? Are you trying to ruin my good mood?”

“Why on earth would you think that?”

“I don’t know.” She pauses. “I’m just curious why you’re calling, is all.”

“Maybe I called because I wanted to hear your voice.” That is far more honest than I really want to be, but she doesn’t have to know that. “You sound like a movie star I used to like.” Liar, liar.

“Sure, you’re calling to hear my voice because you love it, right?”

“Oh, yeah,” I say sarcastically. “You could be the next Mariah Carey or Celine Dion.”

“Yep, I can sing just as well as them, you know?”

“Oh, I’m sure you can. Why don’t you sing for me?”

“Why don’t I sing for you? Why don’t you sing for me?”

“I’m not the one who said I’m an amazing singer.”

“Dalton?”

“Yes, Sage?”

“Are you trying to be the bane of my existence?”

“I would hope not. I’d rather be the reason for your living.” I shift back on the bed, close my eyes, and listen to her voice. “That sounds weird. I guess … I guess I was just bored,” I say.

“So, now you call me when you’re bored.”

“Do I need an excuse to call you?” I picture her next to me.

“Yeah, you do. Most people’s bosses don’t call them because they’re bored.”

“Maybe I wanted to ask if you could come in to work early tomorrow to work an extra shift.”

“Now, that doesn’t sound like fun.” She yawns. “Is that really why you’re calling me?”

“I don’t know. You tell me.”

“Dalton?”

I hear the annoyance in her voice, but I don’t want to let her go.

“Yes, Sage?”