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I pep up. “Yes, please.”
“Don’t tell me you’re doing that thing you do and skipping lunch to eat a cupcake?”
“It’s a trade-off,” I say. “And the cupcakes are worth it. So is the coffee.”
He scowls at me over his nose. “I’m bringing you a sandwich, too. On the house.” He hurries away.
“I think we’re both in trouble,” Dash laughs, doing a little head lean toward the table.
“I do believe we are,” I say, as the two of us claim our seats and I slide out of my coat.
It’s a small space and I’m right across from him, his computer between us.
He shuts the lid and sets it aside.
“See now,” I chide, “you’re not going to make your word count with your computer shut.”
“How did it go with Millie?”
“Excellent,” I say. “I like her. I want to help. She asked me to call some of the donors that have helped them out in the past. She thinks my connection to Riptide will help. I’m actually meeting her tomorrow to go through the list.”
“I’ll help,” he says. “I can split the list up with you.”
“You don’t have to do that, Dash.”
“I want this to go well, and you’ve been thrown into this with a limited amount of time to spare.”
“Well, that’s true,” I say, “but I’m not in panic mode. Katie is mine full time until the event is over. I have some help at Riptide. It’s all going to work out. And who knows, maybe the real Allison will show up and we can finish this together.”
“You think Allison is coming back?”
“You don’t?” I ask.
“I don’t really know. I barely know Allison, but from what my sister told me, she was here one day and gone the next. I’m surprised Tyler would let her come back.”
“Katie seems to think he was holding off on hiring for her return. It’s just lucky that our paths crossed when they did. It’s a little strange. You know I’m moving into the house she was living in?”
He arches a brow. “You’re moving into her house? How does that work?”
“I guess it’s a place Tyler owns and it has to be occupied to have insurance to cover the wine cellar. So when she left, she really left. She moved out.”
“And now you’re moving in,” he states and it’s not a question. There’s a sense of disapproval in his tone, a shuttering of his features.
“Don’t say it like that,” I push back.
“I don’t think I said much of anything.”
“You didn’t have to,” I say. “It’s in your eyes.” I lean in closer. “It’s not like Tyler is living there.”
“I didn’t say anything, Allison.”
Allison again. Not Allie. He’s unhappy and I’m confused. Illogically, I feel like I need to explain myself. I lean in closer. “My mom wants me to act like her cancer never existed. This is the best way for me to give her space and not leave town. I still have rent in New York City. This lets me leave her pool house with no expense. And as a bonus, I have this charity event to keep me busy and out of her business and my own fear. It’s all kind of perfect.” With that, I realize that I’ve bared my soul to this man more than any other person in a very long time, including the man I was engaged to. I don’t know what I’m doing. He probably thinks I’m a lunatic. I ease back into my chair. “Don’t judge me,” I say, and it’s rather defensive. God, I’m losing it.
His eyes—those crystal, intelligent blue eyes—study me for several long beats before he says, “I’m not judging you.” He leans in closer. “I’m glad you’re here, Allie.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
I’ve never been to one of those striking ocean cities where you stare out at water of brilliant blues and greens, all the while wondering if there is another magical world beneath that beauty. But I suspect it’s a lot like looking into Dash Black’s eyes.
For long seconds, I’m just spellbound, lost in his gaze, awash in the richness of his presence, aware of him in ways I wasn’t sure I would ever be capable of with a man again. But I also admire him. His ease with himself, his air of confidence, of knowing who and what he is, and I envy that in him. I’m more a small little fish in the ocean he owns, swimming here and there, trying to find my own little pond. I’m not sure why I’m so lost, maybe because of my mother, or maybe it’s deeper, about me, but there is no denying, I am right now.
“I’m glad to be here,” I say softly and once again drive home where my heart is right now. “I meant it when I said, it feels meant to be, like I’m at the right time and the right place.”
