AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Great. You don’t mind if I bring her to the gala, do you? The more the merrier, I say.”
Zelda tuts again, so Dash drops it, but he still keeps surreptitiously checking his phone for the rest of lunch.
Like he has something to hide?
I sneak a look over his shoulder and see a message from someone named Cindy. I wrestle with that jealous flame. It’s none of my business. Dash could be texting ten women simultaneously or setting up a beachside orgy, and it wouldn’t change a thing. He’s a free agent, and so am I.
Two impulsive kisses don’t change that.
Two hot, wild, passionate, melt-my-panties kisses…
Ahem.
I gulp some iced tea—at this rate, I’ll be chugging the stuff—and try to think clearly, but none of my logic is any comfort when Dash checks his phone against and then brightens, bouncing to his feet.
“I’m afraid I need to excuse myself.” He says, looking suspiciously perky. “I have… An errand I need to run. For the gala. But I’ll see you all later.”
He practically sprints out of the room.
“How mysterious,” Zelda says, sipping her water.
Mysterious, or… Suspicious.
“I forgot; I need to tell him something.” I bob up. “I’ll be right back.”
I hurry after him, hating that I’m acting like a jealous girlfriend, but hey, isn’t that my job description? Dash did promise that as long as we were running this ruse, I would be the only woman around. And it won’t help sell the act to Zelda if he’s sneaking off to meet this Cindy. Anyone could see! And then where would our deal be?
Because that’s what I care about: Our deal. And my paycheck.
Nothing else. Nothing at all.
I find him outside, heading to his car. “Really?” I catch up, fighting to control my annoyance. “You can’t even play the loyal boyfriend for two whole days? You have to sneak off for some afternoon delight?”
“What now?” Dash looks confused.
“Cindy,” I reply. “Not that I care who you’re seeing,” I add quickly. “But come on, we’re supposed to be selling this fake relationship!”
“Cindy…” he repeats, and then realization dawns. “Wait, you think I’m having a sordid affair with Cindy?”
He looks so amused that I pause. “Well, you were so secretive, and you kept checking your phone, like you didn’t want anyone to see…”
“Because I’m embarrassed.” Dash gives a bashful smile. “And I know you’d give me a hard time if you saw what I was really looking at.”
He passes me his phone, and I brace myself. What’s on here: Fetish websites? Furries?
But it turns out my mind is in the gutter, while his is in the trees.
“Bird Central?” I repeat, looking at the screen.
“It’s a bird-watching app,” Dash explains. “And Cindy’s in my bird-watching group. She’s sixty,” he adds. “And has a bad hip. So no, I’m not rolling in the hay with her.”
“I don’t understand,” I stare at him, thoroughly confused.
Dash rakes a hand through his hair, still bashful. “It’s a hobby of mine. A passion, really. And there’s just been a sighting of a Purple Gallinule nearby. It’s a rare bird,” he explains.
“And that’s really not a euphemism for something dirty?” I ask, still disbelieving that someone as young, hot, and socially adept as Dash would be harboring a secret passion for bird-watching.
He grins. “Nope, just something dorky. See, I knew you’d think it was weird.”
