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A smooth line about how technically it wasn’t a lie won’t work with Emily. And she’s too important to me to even try it. “It didn’t seem like good first date conversation. Then it didn’t come up again. And honestly, I don’t like to think about this place when I’m not here.”When I’m with you, I forget everything else.
“I…I don’t like it.”
“I figured you wouldn’t. The MC owns the place. My president used to run it, then our VP, and when he moved, I inherited the manager’s job.” I gesture to the empty space where Inga’s car had been parked. “And now I get to deal with bullshit likethat.”
I’m not looking for sympathy, but I want her to understand it’s just a job.
Emily glances in the direction of the road where Inga’s car disappeared. “She seemed pretty pissed.”
“She was.”Don’t worry, she’s just a chick half my club fucked.Then sued us all for paternity. Guilt crawls up my throat. No way is that a story I want to tell Emily. Maybe one day. But not now.
Shit, I need to get inside and warn Malik and Blue that Inga’s in town.
“Can we talk about this later?” I ask. “I can be at your place around ten.”
Her jaw sets in a firm line, like she’s about to tell me to fuck off. Or maybe something more creative only Emily could come up with.
“Okay,” she finally says.
Her words don’t sound like a warm invitation, but I’ll take what I can get.
“We cantalk.” She emphasizes the wordtalkin a way that sounds like a warning that there will be nofucking.
Understandable.
I step closer and take her hands in mine. “I’d rather talk this out with younow.” I tilt my head toward the building. “But I don’t have anyone to cover my shift.”
“I can’t even be mad.” She smiles but shakes her head. “I respect that about you.”
“Thank you.” That means more to me than she knows. “Let me walk you to your car.”
“You really want to make sure I leave, don’t you?” she says in a teasing way, but something uncertain lingers under the question.
“I don’t want you to leave at all.” I tilt my head, challenging her. “I’ll take you inside right now and introduce you around.”
Her lips part but she shakes her head and doesn’t say anything.
“Not ready for that?” I ask.
“No.”
“Next time.” I take her hand without another word, walk her toward the back row. “You really hid your car, huh?”
“I wasn’t trying to spy on you. At first, I wanted to surprise you with lunch or something. Then, I looked up the place, realized what it was and…” Her voice trails off, almost into sadness.
“It’s just a job, Emily.”
The corners of her mouth twitch into a sad version of a smile. As if she’s already saying goodbye to me in her head.
I can’t havethisbe what endsus. And part of me recognizes with a woman like Emily, it’s a real possibility.
CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR
Dex
Steppinginside Crystal Ball after Emily leaves has me questioning everything.
Why the fuck am I inside this dank, loud hellhole instead of following Emily home and showing her that she means more to me than a job?
