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On returning home from work, I’d retreated almost immediately to my reading den, needing to immerse myself in another world so I could stop thinking about the Mimi fiasco. I wasn’t much calmer than I’d been when she first left my office. Mostly because I knew I’d have to share what happened with Dax.
A guy should be able to come home at the end of his workday and relax, unwind, and chill. Especially a man like him, whose days were hectic. He shouldn’t have to come home to yet more issues, and I wanted to bethe lastperson to dump them on his lap.
But keeping what happened from him wasn’t an option. Not after the promises we’d made to each other. So I was going to have to tell him something that would piss him off, wreck his mood for the evening, and quite possibly hurt him.Iwould sure be hurt if one of Lake’s relatives acted in such a way, and I’d hate that Dax was forced to deal with that crap.
In no rush to spill the earlier confrontation to him, I tried to once again bury myself in my book. But, too on edge about the upcoming conversation, I failed miserably.
I was just considering whether to go track him down when I heard footfalls heading toward the den. Moments later, he strolled inside with a casual, easy grace. Despite the rock of aggravation in my stomach, I felt my mouth hitch up slightly at the sight of him.
He hummed. “Thought I might find you here.”
I let out a mock long-suffering sigh. “I don’t have much of a choice in the matter. I mean, you gave me several books. They aren’t going to read themselves.”
Sparks of amusement danced in his eyes. “Right.” He planted his feet. “On another note, my mother is finalizing her plans for Thanksgiving. She wants to know if we’re definitely going to be eating dinner at her table.”
“I told you we would,” I reminded him.
“Yes, you did. But I know that your parents have been trying to change your mind.”
Oh, they’d given it all they had. I had no clue why. It wasn’t fresh news that I was more stubborn than both of them put together. “I refused to reconsider but promised we would have dinner with them next yearif—and only if—my dad and Ollie’s behavior toward you improves.”
One side of Dax’s mouth kicked up. “Cunning.”
“Thank you, honey pie.”
Andhis smile faded. “You really have to stop with that.”
“Nu-uh, I’m on a mission to find the perfect pet name for you. I don’t give up easily.”
“Make an exception,” he said, enunciating every word.
“Oh, but—”
“No, I don’t need or want a pet name.”
“Sometimes, wethinkwe don’t want something. But then when we get it, we can’t imagine life without it.”
“I can safely assure you that at no point would I want anythingbutto live without it.”
I gave him a haughty look. “I beg to differ, but we’ll see.” I closed my book and took a preparatory breath. “So. Something happened today.”
His eyelids lowered slightly. “I’m not going to like this, am I?”
“It’s doubtful that you will,” I admitted, setting the hardcover on the nearby table.
“Go on.”
I shifted position, untucking my feet from beneath my butt to straighten my legs. “I had a visitor at work.”
His eyes went slitted. “Grayden?”
I gave my head a slow shake. “Mimi.”
Something dark crawled behind his mismatched eyes as tension crept into his muscles, turning his posture from lazy and casual to stiff and wooden. “She went to your office?” he asked, his voice dead.
I swallowed. “Yes.”
“When?” The quiet question was as abrupt as the lashing of a whip.
