Page 50 of Nothing to Fear

“I shouldn’t be relying on our conversations to fulfill my emotional needs. You have your own life and your own people, and…” It was embarrassing to learn he had someone in his life. Was she lying next to him when the phone rang? What would she think? “I won’t inconvenience you anymore.”

“Anna—”

“Goodbye, Jacob.”

She hung up and dropped the phone at her side. What was she doing? Where had it all gone wrong?

SIXTEEN

RUSH, RUSH, RUSH.

From work to play again. Her social calendar had never been so full.

What should she wear to drinks with the Breckenridges? She’d stayed at work as long as she could that Friday, putting off having to make a wardrobe decision.

Stepping out of the employee exit into the alley, she hooked her purse strap across her body. “LBD,” she said to herself because who could argue with that?

Forget the dress, on the street, still outside work, walk or ride was the more imminent question. Huh, not that she had time to meander.

“Hey, Cherry.”

His voice brought her around fast. “Darroch?”

He came sauntering over, smile on his face, like being there was the most normal thing in the world.

“Miss me?” he asked.

“What are you doing here?”

“I missed you.”

More likely that he’d been to the store on business. “No, you didn’t,” she said and stepped off the sidewalk to hail a cab. “I’m going home.”

“I’ve got a car.”

“Good for you.”

When the cab stopped, Darroch slid between her and it to open the back door. She got in and gave her address, now she had to decide—

Darroch boosted her across the seat to join her in the cab. What in the actual—

“I want to take you to dinner.”

“You told me that already,” she said, scrutinizing him.

“Tonight.”

“Tonight? Why tonight?”

Had Alice said something to bring Darroch to her?

“I haven’t seen you since the bowling.”

She smoothed her skirt. “Heard you went for drinks after, was quite a night.”

“That you missed.”

By choice and with good sense. For once.

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