Page 19 of Possess

“Okay, I’m ready.”

Zeke signaled the waiter.

Allyson shut her menu. “I’ll have the prime rib, medium well. Baked potato, butter only, and the seasoned vegetables.”

“A salad to start?” the waiter asked.

“Caesar, please.”

“Very good, sir?”

“Same, except my prime rib, medium, please.”

“Of course, sir.” The waiter took the menus. “I’ll return shortly with your salads.”

“Thank you,” Zeke said, then he looked back at Allyson. “Was it my plans that caused you such turmoil this afternoon in the office?” He didn’t like that he might be the cause of her being upset.

“It wasn’t you. Lots of little things.” Her fingers rubbed over the tablecloth. “Let’s get off the subject of my job. Did everything go okay with Gavin?”

“He thinks it was an accident. That possibly a belt broke and sent the backhoe off balance and into the hole.” He kept his gaze on her. There were lines of fatigue around her eyes he didn’t like. “May I have your cell phone, please?”

“Why?”

“This way, next time you can call me and explain you’re going to be late or that you’re too tired for dinner.”

“I’m not…” He stared at her. “Okay, I am a bit tired.” She dug her cell out of her purse. “Wait a second. Next time? There isn’t going to be a next time.”

He wanted to protest, but he pushed it aside. “What makes you say that?”

“Zeke, we’re doing this as friends and just for tonight.”

“Maybe.” Not if he had his way.

Allyson closed her eyes and then opened them. There was regret shining in them. “If you want a fling, tell me, but I don’t do relationships.”

His eyebrows rose. “Oh?” He hadn’t expected that from her. He was moving too fast, it seemed. “All right, let’s keep it to friendship and friends having dinners together. And don’t tell me you don’t have friends.”

“I do.” She swiped her finger across her phone. “What is your number?”

He tilted his head and rattled off his number; the next thing he knew, his cell rang once and then stopped.

“Now you have my number.”

Zeke laughed as he quickly saved her information to his phone. This woman was independent in more ways than one. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome, but honestly, I agreed to this one dinner, nothing more. Zeke, we can’t be seen like this.”

“Like what? Two friends having dinner together?” What was she thinking? This woman was such a mystery at times.

She shook her head. “We both have professional relationships to maintain. Some might see this as inappropriate.”

He frowned. “Do you?”

“It doesn’t matter what I think.”

“It does to me. Do you feel we can’t separate business from personal?” He hoped that wasn’t what she was saying. He didn’t want to work with that Rudy guy, but if that was the only way he could see Allyson on a personal basis, then so be it.

“No.” He blew out a breath, and she continued. “I’m saying others can’t.”

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