Page 69 of Words We Didn't Say

“Come here, Denny Dee.”

I reached for her, but she was already scrambling off her chair, crawling into my lap, and burying her face in my shirt. I wrapped my arms around her.

“I’m never going to be the reason you’re afraid like that,” I said, trying my hardest to keep my voice low and comforting. “I know I hurt you. I know one day I’m going to slip up, say something dumb, do something stupid ’cause no one’s perfect, but I’ll never hurt you. Not like that.”

“I know.” Her sniffle was muffled.

“Thank you for telling me.”

This woman, she was something else. I hated that Eden had lived through hell, but I was beyond proud of her for surviving. Strong in a way I never could be. Perfect in her imperfection. Familiar words threatened to tumble out of my mouth again.

I love you.

Now wasn’t the right time. That would put too much pressure on Eden when she was only just learning to trust me again. We were only minutes into our first re-date. Shit, and we were going off like a firecracker, too.

I glanced around the restaurant. More than one couple’s eyes quickly dipped back to their dinner plates when I looked up.

“How do you feel about sticking around?” I asked.

Eden’s head lifted off my chest, her smile sheepish. “Wanna grab burgers instead?”

“So,” I said, “forour second re-date—”

Eden’s eyebrows popped up. “Re-date?” She dipped a couple of fries in ketchup and wolfed them down.

“Yeah, that’s what I’m calling my second chance to woo you.” I took a sip of my shake. “It’s in the terms of our agreement.”

“Well, if it’s part of theagreement,please proceed, your grace.”

“Thank you. As I was saying, for our second official re-date, I have somewhere a little less, um, well, actually alotless fun in mind.”

“Intriguing…continue.”

“I wanted to ask you if you’d go to this boring charity art gallery work thing as my official date. Super official. Name stickers and everything.”

“Boring charity art gallery work thing?” Eden laughed.

I groaned. “You know I hate networking stuff.”

“Try harder to sell it to me before I say yes.”

“Exclusive, strictly black tie so you can get all frocked up, a quartet, French food that we’ll actually stick around to eat this time, and an open bar where they do custom martinis—or so I’m told.”

“Other than mingling with all those boring suits again, it sounds like it might be fun.”

“Fun isn’t the word I’d use. Pretentious? Unbearable?” I grunted. “But I’d love for you to be there experiencing hell with me.”

Eden’s gaze dropped to where her burger sat untouched on the tray. “Will she be there?”

“If you mean Michaela…” And of course she did. “You don’t have to worry. She won’t be there. My boss told her she’d be sitting this one out.”

“Convenient.”

“For Chris, yeah, it was. I think he’s trying to avoid any awkward conversations between his fiancée and his ex-girlfriend about the dubious timing around their respective relationships.”

Eden’s eyebrows rose with interest. “Sounds like quite the office scandal.”

I lifted a shoulder. “None of my business. The less I know about those two, the better.”

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