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If you don’t have anythingto do for breakfast tomorrow

Jim Perkins wants to have breakfast with you at the Blue Duck.

Thanks,

Adara

Odd. Why wouldn’t she just call me? He thought to himself. Maybe she was worried he would be sleeping. He fired back that he would happily meet Jim for breakfast. The next morning, he had a town car take him to the Blue Duck. On his way, he thought back to his first ‘sort-of’ date with Darci there. It made him smile. He was lost in thought as he stepped out of the car and walked toward the restaurant.

“You really should watch where you’re going, Sir.”

The voice jerked him out of his thoughts, and he looked down in the direction it came from.

“Darci? What are you doing here?”

She giggled. “Haven’t we had this conversation before?”

“I don’t understand. I got an e-mail from Adara asking me...” Oh you’re cute. Really cute, Darci.

• • •

The look on Bradley’s face was priceless when he realized he had been set up. It was worth the favor Darci was going to owe Adara for sending the e-mail. Bradley followed her and the hostess to the same table they sat at weeks ago and a server was there to take their order almost immediately. When he left, Bradley spoke. “You’re killing me, Darci. I’ve been dying to talk to you, hold you, just be in the same room with you, but I’ve been trying to give you some space. Now you’ve got me here so talk.”

“I’m sorry for tricking you. I just wanted to recreate some of our first encounters. You were supposed to meet with Jim that first day, not me. I’m still confused about some things, but one thing I’m not confused about is that I love you.”

“Oh, Darci. I love you so fucking much, baby. I’ve been dying without you. Where do we start? How do I make sure we’re OK?”

Bradley was, as always, ready to dive into the heavy stuff that she wasn’t ready for yet. She would be by the end of breakfast, she assured herself. But not quite yet.

“Can we just talk for now? Not about us? Just talk, catch up, enjoy breakfast.”

Bradley smiled tenderly at her. “Of course we can. Tell me everything about Michael and Adara. How did you get her to write me that e-mail?”

Darci giggled, grateful that Bradley knew exactly what she needed. “That was pretty clever of me, you have to admit.”

“You’re very clever indeed, baby.”

For a few minutes they carried on comparing notes about their two friends and whether they thought the relationship between Michael and Adara would work out. Soon however, the conversation turned to Tessa and Kaden.

“It’s hard to believe they went to all that trouble just to torment me. All because I had the balls to name him as my rapist. It’s scary how easy it was for them though. They both worked for the same temp agency. After Tessa got into my calendar, when I sent her those lunch invites, all she had to do was make sure she or Kaden was assigned to work at whatever event I was going to.” Bradley picked up her hand while she rambled.

“Don’t blame yourself for this, baby.”

A tear escaped her eyes and rolled down her cheek.

“I know deep down it’s not my fault, but three people are dead and parts of me can’t help but think I’m to blame.”

“Baby, no.” He squeezed her hand tighter and handed her a napkin.

“It’s going to take time for me to get that idea out of my head.”

“I’m here to help, baby. You know that.”

Darci did know that. Time to have the serious talk. She dabbed her eyes and set the napkin aside.

“I’m broken, Bradley. But...” she paused and took a deep breath, “I think you can help me put myself back together. Kaden said some really awful things while he held me captive and along with all the guilt over Marlie, and Elise, I can’t get them out of my head.”

“You don’t need to take anything that fucker said seriously.”

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