Page 68 of With Us

She nodded. “I was rash and immature and completely unprofessional. But he was such an asshole. I couldn’t take it anymore. I said he had a small dick, which I think probably blows my chances of getting a good reference.”

My jaw clenched, my tone low as I asked, “His dick?”

“I’ve never seen it or anything.” She grimaced and did a full body shudder. “I’m just guessing. Why else would he be so obsessed with eggplant?”

Brow raised, I repeated. “You’ve lost me.”

She waved away the comment, shaking her head. “It doesn’t matter. All that matters is I’m done.” She started pacing in front of the door. “I’ll have to start looking for something else right away, especially with Java Brew closed for a week. Losing them as a reference will probably hurt, but I’ll figure it out. What’s important is, I did the right thing. It was definitely for the best. I think. Right?” Her coloring grew paler than normal, her eyes going wide. “What did I do? How could I be so stupid and impulsive?”

“Gattina, come here,” I ordered softly. When she was within reach, I took her hand and pulled her onto my lap. “You did the right thing. And I’m not just saying that because I’m selfish and want more time with you, but that part is true, too. You deserve a break.”

“I don’t think my landlord or utilities will accept that as an excuse of why I can’t pay my bills.” She shifted to stand. “I’m just going to go back to talk to Jerry. He likes me, I just made them a bunch in eggplant and fancy mushroom sales. I’ll try and explain everything.”

I held her in place. “You can’t go back to working eighteen hours a day, especially with that asshole. You’re exhausted. Take some time off. Relax.”

“But what about my bills—”

“I’ll help.” When she opened her mouth to argue, I continued. “Dahlia, this isn’t the ‘pastry prostitute’ thing. This is what happens in a relationship.”

Tucking her hair behind her ear, she chewed her bottom lip.

Not wanting to push her anymore, I said, “Just take some time, decide what you want to do. Don’t run back to Weggies because you’re panicking.”

“I’m not panicking.”

I raised a brow.

“Okay,” she admitted. “I’m panicking. But I’ll give it some time before I make any decisions.”

She moved again to get off my lap, but I kept my hold tight. “I like having you close.”

Instead, she shifted to the side and kicked her legs over the armrest, settling in. She craned her neck to look around me.

Spinning my chair so she could get a better look at the view out the window, I grabbed my cell and shot off a text to Doctor Coran. I picked up my office phone and pressed a button to connect to Rosa. “I’m working from home the rest of the week, and only on what’s mandatory. Can you reschedule the rest?”

I could almost see her smile as she pulled out her planners, notepads and supplies. “I’ll email you and Luca the updated schedules.”

“Thanks, Rosa. Let me know if you have any issues.”

“I won’t. Enjoy your week with Dahlia.”

“You’re taking the week off, too?” Dahlia asked as soon as I hung up.

“There are still a few things I’ve got to handle, but for the most part, yes.” I ran my hand up her side. “It’d be kind of an asshole thing for me to insist you spend the week with me, just for me to work the whole time.”

Any of the hesitation I’d seen earlier disappeared as she beamed at me. Fighting to mask her expression, she held up her phone. “But you don’t have to do that. I know you’re busy, and I have a billion books to read.”

I kissed her, hard and deep. If we had time, I’d plant her ass on my desk, spread her legs as wide as they’d go, and eat her until people in the basement could hear her scream. That would mean it would be longer before I was able to get her home, though. “I’ve got to call Steve back, then we’ll head home.”

Dahlia pressed a light kiss to my jaw and nodded.

Punching in Steve’s number, I listened to the phone ring.

Please go to voicemail. Please go to voicemail. Don’t pick up and I’ll send you the world’s biggest fruit basket.

“Mr. Amato,” he greeted as the call connected.

No such luck.

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