Page 46 of Fang
“How long?”
For a second, she hesitates. “Since we were kids, but it’s no big deal. I have a feeling he won’t be back.”
“You’ll let me know if he bothers you again.”
She pulls her head away from my chest and tips her chin up to look at me. I don’t miss the way she rolls her eyes.
“Thank you.”
“For?”
“Playing along. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you like saving me.”
Maybe I do.
“Either way, I owe you one.”
An idea hits me. I know it’s risky, but it’s worth a shot.
What’s the worst she could do? Say no?
“I know how you could make it up to me,” I say without thinking.
When she goes tense in my arms, I could kick my own ass.
“Not like that,” I tell her quickly.
“Okay…then how?” she asks with distrust in her voice.
Shit. I fucked up. Maybe this was a shit idea after all. Maybe Happy was wrong and we are better off as just boss-slash-employee.
“No, forget about it,” I say, shaking my head.
She places her hand on my chin and makes me look at her. “No, tell me. I’m sorry for overreacting.”
“You can make it up to me by letting me take you out.”
Her eyes widen.
“Like on a date?” she asks quietly.
“Yeah, a date.” She goes to say something, but I bring my finger up and cover her lips. “Before you make a decision, though, I just want you to know what we do or don’t do in private has nothing, and I mean nothing, to do with Boudoir. Our business and personal relationships are two different things. They won’t affect one or the other.”
She bites her bottom lip as she studies my face. I give her time to make up her mind. I won’t rush her. Not with this.
“Okay,” she says softly.
“You’re saying yes, right?” I ask for clarification.
A little smile plays on her lips. “Yeah, I’ll go out on a date with you.”
“Well, then, I’ll look at the schedule to see when we can both get out of there and set something up.”
“That sounds good.”
My eyes drop to her mouth. The urge to kiss her is right there.
My phone vibrates, cutting through the moment, stealing the decision from me.
