Page 56 of Dirty News
Duke and I kept walking side by side and right out the glass doors, taking a left to head to one of the many cafés on that side of the street. “I’m thinking Italian,” hesaid.
“Hmm. I was thinking deli.” I nodded at the one that was comingup.
“Let’s split it down the middle and go all-American with some cheeseburgers and onion rings,” heoffered.
“I’m with you on that. I want a thick chocolate shake too. And we’ve got to stop by someplace where I can get Nina a plant for her office. I want to give it to her as an office-warming gift.” I pointed across the street at a florist’s shop. “That one willdo.”
We found a café and got the burgers we’d wanted, before Duke started in, “So, how many ladies have you rounded up to go to Artimuswith?”
“Only Nina and I so far. I haven’t ventured into that territory yet. I’m trying to take it nice and slow. I want to give our boss some time too. Let things settle in for him.” I took a bite of the delicious greasy cheeseburger with extra pickles. “Yum.”
Duke shook his head as he gave a sexy little grin. “That’s exactly what you said last night—aboutme.”
“Mmm, well you’re yummy too,” I remindedhim.
He dipped an onion ring in the ketchup we shared. “How long are we talking here, before you do start to try to talk to some of the otherwomen?”
“I don’t know. There’s no rush.” The Coke fizzed, drawing my attention, so I picked it up and took a drink, all the while noticing the frown on Duke’s handsomeface.
“What do you mean there’s no rush?” he asked with a stern tone. “Don’t you want things out in theopen?”
“I do. Believe me, I do.” I placed the glass back on the table before picking up my burger. “But things like this aren’t done quickly. I know there are some women there that really like that rule. It makes them feel safe. And that’s a feeling many women haven’t felt in the workplace in many years. I’d hate to change that for them or make them feel like I’m forcing my opinion onthem.”
“Well, you’re going to have to start somewhere. You and Nina can’t be the only ones who think this way.” Duke put his burger down. “By the way, I talked to Ashton, and he is into Nina. He’s just worried about the same thing we are, gettingfired.”
I thought it over a second before asking him, “Can I tell herthat?”
Duke shrugged. “He didn’t say notto.”
She’d be over the moon when I gave her that bit of news. “Thanks. I won’t tell her where I got the information from, don’tworry.”
His brows rose a bit as he asked, “So, does that information make you think you might want to speed things up with your plan? You know, give your best friend a shot at happinesstoo?”
“Duke, it’s not that easy. This plan is new. It can’t be rushed, and I need more time to make sure I make itcount.”
“Yeah, so do I.” He put his half-eaten burger down. “More time with you. Out in the open, like a normal couple. What’s so hard to understand about that? And what about your friend? Shouldn’t Nina and Ashton get to be with each other if theywant?”
“Of course.” I glanced at the clock over the bar and saw how time had gotten away from us. “We’ll have to talk about this later. Or better yet, not at all. We’ve got to get going if I’m going to have time to pick up thatplant.”
“Fine, I’m done anyway. My appetite is gone now.” He got up and left without waiting forme.
I’d made him mad, but what choice did Ihave?
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Duke
After Lila’s nightly newscast, the last one of the night, we took a cab to her place. She needed clean clothes for the next day, and the plan was to pick up some things and then head back to my apartment to stay thenight.
I’d tried to keep my mouth shut about her plan, but I just couldn’t stop myself. “So, did you tell Nina about Ashton?” I plopped down on the edge of her bed as she looked through hercloset.
“Yeah.” She laughed. “She was all types of hyped about that. Thanks for letting me tell her, by the way. I think it made hermillennium.”
“I bet.” I leaned back to rest on my elbows. “And what did she think about going forward with this plan you two cooked up so that you’ll be allowed to be with the men you yearn for?” I chuckled to try to make light of it. I really was trying very hard to take things for what they were, but it was getting harder and harder to dothat.
“Oh, we didn’t talk about that at all.” She tossed a pink dress on the bed. “Do you like that one for the morning show? You could wear paleblue.”
“Sure.” I barely noticed the dress at all as I looked at her. I couldn’t believe she was dawdling so much—how could she not want to put an end to this hiding shit as quickly as possible? “You didn’t talk about that at all? That seems odd. Don’t you both want things to be honest and open? Or is that justme?”
