Page 15 of The Billionaire & the Virgin Chef
“Assistant Chef, yes. Just starting out, but graduatingsoon.”
Dylan opens his mouth to reply, but Dahlia pops her head in the kitchen. Why is she more upset now than earlier? I thought for sure Jackson would win her over by this point. She tells me she’s leaving and wants me to lock up. It’s no trouble at all, being left to my own devices in as lovely a place as this. Especially with the presentcompany.
But then Dahlia’s date comes in. He’s not any happiereither.
“Hey, time to go, Dylan,” Jackson mutters and adds, “Nice meeting you,Emily.”
“Same here,” Ianswer.
Dylan pops another appetizer into his mouth and gives Jackson a nod. “Sure. I’ll be a minute. Meet me out at the elevator.” He finishes the bite of food and turns to me. “That’s mycue.”
“Sounds good. Nice meeting you, Dylan. Thanks for thetips.”
“Anytime. So, I was thinking, as both our friends are getting to know each other, it might be a good idea for us to do the same. Starting with drinks sometime? Ordinner?”
“Sound good,” I say, but then I start to connect the other dots. “Although well, you’re related to my potential client. That may not be the bestidea.”
“Trust me, your working with Diane will likely never intersect with mylife.”
“It kinda did last night at thegala.”
“That was different. I was there for a good cause. Besides, most of her social life relates to her work as alawyer.”
“I’m not sure… Can I think about it and let you know?” Pulling out my phone from my apron, I unlock the screen then hand it to him. “Put your number in here.” His face shows a bit of disappointment so I add, “I’ll call or text no matterwhat.”
“Sure.” He takes a little longer entering something into my phone and find out why when his smartphone buzzes on the countertop. A look at my own screen shows me the text he’s sent to himself from myphone.
On top of adding his number to my contact list as Dylan ‘Your Friendly Neighborhood Taste Tester’ Worthington, his text message presumably from me to himreads,
Dylan: Hi gorgeous. It’s me, Emily. I can’t wait to meet you fordrinks.
“Smart move, getting my number while you’re at it,” I tell him, unable to keep a straightface.”
“Smart is pretty much my m.o.,” Jackson shouts his name from the front door, reminding him they have a meeting to attend. “Gotta go, but I’ll be intouch.”
“Later.”
I’m glad he didn’t ask me out again while he was standing soclose.
It probably would’ve been a ‘yes.’
