Page 18 of Irresistible Valentine

Around lunchtime, Malcolm started wondering if maybe Derrick would invite him to lunch, or even better, they could get a room somewhere. Then Warren walked into the office like he owned the place, giving Malcolm a confident smile even as he pointed out that he didn't have an appointment.

"Maybe I'm here to see you," Warren replied.

Malcolm was skeptical. "I don't think so."

"Come to lunch with me, and I'll give you all the proof you need," Warren said as he leered.

"I'm kind of busy right now," Malcolm replied.

"We can make it dinner, or breakfast, or even coffee. What do you say, Malcolm? I have to make it up to you for not spending enough time with you at my party," he said.

Malcolm didn't tell him that he didn't want more of that kind of thing from him. But even as Warren was looking him up and down, Malcolm wondered if he was really interested in him or if he was just looking for information about Derrick's business dealings so he could sway him about investing in his project. Malcolm just didn't trust Warren, but he was thinking of asking him about the mysterious K. As tempted as he was, he realized it would be a mistake. If he wanted to know so damn bad, he needed to ask Derrick.

"You're thinking hard about this. Is that a good sign?" Warren asked.

"Sorry, I can't. I have my niece to take care of, so I don't have a lot of free time for going out," Malcolm told him.

Warren smiled. "Some other time then," he said like he had no doubt Malcolm would succumb to his charms sooner rather than later.

Warren poked his head in Derrick's office to invite him to lunch. When Derrick said no, and not in a friendly way, Warren left. Malcolm got back to work. A little later, he went into Derrick's office to get some instructions.

"Warren spent some time talking to you," Derrick observed. "He wasn't bothering you, was he?"

"He invited me to lunch," Malcolm said.

"It did seem like he was flirting with you," Derrick observed. "You could have sent him away, you know."

Malcolm looked at him and wondered if he was imagining that Derrick was accusing him of encouraging Warren. "I told him I was too busy to go to lunch with him," Malcolm said, his tone clipped, and he hoped that would clear things up.

"We're not that busy. You can go if you want," Derrick stated evenly.

Malcolm stared at him. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Was Derrick encouraging him to go on a date with someone else? It was like he wanted to send the message that what happened between them meant nothing and he wouldn't mind seeing Malcolm with another guy, he might even prefer it, that way there wouldn't be any complications or expectations on Malcolm's part.

If that's how it was, maybe he should let Warren take him out to lunch. "I'm going to text him," Malcolm said impulsively. "I'll let him know I'm free to go to lunch with him after all."

For a long moment, Malcolm waited. He was hoping that Derrick would take it back. Tell him not to go. But Derrick's dark eyes were hard and unwavering, and Malcolm knew he was stupid to hope.

His eyes were stinging like he might actually tear up in front of Derrick. Oh, hell, that wasn't happening, so he got out of there.

As Malcolm went back to his desk, he pulled out his phone. He wasn't actually going to text Warren, but he knew that Derrick could see him so he had to put on a show.

He texted Mrs. Saddler to check on Paula. She was fine and helping Mrs. Saddler clear up after lunch. She was such a good kid. That made Malcolm smile and he hoped Derrick was watching and that he would think he was smiling over a text from Warren.

Pretending to be in a rush, Malcolm left the office right away, that way Derrick would assume he couldn't wait to see Warren. In reality, Malcolm didn't even feel like getting lunch by himself. He just didn't want Derrick to know how much he had hurt him.

He spent his lunch break wandering around aimlessly, feeling hollow and dumb, window-shopping while brooding overDerrick. Though Derrick had pulled Warren away from him at the party, Malcolm couldn't get away from feeling like he was sending him a message that this thing between them meant nothing and that Malcolm was free to do it with anyone he wanted, and Derrick wouldn't mind at all.

Malcolm had to put him out of his mind. He would go and collect Paula after work, make her a nice dinner then they could watch something and maybe he would make them some popcorn. Yeah, Paula and some popcorn would soothe his broken heart.

For now he just had to get through the rest of his work day. By the time he returned to the office, he was hoping Derrick might be gone. He was. His office was empty. Instead of feeling relieved, Malcolm was heartbroken. Now he was wondering who Derrick had gone to meet. Maybe that K, whoever he was.

The rest of the day passed in a blur, with Malcolm waiting for Derrick to come back, to say he didn't mean it and he wanted Malcolm all to himself. Nothing like that happened. Derrick was just gone and he didn't even send so much as a work text.

Chapter 14

The next morning, Malcolm woke up feeling depressed. He passed up breakfast while serving Paula cereal in her favorite blue bowl with clouds on it. Paula was cheerful, talking about some game show she watched with Mrs. Saddler. He hated that he couldn't focus properly on what she was saying though he suspected it might not make sense to him even if he did.

He kissed the top of her head and told her, "Draw me something nice at Mrs. Saddler's."

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