Page 77 of Wicked Takeover
Chapter Ten
In the days that followed, Lauren didn’t avoid Dante as she had in the past, hoping to protect her heart. They ran into each other frequently, mainly because she orchestrated that. Their kisses, hugs, and physical passion were the same, but his delight about her interview, his constantly mentioning it and cheering her on, was beginning to get on her nerves.
It was like he couldn’t wait to get rid of her.
She wanted to call him on it but didn’t have the nerve, and she certainly didn’t want to confirm that he was already moving on, far more easily than she would.
By Thursday, she was so strung out, she couldn’t relax. The hour for her interview edged closer. Once she finished there, she had an appointment with the potential buyer for this place. They’d agreed to meet at Starbucks. She should have been doing cartwheels down the hall rather than wanting to hurl.
She still hadn’t told Dante or the team about the buyer, only about her interview. Jasmina gave her a hug and encouraging words. Even Van Gogh had offered a forlorn “good luck” before he ducked into his workstation.
Dante passed her office repeatedly and kept glancing in.
Her smile was stiff. His buoyant.
At last, he strode inside. “Shouldn’t you be getting ready for your interview?”
“I already am.” She’d worn her suit to the parlor. Whenever she was up front, customers stared at her outfit and avoided eye contact, as they would with someone who was eager to convert them to a fire-and-brimstone lifestyle. Lauren couldn’t blame them. After so much time at Wicked Brand, she felt weird wearing corporate attire. Phony somehow.
Dante leaned down to her. “When’s your appointment?”
“Thirty minutes.”
“And you’re still here?” He pulled her to her feet. “Go.”
His directive hurt to her core. “It won’t take me that long to get there. It’s not that far away.”
“You can use the time alone in your car to calm down.”
“Do I look unglued?”
He regarded her for a long moment. His gaze softened. “You’re beautiful.”
Too much love and grief washed over her, leaving her close to tears. Just what she didn’t need: to fuck up what little makeup she had on.
“Hey.” He looked confused and worried. “That’s a compliment.”
“I better go.” She threw her arms around him and hugged him harder than she should. “Thanks for everything.”
He held her gently, either afraid she might break or he was again putting distance between them. “You’re going to do great. They’d be fools not to hire you.”
She snuggled closer, caring only what he thought. Everyone else could go to hell.
He held her a brief moment more, then eased away. “Go. This is your future.”
The parlor wasn’t. He’d never be. That’s what he was saying. Lauren knew he was right but didn’t want to hear it. Trying to hold herself together, she grabbed her purse and left her office.
…
Dante stood at the front window.
Lauren sat in her car, staring at nothing or maybe everything: her dream for a new job, having enough money to pay her bills, getting her life back on track, escaping this place. She looked so fucking unhappy he figured she was picturing her goals going up in smoke because her interview wouldn’t work out.
It couldn’t be that she’d miss their days together here.
They’d had wicked fun, no denying that. Too easily, Lauren had become a huge part of his life that he’d never regret. She got him. He got her, except when he hadn’t a clue what she was thinking. Like now.
Maybe he should have asked more questions…or not.
