Page 46 of The Deal Breaker
“When did you do this?” he asked.
“Before you came back from your trip to the East Coast. A couple more after the first of the year when you were at work,” she explained. “Having people in place and trained will make the transition easier on you.”
Something in his chest shifted. The extra effort was for him. “You always take such good care of me.”
Iris shrugged. “Someone has to do it.”
His parents weren’t interested in doing that. He’d gone from being the prize they fought over to being the golden goose who would provide them with whatever they wanted. He only mattered to them when they wanted something. A psychologist could have a field day with his past, but he used his gaming for therapy. He also relied on his friends.
Too bad he hadn’t returned the favor for Iris.
But that was what he would do now.
“What’s on your list to do this morning?” Dash assumed she had a plan even if she didn’t write things down. He wanted to make the most of Tony being at the grocery store.
“Pack the stuff I won’t need until I’m in the apartment.” Her eyes twinkled. “Want to help me?”
No, because Dash didn’t want her to leave, even if she needed to do it for herself. But he couldn’t tell her that so he would suck it up.
“Sure.” Not that he’d packed when he moved to this house. Iris had overseen the move from the apartment. But he’d done it in college and after he dropped out. Packing was probably like muscle memory. It would all come back to him. Besides, the doing didn’t matter. Being with Iris was what mattered. “I’m ready when you are.”
* * *
On Wednesday night, Dash sat at his desk, trying not to check the clock. Again.
Outside his window, lights illuminated the parking lot. The building was quiet. A handful of employees were still working, but only the security and janitorial staff were required to be there.
Staying late rarely bothered him. Dash enjoyed working the swing shift. He could accomplish more when people weren’t interrupting him and the phone wasn’t ringing. But tonight, the only place he wanted to be was home.
With Iris.
To build on their friendship.
That was what he kept telling himself. Except…
Did a friend notice warm eyes and bright smiles and want to touch her all the time? Or how knowing Tony had cooked dinner tonight and she was eating alone, unless the chef had stayed to eat with her, knotted Dash’s gut?
Yeah, his blue eyes turned green around the guy.
Childish, yes, especially when Iris didn’t sneak peeks at Tony or seem enamored with the chef. But if anyone was spending time with Iris, Dash wanted that person to be him.
He hated that it wasn’t tonight.
Spoiled much?
Of course he was.
Being able to afford just about whatever he wanted when he wanted made not getting something harder. Even if it wasn’t anything he could buy.
Dash forced his attention on the code. His team had run into a problem, so he’d offered to take a look. That had been three hours ago. Not an easy fix as he’d hoped.
His cell phone buzzed, slicing through the silence in the office.
Ignore it.
What if it’s Iris?
Dash glanced at the screen.
