Page 59 of The Deal Breaker
“Anything else?”
It was too soon for a good night kiss. What they’d discussed was enough for tonight.
“I’m good.” But he wanted to say something else. “I’m happy you’re staying here.”
“Me, too.” She placed her eReader on the nightstand and then reached out to touch the top of his hand. “I’m here for a couple more weeks. I’m not going to just disappear.”
He nodded.
“And after I move into my apartment, I’m just a text or a call away.” She squeezed his hand. “Living in different places doesn’t mean we’ll never see each other again. I want us to be friends.”
Dash relished her touch. Her skin was warm, but he didn’t need a light to see the calluses and scars on her hand. A hand that cooked and baked and cared for him. A hand he wanted to hold on to tightly and not let go. “Me, too.”
“Who knows?” A closed-mouth smile spread. “We might see each other more.”
“I hope so.”
“Me, too.” She let go of him, and he wished she hadn’t. “We should try and sleep, or tomorrow could be rough.”
“Yeah, I can’t afford to be a zombie.”
“A diet of caffeine and sugar can only do so much,” she joked.
“Especially while testing a prototype.” His company was planning to launch a new product in a new industry by Q3 at the latest. This was a pet project from the research lab he’d set up last year. No one but the small team knew about it, but the impact and results could be enormous. “Depending on how things go, I may sleep in my office tomorrow night to get an early start on Saturday morning’s tests.”
“Good luck. I have plans on Saturday.”
Jealousy flared, but he kept himself from asking what she was doing and with whom. As her friend, it was none of his business. Even if he wanted to know her plans.
“So, I’ll see you on Sunday,” she added.
Watching football with his friends. Funny, but he’d rather be spending time alone with her. “See you then.”
He only hoped the next three days passed quickly because he was already missing her.
* * *
Sunday, the pregame show was almost over. Dash stood in the great room where he had a good view of everything. Adam and Cambria refilled their glasses at the bar. Kieran, Mason, and Blaise stood by the buffet table near the kitchen. Brett, Laurel, and Henry cooed over little Noelle in the corner. Wes, Paige, Selah, and Rachael sat talking. Everyone appeared to be in place except for Iris.
Kickoff wasn’t until 12:05, but Dash thought she would have reappeared by now after helping Tony prepare the food and set up the buffet.
Where was she?
Dash checked the time on his phone again. Only a couple of minutes had passed since the last time he looked.
“When did you become a clock watcher?” Blaise asked, holding a beer bottle.
“I’m not.” Dash glanced around the room again. “Just checking to see if everyone who should be here is.”
“They are.”
Except for Iris. Wait. Someone else was missing. “Where’s Hadley?”
“Upstairs with Iris.”
Oh, so maybe she wasn’t avoiding the party. He snagged his soda from the end table and drank. Normally, he would have beer, but he didn’t need to get buzzed or drunk tonight with Iris around.
Blaise took a sip of beer before tilting his head at Tony. “The new guy working out?”
