Page 11 of The Deal Breaker
The guy looked like he needed a hug, but that was Raina’s job now. “Good night, Dash.”
The two men left, closing the door behind them.
That had been weird. Dash wasn’t acting normal, and Henry was up to something. The question was what? And how did she fit into it?
CHAPTER THREE
Saturday night, Dash paced in front of his bedroom’s windows, forcing himself not to peek at the backyard. Even if he did, he couldn’t see if Iris was home yet. He knew that—had known that before tonight—but he’d peered out from the various rooms on this side of the second floor as if to convince himself that was true. He’d also gone to the cottage—twice—but no lights had been on inside.
Stupid.
What was wrong with him? He was turning into a stalker. What Iris did in her free time was her own business.
Just friends.
Dash kept telling himself that. Except…
He couldn’t stop thinking about Iris and Henry being together.
Why hadn’t Dash spoken to her about it on January first? The same reason he ended up spending Christmas with Raina and her family—not making waves was easiest.
Dash didn’t do drama. Arguing, confrontation, fighting—forget about it. Yet, with Iris…
Years ago, they’d made a deal to be friends forever.
After an almost kiss.
His idea.
One that had burst from his lips out of fear of losing the one person he needed in his chaotic life at the time.
Rubbing his thumb over his fingertips, he made another lap. His agitation kept building, spiraling until he wanted to yell. He could. No one would hear him in this huge house. But he had a feeling nothing would ease his tension except seeing that Iris was okay. More than that, smiling and happy.
As if he could make her appear faster, he quickened his steps in front of the windows.
The frustration gnawing at him was new. He kept his cool unless a project was way behind schedule or people were being jerks or his friends acting just plain dumb—like Blaise and Wes with the women they loved.
Idiots.
Six years ago, Iris had caused Dash to feel this troubled. Not her exactly, her lousy excuse for a father. The guy had met a younger woman online, sold the family restaurant and with it the apartment above it they’d called home, and moved out of state to be closer to his girlfriend, leaving his daughter unemployed and homeless three months after the death of her mother.
Dash had stepped up then. It was time for him to do it again and make sure she didn’t end up broken-hearted over Henry. That was what friends did for each other.
Henry might be self-absorbed, but he was a good friend, too. He made a difference with his philanthropic endeavors. Still, he wasn’t good enough for Iris.
Which was why Dash needed to say something to her before it was too late.
Unless it already was.
Dash tugged at the collar of his long-sleeved T-shirt. That didn’t help.
Normally, silence didn’t bother him, but maybe the quiet was getting to him. He’d turned on music earlier. He’d also worked, watched TV, and played a new game. Nothing took his mind off Iris.
A glance at the clock told him only two minutes had passed since the last time he checked the time. A quarter after ten wasn’t late for a Saturday night, but he wanted to know where she was.
For months, his friends had been beta testing a GPS tracking device for Dash. He hadn’t given one to Iris. She’d never been threatened or needed security. Henry, however, had one.
Temptation flared, burning a hole in Dash’s gut.
