Page 16 of Without Warning
“I’m not avoiding you.”I look over his shoulder so he doesn’t know I’m lying.
“Bullshit,” he barks, and I rear my head back, hitting the window.“I’d never hurt you, Daphne,” he says, gentling his voice.
“I know that.I trust you, but you’re so angry right now.Besides, I can’t see you.”I spit out the words, and he shakes his head like he didn’t hear me correctly.“It’s a conflict of interest.”
“Really?Where did you hear that?”
“Lyla.”
“How does she know we went on a date?”
I look down and pull my upper lip into my mouth.I’ve been getting texts all weekend from my family.
“We were blasted all over social media.”
“I didn’t know.I had Jethro stop telling me about those because it happens so much.”
“You said you haven’t dated in a couple of years.”Now I’m upset.Did he lie to me?
“I haven’t.The gossip rags are constantly trying to link me with someone.I didn’t think they would get pictures of us because Judson doesn’t allow those animals on the property.He pays for extra security to keep them away.”
“It was pictures of us going into and leaving the restaurant.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
“No, you can’t do that.I already worked one place where there were issues with staff.I don’t want to go through that again.A couple of women are already upset that I’m going to the gala and they aren’t.Now it looks like you personally asked me to go.”
“I did.I want you with me all the time.This weekend was hell on me.”He pushes into my body, and I feel his erection through our clothing.
“I’m not into one-night stands.I told you that.”
“And I told you this isn’t that.We are forever.I’ll take care of the conflict of interest, even if I have to quit the Board of Regents.”
My hands flex against his chest.“No.Don’t do that.They need you on the board.Please don’t.”
“I’ll figure it out.Let me worry about that.You worry about what you’re wearing Friday.”He leans in and nuzzles my neck, but I pull away as far as I can.
“Darrell, please don’t.Not until I know my job is safe and your integrity is too.”
“Got it.”He steps back, leaving me bereft without him against me, but I asked for this.“I’ll text you later.”
He turns and walks away, and I get into the Jeep and head into work.
This week I’m on the closing shift, which means I won’t get home until after nine at night.I’m glad I got the girls into a twenty-four-hour doggy daycare.
When I get to the aquarium, I can tell some of the staff have seen the pictures of Darrell and me from Friday.Lyla pulls me into her office.
“How long have you and Mr.Boseman been in a relationship?Was he faking not knowing you during the tour last week?”
“No, not at all.I just met him on Thursday.I swear,” I say, defending myself.
“You looked very comfortable together in the photos.The reason I’m not asking you to resign is because the board never voted on hiring you.That was all management.As for your relationship, I was going to tell you not to attend the gala, but Mr.Boseman called earlier and paid your ticket fee.He also said he would recuse himself from any votes regarding staffing.He threatened to pull all funding and his membership if you faced any repercussions.”
“I don’t want him to quit.I told him that when I saw him earlier.I will send him the money for my ticket so it doesn’t look like a conflict of interest.”
“No.It shouldn’t.There will be an emergency vote this afternoon regarding you and him being in a relationship.”
“I told him we couldn’t.”
