Page 62 of Nefarious
“I’m not sure if he likes me or not.” She looked at him. “Should I be talking about this with you? I mean, we just . . .”
“Believe it or not, I make an excellent girlfriend.” He laughed. “You can confide in me. Or fuck me. Just don’t fuck me over.”
She took his hand. “You’re nothing like what I expected. I really like you.”
Dane smiled. “I really like me, too.”
She punched him softly. “So raincheck?”
He pulled her wrist up to his lips. “How would you like to go out on the best date of your life? Say the word, and I’ll blow your mind.”
She bit her lip. “Not tonight.”
“Tomorrow. I’ll pick you up at seven? Say yes?”
He loved the look of utter glee that crossed her face. He loved the prospect of wooing her away from Anthony.
“What should I wear?”
“What size do you wear?”
“Six.”
He stood back and took in her height. “I’ll have something sent to you. Can someone accept a package tomorrow afternoon?” He’d just have them deliver several sizes. She’d never be able to date another man again. He smiled, surprised that he found a thrill in the knowledge that he’d make her feel so happy. And he wished he could be there to see her reaction.
“I can be there.”
The edge of the trail came into view. Before they exited the forest, he pulled her off the path and gave her one last kiss. “I’ll see you at seven.”
He walked out of the woods and merged into the groups of people until he could get back to his car.
Val watched Dane wend through the crowd and go straight to his car. Typical. He was more sociable than her in so many ways, but he sucked at showing it. She, on the other hand, worked a party like nobody else, even though she didn’t enjoy it. She always found it odd that they both behaved exactly counter to their own true natures and wondered what drove them to do so. It was like they were always in costume.
She’d spent her afternoon letting others cooperate with the decision-making and pretending to have learned something new from the activities even though she’d done these so many times now, she knew everything they wanted the team members to take away from the exercises. She hated the heat and the sweat and the strange hands touching her without her consent. She hated the stupid jokes that people made every single year. She hated the waste of a productive afternoon.
She walked through the crowd until she located Anthony. She’d been looking to take him aside since they arrived, but until now, the groups had all been too focused. In the disorganization of the returning teams, she hoped to have a quick word without anyone noticing. She touched his elbow and led him further from the edge of people. She whispered in his ear, “Where were you last night?”
He looked surprised. “Last night?”
“Yes. We had plans. I don’t like being made to wait. Next time, call if you can’t make it. It’s simple courtesy.”
He scratched the back of his head. “I’m sorry, Val. I must have misunderstood.”
She pursed her lips. “Very well, then. Should I expect you tonight?”
He didn’t look her in the eyes. “Not tonight. But maybe—”
“What plans could you possibly have made tonight?”
Right then, Selena broke free of a group and called over. “Anthony?”
Val took in Anthony’s guilty expression and Selena’s suspicious curiosity. She took a step away. “I’ll talk to you on Monday, Anthony. Have a nice evening.” She spun around and walked away, trying to figure out which of the million signs she must have missed. Had she completely misunderstood that much?
But as she reached her car, another piece clicked into place. If Selena was chasing Anthony, then she’d mistaken her interest in Dane. And that meant Dane had probably just spent a very frustrating afternoon in her company. She was tempted to drive over to his place and pick up the pieces.
“Val? You look lost.”
Val turned to find Noelle approaching. “I was just trying to remember if there was anything left at the office I needed to attend to. Where are you headed?”
