“Thanks.”
When Dante motioned for her to take a seat, she did.
“I took the liberty of ordering for you,” he said. “I hope the special’s all right.”
It would have to be, even though she wasn’t sure what tonight’s special was.
“It’s fine, thanks.” She took a sip of iced tea, noticed it was unsweet. She added sugar since he hadn’t bothered to get the sweetened tea she preferred.
It was the little things, the important things that Dante never seemed to pick up on.
“How’re things with the new job?” he asked.
“First official day,” she noted. “Good as can be expected, I guess.”
“Well, you know I’ve always got a position open for you when you grow tired of it.”
When not if, she noted.
Confused by his assumption she would grow tired of it, JJ opted to ignore the statement, took a drink. “How about you? How’re things with work?”
“As usual, good. We’ve got more business than we can handle and I doubt it’ll slow anytime soon.”
No, it probably wouldn’t and Dante would make sure everyone who knew him knew that. That was one of his flaws, one of the reasons she’d been keeping her distance. Dante was arrogant. And that was a trait he’d always had. Back in high school, she had mistaken it for self-confidence, even admired him for it. Although he had lived in the small town, grown up in a relatively small house, in an older neighborhood, Dante’s family came from money. Or his father did, at least. His mother, on the other hand, had come from Coyote Ridge, and perhaps that was the reason Gerard had entertained the idea of living here and raising his children. That or he thought it would make him more pleasing to public opinion when he ran for political office.
“I hired a new assistant today,” Dante informed her.
“What happened to the last one?”
“Creative differences,” he stated, although he didn’t meet her gaze when he said it.
JJ knew Dante. She knew him better than anyone in this town, probably better than anyone in his life. Which meant she understood that he considered himself God’s gift to women. However, she thought he was making the effort to change his ways. At least, that was what he’d promised her when he started pursuing her again.
“How long was she there?”
“Month and a half.”
JJ nodded. “Did you sleep with her?”
His brown eyes locked on hers. “I thought we agreed you wouldn’t ask those questions.”
No, they hadn’t agreed to any such thing. Dante had insisted she not ask questions about his past relationships.
“I take that as a yes.” She attempted to sound amused by the situation. She wasn’t. “And this new one? Is she a redhead?”
He had the decency to blush, which told her, yes, the woman he had hired was likely a lovely redhead with green eyes and big tits. She would have long legs, prefer short skirts, and giggle whenever he spoke.
“We had a brief relationship,” he admitted. “But that was before you agreed we would be exclusive.”
JJ canted her head to the side. “I’ve never agreed to that, Dante.”
“But it happened nonetheless.” His smile was blinding, transforming his handsome face to almost beautiful. “And I’m holding you to it. Going forward, there’s no one else for either one of us.”
Since JJ hadn’t been doing much in the dating arena, she had no argument.
Dante leaned forward, put his hand over hers. “I do want to see more of you, JJ.”
So he’d told her. Many times.
“Starting with tonight.”
Her eyebrows rose. “Tonight?”
“No better time than the present. I’d like to spend the night with you.”
JJ wasn’t sure what he was getting at. While they hadn’t been exclusive, they had been having sex for quite some time. Mostly impromptu interactions, instigated by her. She could admit she had certain needs and she was comfortable with Dante when it came to the bedroom. Plus, they were compatible in that regard.
However, spending the night together hadn’t been their thing. Usually, JJ would invite him over, they would have sex, then he would be on his way. It had worked for both of them.
“I have to be at work early,” she informed him, trying to sound noncommittal.
“As do I. So we’ll make the most of the night.”
“Sure.”
Another blinding smile was sent her way. “God, I’ve missed you, JJ. I can’t tell you how happy I am you’ve decided to give me another chance.”
JJ tried a smile of her own, hoped it held.
Because honestly, she wasn’t sure she was as on board with his plan as he seemed to think she was.
***
“Brantley?”
A firm hand landed on his shoulder, dragging Brantley from a restless sleep. He didn’t bother opening his eyes. He couldn’t. The pain was blinding, raging in his skull, his stomach threatening to revolt.
“Did you take medicine?”
He didn’t answer, instead rolled over onto his side, facing away from Reese, pulling the pillow over his head, and letting his arm rest over it to apply pressure to his temple.
