Because I Can (Necklace Trilogy 2)

And I just don’t know if we are fixing each other or breaking each other.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Cognizant of the time I’ve been in the bathroom, I quickly mend my face and self-consciously exit the bathroom with hurried steps that lead me to the bakery dining room. And as if having sex in a bathroom, in a place friend’s own, isn’t transparent enough, there’s no discreet way to join Dash because Dash isn’t alone. Adrianna is behind the counter, but her dear hubby Jackson is standing by our table, chatting it up with Dash.

Drawing in a calming breath, I close the space between me and them, immediately drawing both men’s attention. Dash offers me a sympathetic look and says, “I was telling Jackson here how you tried to put makeup on my eye.”

I slide into the seat across from Dash. “I’m not sure he’ll believe you considering how bad it looks right now.” I glance at Jackson. “Hey, Jackson.”

“Hey there, Allie. And yes, indeed. I do believe you failed, missy.”

“Yes, well apparently he wears a different shade than me,” I say, rolling with the punches better than expected. “Who knew, right?”

Jackson chuckles. “Yes, who knew. But if you’re going to let him keep going to that boxing ring, you might better find his shade, too, and keep it on hand.” He squeezes Dash’s shoulder affectionately. “Talk about keeping the research real, man. Maybe a little too real. I’ll get you that coffee and cupcake.”

He heads out and leans in closer to Dash. “I swear he has to know.”

“Nah,” he says, blowing off the concern. “The eye thing worked like a charm. Can you stay here and work with me this afternoon?”

“I wish I could, but it’s nuts at the office, the auction is coming together though. In a big way, actually. I need to go back and help Katie, especially if I’m going to New York with you.”

His eyes warm with approval. “I want you to go to New York with me so I’ll walk you back to the office.”

“You stay here and write your book. I’ll be fine. It’s a short walk.”

“I’m walking you,” he says stubbornly, standing and calling out to Jackson. “Hold on that order. I’m walking her to the office. I’ll be right back.”

I don’t fight the offer. There are things we need to talk about, some at home when we’re alone, and some right now. Dash grabs my coat and helps me put it on, while he sticks with the blazer he’s wearing. That Boston blood of his is warm, I guess. We exit to a clean afternoon as a group of kids wearing costumes walk by. There’s a pinch in my chest and out of nowhere, I think about having kids with Dash. My God, I’m going too far.

I shove aside the thought and fall into step with Dash. “Your friend—”

“Neil,” he supplies.

“Neil,” I repeat. “He’s really concerned about Allison?”

“Concerned enough to want to dig deeper,” he says.

“Should we go to the police?”

“The red tape there is so thick it might as well be stone. Let Neil see what he finds. Give him a few days.”

“I know I’m a broken record, but I think something happened to her.” I halt and we face each other. “You do, too. That’s why Brad didn’t sit well with you.”

“Obsession that isn’t me with you or you with me, doesn’t sit well with me.”

There is that word again, my thoughts exactly. Is that what this is, I think. Is that all this is? Obsession?

“No,” he says. “No to whatever you’re thinking.”

“You don’t know what I’m thinking.”

“Yes, I do. And no.”

We study each other a moment, that battle back at the bakery still between us before we silently turn and start walking again. After a few beats, I shift to another important topic. “How’d it go with Hollywood?”

“There will be a crapload of legal mumbo jumbo, but it looks like we might not even end up with the studio I went to LA to meet. We have multiple bidders, the most appealing is a streaming service. They want me to get involved with the production, for authenticity.” He laughs. “Apparently my black eye reminded them of my hands-on experience.”

“Oh wow. Well, there’s a bright side to all of this, I guess. And what did you say?”

“I don’t like LA. At all. I don’t like the politics of Hollywood, either. But I promised to look at the offer.”

“That’s exciting,” I say. “I mean, Dash. A TV show. In today’s streaming world that’s almost bigger than a movie. Ghost will be happy.”

“You have no idea,” he says dryly. “As soon as the announcement is made, he’ll contact me.”

“That’s kind of crazy. An assassin will contact you. You don’t think he’d ever—”

“Hurt me?” he asks, glancing down at me. “No. I feed his ego and he likes it.”