“Rude much?” Steve leaned against a barstool. “Is this kind of obscene spending something you like?”
“If it’s on me, yes!” Lucy giggled.
I looked around, feeling lightheaded and searched for spot to put the flowers.
No place was big enough. They’d be in the way, so I left the twochildrensquabbling overwhatever, and went to my office.
There was hardly any room in my office for the monstrous bouquet, but I’d make it work and set vase down on my desk. After all, Alek had spent a lot of money on me.
Me.
Why me?
I turned to face the mirror on my wall and studied my reflection. Some people thought I was pretty. I’d say I was attractive in a drinks Starbucks daily, book in her nose at night, always wearing black kind of way.
Surely, I couldn’t have been Alek Kozlov’s type. I brushed my wavy brown hair over my shoulders for a better look.
What did Alek see in me?
He was obviously well off. A businessman of some sort. I never asked what he did for a living. I wasn’t the prying type. Perhaps I should have asked more questions instead of letting him do all the talking.
In typical Cassandra fashion, I’d kept things surface level on my end.
Honestly, I never took his attention seriously or wondered why he came into the café so often.
I had plenty of regulars. I just figured Alek was a new regular. Not once had I considered the charming Russian was interested in me.
I smiled at my reflection. “You’ve been oblivious, girlfriend.”
Wait!
Alek asked me to dinner, and I hadn’t said no.
What was wrong with me? I didn’t want to have dinner with him. How could I after that kiss with Chris?
I walked in a tight circle in my small office trying to process the mess I was in.
How could I get out of dinner and being alone with Alek? I couldn’t even call him because I didn’t have his number.
“Geez, F my life!”
Plopping onto my leather office chair, I pulled my knees up to my chest and curled into a ball. I needed a moment to get my bearings before I freaked out.
And what better way to get my head clear than listening to BST. I reached into my back pocket, pulled out my cell phone and found my favorite Black Smoke Trigger playlist.
Pushing play, “Perfect Torture” bounced off the walls, and I closed my eyes to get lost in the music.
At least I had half the day to figure out how to get out of dinner with Alek.
I touched my cheek where he’d boldly kissed me.
Why would he kiss me?
Why me?
8
Slay
