Page 135 of A Dangerous Kind of Love

“And now you walk into my space,” I continue, “in front of people who understand exactly what I am, and you ask me for pity?”

I let out a short breath, almost a laugh, but there’s no humor in it.

“You should be thanking me,” I say. “Because I walked away from that situation instead of making it permanent.”

He goes still.

“And you will not test that decision again,” I add, final and absolute. “Not by approaching me like that. Not by bringing her name to me. Not by making your problem mine.”

Silence stretches.

“Do you understand me?”

He nods.

“Say it properly.”

“Yes, sir.”

I hold his gaze for a second longer, making sure it sticks.

“Get up.”

He moves immediately.

“Fix yourself.”

I pause.

“We’re going back out there,” I say. “And you’re going to act like nothing happened.”

I adjust my cuff, rolling my neck in the process, and exit the room.

Chapter 47

Katie

“Katie, you must tell us how you and Michael met,” Teresa says, smiling as she gestures to the rest of the table.

“I work at a bar downtown,” I say. “He showed up one night, then the next, and the next.” I tilt my head slightly. “He’s not subtle.”

A few of them laugh. A few glance at each other. I catch the looks.

“He finally introduced himself. My car wouldn’t start that night, so he and Luca gave me a ride home.”

“What a gentleman,” someone says.

I meet her eyes, smiling. “He has his moments.”

There are a few more laughs. Someone coughs uncomfortably.

“So you’re a bartender?” A woman across the table asks.

“It’s a second job,” I say. “And I recently quit.”

That earns several glances.

“How old are you, dear?” Teresa asks.