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“That’s why you came into Velvet while I was working. You knew who I was. You were watching me. Stalking me. Deciding if I wastheideal candidate.”

“Yes,” he says. Not a trace of shame.

“And was I?”

He frowns. “No, as it turns out.”

I laugh humorlessly. “You would’ve preferred someone who doesn’t talk back so much?” I guess.

“I would’ve preferred someone who doesn’t interest me so much.”

Oh…no.

This is so fucked up.

He stares at me like he doesn’t know what the fuck to do with me.

The feeling is mutual.

He made it clear we can’t be together. But he just came in here to personally offer me an even better job than the one I have at Velvet, and if I’m totally honest with myself, I’m getting this gooey, dangerous feeling that maybe he actually cares. Like maybe he’s not just here to cover his own ass.

Maybe he’s really looking out for me, too. Protecting me, like he said he would.

Maybe he even likes me a little.

And if he does… what do I do with that?

Maybe I’m just desperate to know what it feels like to have a man look out for me because it’s never happened before. But I definitely don’t hate it.

Just standing here talking to him about how Iinteresthim, yet we’re not going to have a relationship, is more exciting than the last six months I’ve spent dating Justin. Having sex with Justin. Waking up next to Justin…

I barely even know this man, but it strikes me as the electricity crackles between us that I don’t really know Justin, either. He never really let me know him.

That man is married to his work, and he has no room for a woman in his life.

He’s so much like me. Too much like me.

Why didn’t I see it until now?

I seriously have the worst man picker.

For example, the man standing in front of me. Nothing but a bad idea, right? And yet I can’t stop thinking it.

What if I really never see him again?

“So… when do I quit Velvet?”

“Right now.”

I can see he’s not kidding.

“Well, when do I start at the new place?”

“Whenever you want to. Day shifts, evenings, whatever you like.”

“I can’t work days. I work here at the bakery six days a week.”

“Not anymore.”