Page 46 of The Deception: Hercules Valentine and I

My face grows warm.

“She’s my employee,” Hercules says.

He said that as if our professional roles are the deciding factor in why we can never be boyfriend and girlfriend. And I'm not even sure how I feel about him reducing me to only being his employee. He could at least consider me a colleague.

“Ah… I see,” Benny says, nodding like he understands the whole reason Hercules and I are buying hot dogs. “You’re fraternizing.”

Hercules explodes with nervous laughter.

“Your brother, I see it. But you, no way. You wouldn’t be out buying the best hot dogs in the city for a beauty like her if you didn’t want to marry her. Huh?”

Hercules throws his hands up. “Marry? Come on.”

“Whatever,” Benny says with a shrug. “What do you want, honey?”

I'm still reeling from what he said. I imagine Lark married to Hercules. It would be easy. I bet her parents would accept him with open arms. I bet Hercules would be a stellar husband and father. Lark and Hercules would live happily ever after.

“Does she talk?” Benny asks as he piles relish, tomatoes, and cheese on top of a hot dog in a bun. Apparently, he does it so much he doesn't have to look at what he's doing.

“What kind question is that?” Hercules asks.

Benny points a hand at me. “She hasn’t said anything yet.”

“That’s because you shocked her.”

“How did I shock her, huh?”

“You said I wanted to marry her!”

Benny yanks his head back. “I did?”

“Yeah, you did.”

“I’ll have what he’s having,” I quickly say. I don’t want to hear anything else about Lark marrying Hercules. It’s making me jealous of the nonexistent woman who’s getting further with him than I ever have.

Benny hands me the hot dog he made for Hercules. “Smart choice.”

It smells and looks so good, especially after bacon bits have been sprinkled on top, that I take a bite. “Mm,” I moan, widening my eyes with enjoyment as the flavors spread through my mouth.

“Like I said, the best.” Benny winks at me as he finishes Hercules’s hot dog.

Someone calls Benny’s name from down the block and asks him not to roll away.

“You almost missed me!” Benny shouts and then starts making another hot dog. He’s a man who definitely knows his customers.

Hercules says goodbye to the jovial hot dog vendor with the extra-loud voice and personality as he guides me away with an arm around my back. I bet Hercules doesn’t realize how touchy-feely he is.

“She’s a keeper,” Benny calls.

Smiling, Hercules stops in his tracks, and so do I. “How do you know that? You said she didn’t talk.”

“She’s eating the hot dog right in front of me. Look at her go. She’s a keeper!”

I chuckle after I take another bite. It tastes so good.

“You’re not telling me something I don’t already know.” Hercules puts his hand on my back as we start walking again.

“That was interesting,” I say as we reenter the private park.