Page 18 of The Rose and the Hound (Ashes and Roses #2)

My Kalb had seemed slightly off last night.

I hoped he wasn’t rethinking our game. I read my questions and mantras to myself after he left to make sure I hadn’t misinterpreted anything.

This was so confusing. When I saw him off at the door, he stepped into my intimate space, which was a space I hadn’t shared with anyone for years.

He didn’t touch me but stood so close I could feel the heat from his body. He smelled amazing.

Despite his strange mood last night, I set about my work happily. I usually just endured my shifts, working hard to make the time pass quickly, but today I felt like I was bursting.

“Hey Rose, we’re going out to celebrate Lyn’s birthday after work. Wanna come? The bar is walking distance,” Sarah said. She had a cheery tone and had always been nice to me.

I am capable of happy relationships.

I am capable of happy relationships.

I am capable of happy relationships.

Push yourself, I thought.

“That would be lovely, Sarah. Thank you.” I’d go and have one drink, ease myself into it. I socialized with my Hound last night and the world didn’t fall apart. It would be nice to have a friend.

Jason Barr walked into the lunchroom just as I answered Sarah. “Awesome, we have the whole crew now. Even Jessie is coming.” Jessie was a very cranky middle-aged woman. I really liked her because she was usually as quiet as I was, only speaking to complain or tell someone off.

“Wow, how’d you manage that?” Sarah looked impressed.

“I’m a sweet talker,” Jason said, giving Sarah a wink.

She moved into his personal space, prompting him to step back suddenly.

Jason Barr was a party boy, the social center of our workplace.

It was odd that he stepped back from Sarah.

He wasn’t a weirdo like me. Sarah looked surprised and wandered off to work.

Jason left a few seconds later, looking sad and annoyed with himself.

This was another reason I didn’t get involved in workplace dramas.

Something was going on there. None of my business.