In the Dark Read Online Free Page A

me.
    “Your eyes are magnificent,” I tell her.
    “So are yours. They’re like…the deepest part of the ocean.”
    “I must say, I’ve never heard that comparison before.”
    I put some distance between us to avoid ravishing her in the back room of The Blue Marlin. A knock on the door interrupts us, and a waiter enters with our appetizer.
    “Oysters?” She raises brow when he sets it on the table.
    “Oysters Rockefeller. They’re my favorite. I always have it when I come here.”
    “I’ve never had them.”
    I watch in amusement as she gingerly picks one up and tries it. Damn, she even eats sexy.
    “It’s delicious!” she raves with wide eyes.
    “I’m glad you like it. We will be coming here regularly.”
    Her smile fades, and she folds her napkin, placing it on the table.

**Kelly**
     
    “What’s wrong?” he asks.
    “I haven’t made a decision yet.”
    “But I thought…how much time do you need?”
    “What do you need, Rick?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “What are you looking for?”
    He sighs and leans back on the leather seat. “We’re both adults here. Do I need to spell it out for you?”
    “If it’s just a quick roll in the sheets…” my heart won’t stand it . “I’m not that kind of girl.”
    “I see.”
    “I don’t think you do. If I get involved with you, I’ll either be seen as a gold digger or a slut trying to sleep my way up the corporate ladder.”
    “And you care that much what people think?”
    “When it potentially affects my career? Yes.”
    He smiles, attempting to lighten the mood. “I think we’re both getting a little ahead of ourselves here. For now, we’re just having dinner. You don’t have a problem with that do you?”
    “I think we just did a lot more than that.”
    “Don’t make this difficult. It really isn’t,” he says, sighing in annoyance.
    “Very well, Mr. McAllister. I’ll make this very easy for you.” I stand, pick up my coat and clutch, and head for the door.
    “Kelly, wait.”
    As tears well in my eyes, I step through the door and leave the way I came in. Walking away from him is the hardest thing I’ve ever done in all my twenty-four years on this earth. What did I think was going to happen? He would fall madly in love with me and we would elope and live happily ever after? Maybe not, but I didn’t expect to be a glorified booty call either. I drive home, mentally kicking myself for hoping this would play out like one of my fantasies. Why did I let him kiss me? How the hell am I supposed to live with that memory?
    Stupid, Kelly. Stupid, stupid, stupid!
     

**Rick**
     
    I watch as she walks out the door. I want to go after her but what would I say? How had I lost control of the situation? This night started out so well, how did it go down the drain so quickly? I leave the private room and sit at the bar, reminding myself this is the reason I don’t date employees.
    “A shot of your best whiskey,” I tell the bartender. “Make it a double.”
    After a few drinks, I’ll go home and forget this night ever happened. I need a diversion. After scrolling through my entire contact list, I come up with no one. There’s only one diversion I need, and she just walked out the door.

**Kelly**
     
    “Kelly, honey.”
    “Yes, Walter?”
    “Be a darlin’ and run this up to McAllister for me, will you?”
    No! Anyone but him. Just my luck. A year I’ve been here and he’s never sent me to Rick’s office. Shit. I stand, trying to hide my reluctance as I take the file from his fingers. I’ll just give it to Martha.
    “I want you to put this in his hands directly, not Martha’s.”
    Fuck! “Yes, sir.”
    I have a major lip chewing session on my way upstairs. I haven’t seen him since that night, two weeks ago. He hasn’t tried to contact me and I definitely stayed out of his way. Taking a deep breath, I step out of the elevator on the top floor.
    “Hi, Martha.”
    “Kelly!” She gives me a bright smile. “Walter said you’d