Sam bustled back into the room before he could respond to her teasing.
“Your first course,” Sam said, motioning the servers behind him to lay out the plates. “For appetizers, we have three options. First is a play on baked brie, second a melon brochette, third an endive and apple salad.”
“Looks tasty,” Darian said.
“Bon appetite.”
Allison smiled at her plate. “I must say this is the most fun I’ve had at a work dinner in ages.”
“Perhaps we should do it again sometime when it’s not for work.”
Her gaze flicked to his. “Do friends with benefits get dinner together?”
“We can do whatever we please,” he replied. Because more and more he just wanted to spend every minute with her. Never before had he had a partner who drove him to such distraction. He had no intention of losing her anytime soon.
“Which appetizer do you prefer?” he asked, staring down at the food on his plate.
“Well, I’m always a sucker for anything involving cheese. The salad is good, too, though. Brochette is basically just French for skewer, right?” She picked up the glorified toothpick and brandished it as a sword. “Might not be a great idea to give high society weapons.”
“A strong argument against the melon,” he agreed. “In terms of flavor, I don’t think it’s too bad, really.”
“Are you kidding? This food is amazing. If you are that hard to impress, I hate to contemplate what you must think of my performance at work.”
“Nonsense,” he replied, popping a piece of bread into his mouth. “There aren’t enough words in the English language to do you justice.”
Truer words had never been spoken. Allison was his rock. He’d be lost without her. It wasn’t a reality he ever wanted to endure.
…
The incredible flavors on her tongue drifted away as she blinked at Darian’s statement. Warmth spread through her that had nothing to do with the wine.
Don’t get more attached, she cautioned herself. Distance is your friend.
So he thought she was good at her job. It just meant she deserved a great reference.
“I wonder what the entrée options are,” she said, pushing away her plate.
She didn’t have to wait long before sample portions of beef bourguignon and coq au vin were set before them.
“Which do you think would appeal to more people?” Darian asked.
“Toss up. I’d eat either of these dishes for a week and be happy.”
“I’m not sure that’s quite the compliment you think it is, given you live off of grilled cheese and takeout.”
“You’re going to pick the beef, aren’t you?”
Patting his mouth with the napkin, Darian inclined his head. “You know me well.”
Yes, I do.
For the past four years it had been her job to know his preferences. To anticipate his needs and smooth out his life as best she could.
And in a few weeks it’d be someone else doing that for him. Someone else that words couldn’t describe.
She’d always thought about what she’d do next when she left, but now she tried to think about how life would carry on in the office. Because as well as they clicked, at the end of the day she was just an executive assistant. It wouldn’t take much effort to find a suitable replacement. A few days of interviewing and Darian would be on his way. Her loss was not one that would have much of an impact in the grand scheme of things.
“Thinking deep thoughts?”
Blinking, she turned her attention back to him. “Sorry.”
“You looked sad.”
She forced a smile. “Do you pry into all your lovers’ thoughts?”
He was silent for a moment before shaking his head. “Not ever.” Blue eyes met hers. “But you’re different.”
Not just another notch in the bedpost? How she longed to believe it. She’d seen women come and go throughout her years at King Enterprises. They never stayed around long. Some of the office even had polls on the length of new relationships, not that they’d ever admit it to the boss.
She’d like to think she was different from the countless others who had preceded her. But at the end of the day, was she really? She and Darian might have been colleagues first, but that didn’t guarantee she held any special status in bed.
“It’s nothing,” she said. “I was just thinking about a few work things. I missed a phone call I should have returned.”
“I’ve been asking you to basically do two jobs this month. Should I hire someone to help you with the work load?”
She smiled, taking a bite of food. “I’m sure I’ll manage. But thank you.”