Embers of Torment (Power and Passion #2)

Chapter 9

Della

M y head shot upward when the elevator dinged, the sound breaking through my thoughts. I'd just come from a management meeting where I'd given a presentation on customer behavior, preferences, and trends and was reflecting on the ensuing chaos. Well…it wasn't quite chaos. It was more like mortification. Staff had been pleased with my data, and I was happily listening to one of our managers gush over my research when I spied an incorrect number in the graph on the projection screen. Aware it skewed my results, I had no choice but to point it out.

And now I felt like a dumbass.

The elevator doors slid open, and I eyeballed the car of staring faces. It was a blatant reminder of why Adam and I usually left for lunch a tad early. Unfortunately, Adam was running late, the same as me, and at ten minutes past twelve, we were leaving the building with everyone else. Squeezing between bodies, I maneuvered toward the back to find myself standing beside Adam.

"Hey, perfect timing. Do you want to go to the café or the taco shop that recently opened?" Adam said, moving a half step closer.

"Let's try out the taco shop. Chad went there during their grand opening and said it was better than expected. Plus, I'm craving a carnitas burrito."

"I hoped that was what you'd pick."

"Ow!" I glared at the woman in front of me. She'd backed up to let a passenger off on the second floor, and her spike heel nailed the top of my foot.

The woman shrugged and glanced over her shoulder before continuing as if nothing had happened.

"Well, that was a glowing apology," Adam said under his breath.

The woman's back stiffened, but she still said nothing. When we reached the ground floor, she rudely pushed her way off the elevator and disappeared.

"Holy moly, that freaking hurt." I leaned against the wall in the lobby and slipped off my shoe. There was a red mark on the top of my foot. I shook my head in disbelief. "I had a crappy morning and wondered when the day was going to get better. I think this is a sign that it isn't."

"None of that. You need to think on the positive side. Maybe that witch's heel will break off, and she'll tumble down some stairs."

"Whoa. That's a mile away from positive. It sounds more like a revenge-laden curse." I slipped my foot back into my shoe and straightened, thankful the woman hadn't broken my skin with her spike.

"Well, if we hear stories about that happening later, I guess it worked."

"Ooh, there is an evil side to you. I often wondered."

"Shoot. I forgot to hide it." Adam's lips curled into a devious grin.

Laughing, we headed to the exit. Adam's cell phone dinged when we rounded the corner of our building. He pulled it from his pocket and looked at the screen.

"It's Jace. He says he's in front of the café and wants to know where we are. I'll tell him we're coming over there right now and to meet by the taco shop." Adam typed out a message as we walked toward the plaza.

Inwardly, I smiled, thrilled that Jace was going to join us. I had wanted to ask Adam about him but was afraid doing so would make it obvious I was interested in his whereabouts. If Adam found out, he'd be tickled and try to push the two of us together. I couldn't let that happen. As much as I desired to get closer to Jace, allowing a romantic relationship to develop was folly. My disastrous dating history was evidence it wouldn't work, and attempting to prove my theory wrong wasn't worth losing my friendship with Adam.

As we neared the restaurant, I eagerly searched for Jace. My pulse ticked upward when I spotted him standing about ten feet from the taco shop's door, and dang, the man looked super hot. He wore khaki slacks with an olive green button-down shirt, and my eyes instantly zeroed in on his gorgeous smile and that wayward curl that always seemed to hang down his forehead.

Jace beamed at me while he held the door open. "It's about time you two got here. I'm hungry."

Adam scowled at him. "Hey, don't get snarky with us. When I talked to you earlier, you weren't sure if you'd be able to get away for lunch."

"True, and I probably shouldn't have, but how could I resist spending part of my afternoon with Della?" Jace winked at me.

I rolled my eyes in response.

Adam hooted with laughter. "Be careful. Della's acting cranky. She had a bad morning, and some lady stepped on her foot a few minutes ago."

"That sounds like a challenge. Let's see what I can do to make the day better." Jace stood mere inches behind me, his presence intoxicating.

Fighting the urge to lean into him, I stepped to the side. Humor seemed the best recourse to my growing physical reaction. "You're both hilarious. I was in a good mood until those comments . Now you'll have to suffer." I raised my hands in front of me like a pair of claws and laughed diabolically.

Several people who had gotten in line after us burst out laughing.

Chuckling, Jace slipped his arm across my shoulders and turned us toward the sound. "Sorry about that. She's truly not as demented as she appears. She doesn't get out nearly enough."

"Oh, you ass." I elbowed Jace in the ribs and swung back around as the laughter increased in volume.

Leaning against me, Jace whispered in my ear, "Sorry. I couldn't resist." He kissed the side of my head before pulling away.

I froze, startled by his blatant show of affection. I peeked at Adam, catching his eyebrow raised in surprise.

"Hey, why don't you guys get us a table, and I'll order our lunch? It'll be my treat," Jace said as if kissing me was common practice.

Recovering, Adam shook his head. "You don't need to pay for our meal."

"With all the overtime I've worked lately, it's no big deal. Seriously, I'll take care of it. Tell me what you want. We're almost at the counter." Jace straightened and pulled his shoulders back, signaling he wasn't changing his mind.

"Okay, but next time, I'll buy yours." Adam nodded toward me. "Della wanted a carnitas burrito. I'll have the beef rolled tacos with everything on it and a medium drink."

"You got it. I think I'll join you and get the rolled tacos." Jace stepped forward, now two away from the head of the line. "Della, did you want a beverage?"

"Uh-huh. A medium."

Adam scanned the restaurant. "There's an available table against the far wall if you want to eat in here instead of outside."

"Sounds like a winner to me. It's warm out." Jace nudged my side. "You've gotten quiet. Are you okay with eating in here?"

"Yep."

Adam grabbed my arm. "We better snag those seats before someone else does." He pulled me with him, maneuvering around the tables until we reached the back wall.

I slid one of the chairs back and sat, my eyes on Jace while he retrieved his wallet and paid for our lunch. Why did he kiss me like that? That was just plain weird. Confused, I studied him as he strode across the tile, holding a stack of cups and a numbered stand.

Jace set the stand down and handed a cup to Adam. He turned to me. "I'm going to get a drink from the dispenser. Do you want me to get yours?"

"Sure. Raspberry tea if they have it. Regular is fine if they don't."

Jace nodded and accompanied Adam to the beverage counter. While they were gone, I mulled over what I thought about Jace's odd show of affection, deciding I liked it but preferred he didn't do it again. I became increasingly hooked on the guy every time I saw him, which was problematic, considering I had no plans to date him.

Adam and Jace returned, immersed in a heavy discussion about software design and Jace's new gaming project. Minutes later, an employee brought us our lunch.

Hungry, I took a giant bite of my burrito and nearly choked. Gerald, a one-time date from six months ago, was heading toward us, and he didn't appear happy.

Gerald halted behind Adam and scowled. "Della. I didn't expect to see you again. Are you going to disappear on one of these guys too?"

"Excuse me?" I said, my eyes widening.

"Hey, man. What's your problem?" Jace scooted his chair back, taking offense at Gerald's comment.

Gerald held his hand out placatingly. "Dude. I've got no beef with you. I'm only letting you know that Della has a nasty habit of disappearing on her dates. She leaves them sitting there looking like a fool."

Jace slid his arm around my shoulder and sneered at Gerald. "Considering she's never done that to me, the issue must have been you." Jace dropped his arm and stood. "Got anything else you want to say?"

"No, man. I'm good. But you can't say I didn't warn you." He spun on his heels and stalked toward the door.

Adam stared across the table, his eyes round like mini golf balls. "Was that popcorn guy?"

"Yep. How'd you figure that out?" I grimaced when Gerald flung the door open, almost wiping out two ladies.

"He looks like a surfer, and that's how you described him."

"Who is popcorn guy?" Jace pulled his gaze from the door and focused his attention on Adam.

"He's one of Della's less than stellar failed dates." Adam rolled his eyes. "What were you even thinking? The moron isn't even remotely appealing."

"Hey, don't pick on me. I didn't fail. That asswipe did. Besides, he seemed like a decent person online." I turned to Jace. "I met him on a dating app about six months ago, and we went on a date to the movies. We had ordered a big tub of popcorn with extra butter, and the guy was shoveling handfuls in his mouth like a pig, with pieces falling all over his shirt, the chair, and the floor. And that wasn't the worst of it. He was chewing it so loud and disgustingly that everyone near us complained. I asked him to please be a little quieter, but he started smacking his lips and eating the popcorn even louder to piss everybody off. I got up and left the theater."

"Wow, talk about a date from hell." Jace grimaced and shook his head. Then he slipped his arm across my shoulders and smiled. "Well, Hortensia. The idiot had no clue how much of a treasure you are."

"Who's Hortensia?" Adam stared at Jace, clearly confused.

Jace grinned. "That's the name of a famous diamond mined in India that became part of the French Crown Jewels. Because of its color and uniqueness, it reminds me of Della."

"Uhh…okay. That's an odd comparison." Chuckling, Adam added, "I wouldn't have equated Della with something so rare and priceless."

I glared at him, daring him to say another word.

"I think the name is fitting. It speaks to Della's beauty and distinct personality." Jace winked at me, closed the lid of his styrofoam container, and stood. "I need to head back to my office. I'm pushing it to take more than a half-hour lunch right now since I've got a deadline looming." Jace turned to me, his expression solemn. "Della, you truly are an awesome person. That guy was nothing but an ass."

"I know." I shrugged the incident off, although my mind kept chanting. It's not me. It's not me . Maybe if I said the phrase enough, I'd wholeheartedly believe it.

Adam watched Jace walk out the door. Then he shifted in his chair, excitement lighting his face. "You two should date each other."

"Excuse me? Now you're talking crazy."

"I mean it. It's obvious that Jace likes you, and I can attest to him being trustworthy. He's considerate, cares about others, and stands up for the underdog. Plus, he strongly believes in equity between people and doesn't judge unfairly. Jace is everything you've been looking for in a partner and can't seem to find. You need to ask him out."

"I'm doing no such thing. Like I said, you're acting nuts. I'll admit. Jace seems like a super guy, but contrary to what you think, I'm only interested in him as a friend." Liar, liar, pants on fire , I repeated in my mind. Adam was right. Jace was everything I wanted in a boyfriend and then some. He wasn't only gorgeous but had an incredible personality to go with it. Jace was the complete package and the kind of guy you couldn't wait to introduce to your family. He was a million times better than my best date.

"You could go out together without sacrificing your friendship. After all, don't most long-term couples say their partner is their best friend? You guys would be a perfect match, too, and I don't understand why you don't see it. Think about it—you and Jace becoming a couple. Wouldn't that be a kick? Of course, I'd have to disown you if you broke his heart, and I would probably never speak to you again."

There it was! Those were Adam's true feelings, camouflaged by humor. Okay, maybe he wouldn't refuse to talk to me forever, but he'd be devastated. Plus, there was no way that a dating disaster between Jace and me would leave Adam and Jace's relationship unscathed.

And I refused to be the cause.

Adam and I finished our lunch while I listened to him boast about Jace's artistry and skill in digital special effects. Although my mood had slipped toward something more subdued, I couldn't help but smile now and then. Adam bragged about Jace like a sibling would about an older brother. It was endearing but also solidified how I felt.

Adam checked his watch. "Our hour's up. We better get back." He picked up our trash, set it on the empty tray, and ran off to dispose of it.

I was waiting for him by our table when my phone dinged. Checking my messages, I saw I had one from Sofie asking me to pick her up something to eat.

Adam rejoined me, eyeing the device in my hand. "What's up?"

"Sofie sent me a text asking if I could grab her a chicken pita from the café. She's stuck in a meeting, and Reid's out of the office. She says she's starving."

"Do you want me to go with you?"

"Nah, it's okay. You don't need to wait. I'll catch you later."

We left the restaurant. Adam returned to work, and I went next door to get Sofie's lunch. I grimaced when I saw the long line. The place was still busy even though it was a little past one o'clock. Finally getting the food I'd ordered, I snatched my take-out bag from the counter and hurried from the café. I bent my head, the bag tucked under my arm, while I texted Sofie that I had her pita and was on my way. I loudly grunted as I ran into something large and solid that felt like a brick wall.

The bag dropped to the concrete, and an automatic "I'm sorry" shot from my mouth. I reached down to pick up Sofie's chicken pita and stared at the person's feet. Huh? Those are odd-looking shoes. The newer, bright red laces seem weirdly out of place on those super duper beat-up brown work boots. Amused, I glanced upward to see who owned such a peculiar pair. But the man had spun around, giving me a glimpse of his tanned face shadowed with blackish-gray stubble before he quickly retreated.

Straightening, I scrutinized the tall, bulky body fleeing across the plaza.

Then I recognized the clothing.

Doing a double take, I drew in a startled breath. The man wore black pants and a black hoodie, and his outfit and build were the same as those of the shadowy figure I'd seen on the sidewalk the night I'd babysat. Making it even more odd, the man had pulled his hood up as if to hide his identity.

My panic rose, and my mind went rogue, asserting that the two figures had to be the same person. As the seconds passed, the doubts came.

Thinking I must be losing it, I forced myself to get a grip. C'mon, Della. Get it together. Black is a popular color, and people routinely wear hoodies. Seeing two humans dress in similar clothing doesn't make them the same person. And even if they were, so what? Sofie and Reid live in Beacon Hill and work in this area. Why couldn't he?

Snorting at my silliness, I turned to walk away, chalking the incident to another unexplainable of late.