After the Lights Go Down by Donna Hill

Author:Donna Hill
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mills & Boon Desire
Published: 2022-12-15T19:22:04+00:00

* * *

Paul stood in dutiful silence next to Layne on the way down on the elevator. He was moderately thankful that they were the only riders. The two-block walk to the restaurant was a different story. It might be July but the temperature between the two of them was below freezing. She barely acknowledged his existence as they wound their way around the after-fivers looking for a place to unwind at the end of the workday and the entrée to a long weekend.

They stopped in front of Julian’s. Paul opened the door. Layne rolled her eyes again and walked inside.

They walked in silence to the hostess’s podium.

“Seating or bar?” the hostess asked with a practiced smile.

“Seating for dinner,” Layne said.

“There is about a half-hour wait. I can take your name if you want to sit at the bar. You’ll be called when your table is ready.”

“That sounds fine,” Layne said. “Davis.”

The hostess made a note. “You’ll be called.”

“Thank you.” Layne walked off to the bar, leaving Paul in her wake.

She found the last empty seat and slid onto the stool. Paul stood next to her.

“Still drinking margaritas?” he asked.

She angled her head toward him in slow motion. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of being right. “No. Frozen apple martini.”

Paul flicked a brow, then signaled for the bartender. “Frozen apple martini and Hennessy on the rocks, please.”

Layne stared ahead, not daring to look at him and risk giving in. Being this close to him, with his body nearly pressing against her, it took all her willpower not to lean into him, the way she once had.

The bartender put their drinks in front of them.

Layne lifted her glass toward her lips. “So...you got me here. I’m listening. What do you have to say?”

“I still love you, Layne,” he murmured.

She sputtered the sweet liquid and flashed him a look of disbelief. “Wh-what?”

“I never stopped loving you.” He moved closer so that there was nothing between them but air. “I was a fool and too full of my ego to see it.” He lowered his head a moment, then looked into her astonished face. “I never intended to take the job but then I realized that coming here, I could be with you again, try to make it work. If you were willing to step out on faith, why couldn’t I?”

“It’s been three years,” Layne said. “Not a word from you.”

He drew in a breath. “I know. I was stubborn and hurt. But being without you ate away at me every day. When Deanna approached me with the offer, I turned her down. Then she told me about six months ago that there were ‘problems’ with Brett and that if he was let go, she wanted me for the spot.”

Layne slowly shook her head. “She also knew that I’d been working toward it.”

“That I didn’t know. I thought that if she offered it, you weren’t interested anymore. And from everything I’ve seen since I’ve been here, you are one helluva producer.”

She scoffed. “You’d never know it by your behavior.

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