Page 28 of The Fragile Truth

“What makes you say that?” he asked casually.

She gave him a knowing look. “Y’all dated, didn’t you?”

He sputtered out a laugh. “What?”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Don’t deny it. It’s written all over your face.”

“Okay, we dated. It was shortly after Lina dumped me for Talon Chasing. I was licking my wounds, and Denise was there for me.” He searched her face. “You have to believe me when I say that it was a casual thing.”

“Denise is very pretty.” The corners of her eyes tightened as she studied him with an intensity that penetrated his soul.

“Yeah, she is,” he admitted. Curvy with long, dark hair and matching eyes, Denise was a looker. But she was too rough-around-the-edges for Ian. Her forwardness made him uncomfortable. The best way to navigate this was to be completely honest. “Look, Denise was a rebound thing. I relegated her to the friend zone, and that’s where she has stayed ever since.”

Sadie scrutinized him for one long moment before relaxing her shoulders. “Okay, I believe you.”

He turned the tables. “What about you? Who have you dated?”

Color brushed her cheeks, enhancing her beauty as she laughed softly. “There have been a few.” She paused, her eyes shadowing with an expression that he couldn’t pinpoint. “One in particular.”

Ian was taken off guard by the poker of hot jealousy that stabbed through him. “What was his name?”

“Danny.”

“What happened?”

“It just didn’t work out,” she said evasively, her eyes taking on a faraway look. There was such a deep sadness in her expression that it twisted Ian’s gut.

“Do you still care about him?”

She jerked like she was coming back to the present. “A part of me will always care.” She paused. “But it’s over.” She focused on Ian, forcing a smile. “Danny was part of my past. What we had is over,” she said with a note of finality. “And now I’m here with you.”

Ian wanted to question her more but sensed that it was better to let the topic go for now. He changed the topic to something innocuous that would help ease the funky tension that had settled between them. “I’m sure you’re looking forward to the time when you can become a full-time personal chef.”

“I am,” she said with conviction.

Ian got the distinct feeling that she was relieved they were talking about something else other than Danny.

“I figure once I get settled into my house, then I’ll start putting out feelers. I could even apply to work at the restaurant at The Oliver Hotel. That would at least get me on the island.”

“Yeah, you could. But the problem is that you wouldn’t make much more than you’re earning now, and you would have the extra commute of the ferry ride back and forth.”

“True,” she conceded. “Although I might earn better tips at the hotel.”

“Maybe.” Ian wasn’t keen on the idea of Sadie working at the hotel. Call it selfish, but he liked having her close by. The Sea Salt Grill was only a few blocks from his office. Also, he had a distrust of many of the rich people on the island. Sadie was a beautiful woman, and he didn’t want her to get taken in by some playboy like Wesley Laramie. Wesley was scum of the earth. Was he the one blackmailing Lina? If so, then Wesley was the cause of Brent getting killed.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, why?”

“You had a strange expression on your face.”

“I did?”

“Uh, huh.” A wise grin stretched over her lips. “What were you thinking about?”

His answer was automatic. “How beautiful you are.”

Lusty laughter pealed in her throat. “Thanks, but you’re a terrible liar.”