Chapter 54

After another great night together, I left Dash's apartment in the morning and headed home to get ready for work. I took the back exit from his building, relieved that the paparazzi weren't there waiting for me. They never were when I stayed at his place and it was a welcome break.

It also reminded me that I still had to arrange those viewings to look at options for a new place, but my brain felt like cotton candy today, so this probably wasn't the time. I was too caught up in being sweet on Dash.

I laughed at myself for the thought, but it was true. I'd never connected with anyone like I did with him, and I almost couldn't believe how good things were between us. When I'd first met him, I thought I was going to hate working with him and I knew he'd hated me on first sight too.

Our relationship had changed so much since then though, and even if I wasn't ready to admit it, the idea of the big L-word had been popping into my head more and more often recently. And he was great in bed, which was a plus since my attraction to him only kept growing.

I'd even admitted to him last night that I felt like I'd never really had sex until him. He blew my mind every time, and then after, he blew it again simply by taking an actual interest in me. We'd been talking for months, and yet, we still talked for hours every time we saw each other without running out of things to say.

Back at my apartment, I got ready for work and left quickly so that I wouldn't be late, but my head was still filled with thoughts of Dash and I didn't watch where I was going. As I waved at the security guard in the lobby when I walked out, I smacked into someone. Hard.

I jerked my gaze up, groaning internally when I saw who I had run into. "Ethan? What are you doing here?"

He scowled at me. "I came to talk to you. Let's go inside."

I shook my head, taking a step back and planting my hands on my hips. The glare of the sunlight out here hurt my eyes, but I didn't reach for the glasses on top of my head. I didn't want it to look like I was shielding myself or hiding from him.

"I really don't have time for this right now." I went to brush past him, but he stepped into my way again, blocking me as he gave me a pleading look.

The scowl was gone, his features suddenly soft again as he stared into my eyes. "Please, Serenity. Just hear me out? I'm worried about you. Dash isn't who you think he is."

"Thankfully, that's none of your concern."

"He's using you," he said emphatically, keeping his voice down and himself in my path. "All he wants is fame. He admitted it to me the other day. That's why I was so shocked when I left his office. He told me he was using you for his own gain. You have to believe me. I'm just trying to look out for you."

I blinked up at him, not believing him for a second and wondering why I had for so long. Pushing past him, I looked back at him over my shoulder. "Leave me alone, Ethan. I thought Dash had made it clear to you the other day when you tried to intimidate him too that we were done. You and I are over and I'm not scared of you anymore. Accept that we're done and move on. Now leave me the hell alone."

As I left him behind me, I realized that the paparazzi camped out outside my building had caught it all and I even heard some of them laughing about Ethan getting yelled at in public. Good. I hope his image is seriously wounded after all this. People really need to see who he truly is.

I got into my car and headed to work, trying to put the whole debacle behind me. Julie grinned when I walked into my office, handing over a cup of coffee as she sat down in the chair opposite my desk. "Finally, you're here! I've been waiting for ages. The Montrellis are so happy with us. I thought I should come give you the good news in person. They've already referred us to three other couples they know who have recently gotten engaged."

"That's awesome." I smiled, taking the coffee from her gratefully and slinging my purse off my shoulder. "I would've been here earlier, but I ran into Ethan on my way out of my building."

"What?" Her expression morphed immediately from pure happiness to unadulterated hatred. "What did he want this time?"

"To convince me that Dash was using me," I said before giving her a quick breakdown of what had happened.

Triumph flashed in her eyes when I was done. "That's great. I'm glad you finally put him in his place and in public. Let's just hope it sticks this time."

I pressed my hands together in a praying motion and nodded. "Let's hope. How's everything with Diana's wedding? We're still on track, right?"

"We're still on track," she assured me. "Everything is perfect. Stop worrying about it. It's going to be awesome."

As I nodded, I pulled my phone out of my purse, continuing a conversation I'd been having with Dash. We texted back and forth all day while Julie and I worked, and eventually, she plucked my phone out of my hand.

"You haven't stopped talking to him or about him since you got here," she said. "Could you be in?—"

I cut her off. "We're not saying it. It's too early for that."

Although I'd been thinking about it myself earlier, I didn't want to say it yet. I just wanted to enjoy the moment.

Julie laughed as she arched an eyebrow at me. "Fine, I won't say it, but I know you are. I can tell. You deserve to be happy, my friend. Just make sure he keeps treating you well."

"I will," I said softly. "I don't think it's going to be a problem, though. He really isn't anything like Ethan and I have a direct line to his mom. She told me to call her if he messes up again."

Julie laughed. "I love it. Talk about accountability! It'll only work if you do call her, though."

"I know, but again, I don't think I'll have to. Not because Dash won't mess up again. He definitely will, but he seems pretty good at making up for it."

"With orgasms?"

"And words." I laughed. "But sure. Lots of orgasms too."

She giggled, letting out a dreamy sigh. "I've got to find me a guy like that."

"To be honest, I don't know if another one like him exists," I admitted, temporarily forgetting even where we were as I widened my eyes at her. "Seriously, I'm not sure where he learned everything he knows, but if it was a book, they should print it by the millions and hand it out for free to every guy out there."

She laughed. "That good, huh?"

"Better," I assured her, then remembered we were at the office. "We probably shouldn't talk about it here, though."

"Okay, fine, but I'm going to remind you to give me the details later. I'm curious." She lifted her tablet again, but before she'd even checked it, she gave me another look. "Is that good enough, though? Tons of amazing orgasms?"

I considered the question for a moment before I shook my head. "No, it wouldn't have been good enough if it wasn't for the fact that he's also just an amazing guy. He's got a really good heart. He's trustworthy. He's reliable. He keeps his promises and he learns from his mistakes. What more could a girl want?"

"Well, he's gorgeous too. That doesn't hurt." She winked at me but finally unlocked the screen of her tablet and started back into the planning of the Montrelli wedding.

In the afternoon, we saw a couple more potential clients, giving them tours and setting out the basics of what we could offer together with the prices of each option. I was using all the tips Dash had given me, and every client walked out looking impressed and satisfied.

I was about to call him to say thank you when he called me. I smiled as I took the call and Julie rolled her eyes at me. "I'll let you talk to him alone. I need to make a call of my own anyway."

I chuckled, but picked up as soon as she left my office. "Hey, Cinnamon Roll."

"Cinnamon Roll?" He laughed. "Is that what you've decided to call me or did Julie just walk into your office with a treat?"

"Actually, it's what the romance community calls the really sweet guy in books," I said. "I used to call you Mr. Grumpy behind your back, so at least this is better."

"I'll take it," he replied happily. "I'm going to have to look into this Cinnamon Roll thing, though. Got any book recommendations for me? I'd like to know how I can keep this status."

"Just keep being you," I said, wondering when I'd become so cheesy but not really minding it at all. "Thanks for all those tips about giving clients the VIP treatment, by the way. I just got out of a meeting with a couple who might just choose me because of all that."

"You're welcome, but they'd be stupid not to go with you. Unless of course they were considering coming to me."

I laughed. "They weren't. The estate has a reputation for being picky about who you'll host."

"I prefer to refer to it as being discerning, but whatever works," he joked. "I suppose picky is fine too."

I smiled, closing my eyes, and when I opened them again, Julie walked back in, giving me a quick shake of her head when she saw I was still on the phone. She waved her tablet at me to remind me we were about to start another meeting.

"What's up?" I asked. "Unless you only called because you sensed I needed to thank you again."

"No thanks necessary. Only people with no self-esteem are afraid to give a few tips to others. I don't know if you've noticed this, but there isn't anything wrong with my self-esteem."

"Oh, I've noticed." I chuckled. "Your ego is just short of overinflated."

"Thanks for the compliment," he said and I heard the smile in his voice. "Do you have any plans for dinner tonight?"

"I was actually hoping you'd call to ask."

"Wonderful. Come to my apartment when you're done at work? We can decide what we feel like then, but bring something nice. I want to treat you tonight."

"Treat me? It feels like you do that every time you see me. Thanks for warning me this time, though. It's starting to feel like half my wardrobe consists out of things you've bought me these days."

"I would've bought you something else, but I figured it wouldn't be such a big surprise this time. Next time though, I'm going to find something that'll make you even happier than the comfy clothes did."

I chuckled. "Good luck with that. I'll see you later?"

"I can't wait," he said, then hung up.

Julie laughed at the look on my face.

"Shut up!" I shook my head as I laughed back at her. "We're not saying it."

Her eyebrow arched, but I mimed zipping my lips before I admitted it out loud. It really was too early to say it, but I really did like him. A lot.

So much so that most people probably would've just said it.