Page 29 of I Am Sin

Except that’s a damned lie. I said it because she’d already fed me and I didn’t feel comfortable taking more of her food, even though I was taking my own sweet time with those last few potato chips so I wouldn’t have to leave.

Just a few more minutes to be near her. In her presence. In her light.

“I might have fibbed a little,” I finally say.

She raises her eyebrows as she takes the bite of pie into her mouth.

“I guess I just didn’t want to bother you anymore last night. But in truth, I love dessert.”

She nods as she chews. She’ll no doubt interrogate me once she swallows.

But instead, she widens her eyes. “Wow! That’s some of the most delicious pie I’ve ever eaten. And Aunt Marjorie makes amazing pies.”

“They make them all fresh here,” I say. “Using lard for the crust. The old-fashioned way.”

She takes another bite, this time chewing a bit more slowly. “Yeah, I can tell there’s something different about the crust. But it’s not just the crust. It’s the filling, too. This isn’t cherry pie filling out of a can. It’s got a certain tartness to it, and it’s delicious.”

I’m not sure what to say to that. I would assume Diana knows what she’s talking about since her family is so into food. I wouldn’t know the difference between filling out of a can and homemade filling. But the diner’s pies are to die for, and Lexi’s right. Cherry is my favorite.

My mom’s cherry pies are one of my few fond memories of my childhood. It was Griffin’s favorite too.

But I wipe the thought from my mind.

I can’t go down that avenue. Not in Diana Steel’s company. She’s a bright and sparkling light, and just being with her makes my own dark soul a little easier to deal with.

I finish my pie just as Diana is taking her last bite.

“That was absolutely delicious. Crazy that a pie at this little hole in the wall in Denver is better than my aunt’s.” Then she clamps her hand over her mouth. “Oh my God. I didn’t mean to imply?—”

“Don’t apologize.” I gesture around the small diner. “Thisisa hole in the wall. It’s a dive. But I like it.”

She smiles at me then, and it’s a warm and genuine smile. “You know what, Dragon? I like it too.”

ChapterEleven

Diana

Silence between us doesn’t seem so awkward. Once we’re back at the penthouse, Dragon goes to his room.

Fine with me. It saves me from having to make conversation.

Seems a waste of my last Saturday night before I’ll be working my ass off, but really, what else is there to do?

I could call some friends. Maybe go out to a club.

My friend Teddy Holmes is an executive assistant at the architecture firm where I did my internship. She’s always up for a good time, although she probably already has plans.

Still, what the hell? I grab my phone from the counter where I set it when we got home, and I’m about to call her when it buzzes.

It’s Brianna.

“What’s up, Bree?” I say into the phone. “Aren’t you supposed to be humping your new husband on your honeymoon?”

“Don’t be so gross,” she says. “Jesse’s in the shower, and I wanted to give you a call. Thank you again for what you’re doing for Dragon.”

“Consider it my good deed for the week.”

“How’s everything going?”