DAHLIA "Dahlia."

Something about the way he called my name stiffed my spine. I didn't want that. Didn't want to hear him call me like that. "Good day, sir." My tone was stiffly polite.

I highly fived myself mentally. This was better than trying to be friendly. Or act like things were fine between us.

I cast a covert glance at his fingers to see he wasn't wearing any ring. Well, whatever. That was his problem.

"Dahlia, can you stop with the formalities? I'm sorry." The guilt, and even the ...