"Ms. Nicholson, you're back," Natasha said, looking up with a bright smile. "We were just finishing up. The food here was great. Thank you for the recommendation."

The way she phrased it positioned herself and Dustin as a pair, with Dahlia as the outsider.

Dahlia managed a strained smile. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."

She glanced at Dustin. Whatever faint hope she'd had of talking to him alone withered under Natasha's sharp look and his blank expression.

"I have a meeting this evening, so I sho