The garden was brimming with energy, people running around, setting up lights, adjusting dresses and model's poses as the photographer, Michale, took test photos, adjusting the settings and shouting encouraging phrases at the models as he ran around, adjusting his angle. 

"BEAUTIFUL! KEEP THAT POSE!" CLICK. CLICK. CLICK

"YOU ARE A WARRIOR QUEEN!" CLICK. CLICK. CLICK

"Tilt your body slightly so we can see the back of the dress— YES! PERFECT!" CLICK. CLICK. CLICK

Watching the photographer run around at top speed, his energy far more energetic than the bright flashes of his camera, left me smiling as I followed Allie, taking mental notes as she adjusted outfits, checked the test photos to assure the clothing was being properly showcased. 

She was all business, tone clipped as she spoke to everyone, sending them running to fix, adjust and complete whatever task that needed to be done. A fifteen year old girl worked with several assistants, adjusting one of the dresses on the model, her long black hair pulled up in a messy ponytail as she worked. She seemed like the only one who wasn't afraid of Allie, other than Michale, the photographer. 

The fifteen year old jogged up to Allie, all smiles. "I was nominated to come tell you that the model didn't get a chance to eat breakfast this morning and the others are worried she is going to faint."

Allie sighed. "Make sure she eats, Iz. Skipping a meal when you are going to be standing in the sun for hours on end is a terrible idea. Just—"

"Wrap a tarp around her and spoon feed her? On it!" the girl named Iz replied running back. 

Allie watched her go, smiling. "She'll have my job someday." 

Then as everything seemed to fall into a busy rhythm, Allie turned to me. "So, let's talk dates." 

"For the next shoot?" I asked hopefully.

She gave me a flat stare. "Date as in going out with another human." 

I sighed. "I haven't started that one yet Allie."

Allie settled down in a chair in the shade, eyes on the shoot happening in the garden around us. "That's fine. You were bonding by splattering them with paint yesterday. I wasn't expecting you to have figured this out in the twelve hours since then."

She turned to look at me. "So we'll break this down. Make it less intimidating. A small homework assignment." I raised a brow, waiting for her to continue.

"I want you to make a list of guys you'd like to go out with. You can use dating apps. Or just list people you'd like to get to know better."

My face burned at the idea. "I..." 

She smiled. "I know. It's scary." The words weren't sarcastic, or amused. They were full of understanding. "That's why we start small. A conversation over coffee. A walk through a park. We've got to build up your confidence. Make you feel comfortable in your own skin. And the best way to do that is to build up an immunity to the idea of dates so you aren't so scared." 

I wanted to burrow into the bush of roses next to me and hide. "Can we skip this one?" I asked hopefully. 

Allie's smile turned amused. "Sure. If you'd rather kiss a stranger on New Years Eve instead of someone you've gotten to know."

"No thank you," I said, shaking my head wildly. "I'll just..." I trailed off at the sight of Laurence making his way through the garden toward us. Women looked up from their work, seeming to freeze for a beat at the sight of him. I didn't blame them. Laurence was beautiful. 

I yanked my eyes away. "...make a list," I finished, once I got my breath back. 

"Miss Winters. Miss Autumns," Laurence said as he stopped before us. 

"Mr. Royal," I replied, falling back into the formal way we had always addressed each other.

"Laurence," Allie said, always the rebel to formality. "What did we do to deserve your presence here today?"

"Giving my assistant the official tour so he knows what goes into this company," Laurence Royal said, gesturing behind him to where he expected Dash to be. He was in fact, not with him. 

Allie tapped her chin. "Strange, I wasn't aware that your assistant was invisible."

Laurence looked momentarily frustrated, brow furrowed. I spotted Dash a moment later, talking to one of the models, eyes bright, all smiles as he sat comfortably on an abandoned garden bench. 

"I..." Laurence Royal let out a slow breath. "I have no words for him."

"Would you like me to show him around?" I offered. 

He shook his head. "That isn't necessary."

"Why not. There is no need for you to be on the set... And you clearly need a break from him." 

Laurence Royal looked at me, his dark eyes processing my words. He looked like he wanted to argue. He glanced back at Dash like he didn't want to leave me with the burden of Dash's company. But after Dash let out a loud, boisterous laugh that sent several birds flying, Laurence Royal relented. "That would be fine." 

Then he left without a word. Dash glanced up, saw Laurence disappear around the corner and shot me a raised brow as if to ask. Am I in trouble?

I fought a smile and nodded with a serious expression. Dash's eyes went momentarily wide and he walked over. 

"Why does the loud assistant look so terrified?" Allie asked, curious. 

"Dash thinks Laurence is going to fire him and I haven't done anything to dissuade him of that notion." 

Allie smiled wickedly. "Oh... Let me handle this one." Her smile vanished a moment later as Dash stopped before us. 

"Did... did Boss Man just leave?" Dash asked. 

Allie nodded. "He asked me to fire you for him."

All the color left Dash's face. "WHAT!" Allie winced at the decibel. 

"Buuuut," she added slowly. "I've left the final decision up to Lily here. So you'll have to make your final plea to her. If you can tell her in three minutes why you should be allowed to stay, and she is impressed, you get to stay." Allie stood up, shooting me a mischievous smile. "Good luck Dashiell."

Then she walked away, leaving me looking after her, mouth agape. I glanced at Dash and found him looking after her with the same expression. 

What a cruel game!

I was about to tell him she was joking but he held up his watch, glanced at the time and jumped to his feet, speaking loud with a theatrical, Shakespearean flair that drew the eyes of several people working nearby. 

"Oh gracious and merciful Lily Autumns! Queen of coffee prep, 1920's style and my work wife! I beg you to allow me to stay in your presence..."

He knelt before me, drawing more eyes, making me blush. 

"Grant me the gift of looking upon you daily and I promise that in return, I will pass every test you set before me. I will learn every lesson you give. I will be the knight that you set out on quest, determined and ready to earn your—"

"Dash!" I hissed, jumping to my feet and yanking him up with me. "Stop. It was a joke. You aren't getting fired. Just... stop." 

Dash looked at me, watching me placing my hands to my cheeks, trying to hide my embarrassment and he burst out laughing. "Work Wife, you're blushing!" 

"That was terrible, Dash!" 

He gave a low, long bow. "Nonsense! I was fighting for my life. I had to bring out all the stops!" 

I collapsed back in the chair. "Well, you are alive and not fired so you can just..." I waved my hand. "Go look at something. I'll give you a tour after I hide in a bush nearby until people stop staring."

Dash's smile grew soft for a beat. "You care too much about what people think of you."

Then he glanced back over his shoulder toward the model he had been talking to a moment before. "Don't worry about giving me a tour, Alice offered to show me around. Get your bearings."

Dash leaned down to look me in the face, His smile completely vanishing as concern filled his expression. "Hey. Are you okay? I'm sorry if that was a bit... too much." 

I nodded. "I'm fine."

His brow puckered. "Note to self about Work Wife. Public confessions are out. Good to know."

"I'm not your work wife," I muttered, face still red. 

He shrugged. "At some point, you'll come around." Then he shot me a salute and bounded off. 

Allie was back a moment later, settling herself back down in her chair, looking far too pleased with herself. "Well that was... informative."

She watched Dash for a beat. "You should add him to your list."

My head snapped up as I stared at Allie, startled. "What? NO."

She raised a brow. "He's fun. You could use fun."

"He's flirting with a model five feet away as we speak. I think he only knows how to have fun."

Allie looked away, fighting a smile. 

"What?" I asked, still somewhat flustered and irritated.

Allie coughed, trying to cover a laugh. "That's his sister."

"Oh..." I said, surprised. Looking back at Dash and Alice, I suddenly saw the family resemblance. They both that that sunshine smile. That boisterous laugh. They both radiated sunshine. It made me wonder if the home they came from was full of warm, happy memories. 

"It would be messy. Dating someone at work," I said, turning back to Allie.

"He doesn't work for you. Two different departments. I don't see an issue with that." Allie shrugged, glancing out of me out of the corner of her eye. "Besides... I heard him ask you out already. It would be an easy way to cross that item off your list."

My blush came back, burning like a fire. "That was just because I saved him from giving Laurence bad coffee," I sputtered.  "And when did you hear him ask me?!?"

"That small gesture of making coffee didn't really mean he had to repay you with a full meal... and a movie... and dessert," Allie said with an amused grin. "And yet... he offered." She tilted her head back, closing her eyes as she tilted her head toward the sun, sending her long black hair falling off her shoulders and swishing down her back. "I was in my office when he asked you. It gets harder and harder to see me in there with all of the take out containers, but apparently it makes it far easier to eaves drop."

I looked away, biting the inside of my cheek. "He wasn't serious. He's just dramatic."

"Even so, it couldn't hurt to get to know him. See if you are compatible. You obviously find him funny."

"Mortifying," I corrected. 

Allie stood up as the photographer, Michale, gestured for her to come over and look at the photos he had taken. "You don't have to go out with Dash. But going out with him may be easier than going out with a complete stranger. Either way, it's up to you."

As I continued to follow Allie during the shoot, watching her command respect, come up with solutions as fast as problems came up, I couldn't help but glance back at Dash who had settled on the sidelines, watching the shoot, looking completely fascinated. 

Is a date with Dash a good idea? 

He made me laugh, and lit up any room he was in. But when it came to romantic aspects, I wasn't attracted to him. It didn't seem fair to go out on a date with someone that I wasn't romantically interested in. 

Allie dismissed everyone for lunch, and I was finally allowed to get lost in thought without having to worry about missing what Allie was trying to teach me. I hadn't been able to wrap my head around the idea that I was going to be running shoots alone soon, and I added that to my already long list of 'Things Lily Needs Time Alone to Process'. 

Settling down at the edge of a water fountain, itching for some introvert time, I began to munch on a sandwich, trying to decide what daunting thing I needed to tackle first. 

"You've been staring at me," Dash said, popping up beside me out of nowhere. I jumped, nearly smacking him with my sandwich. Dash jumped back as I flailed in panic, almost falling into the fountain. "WHOA! Sorry. Right. Work Wife is skittish."

He settled back down slowly, as if making any sudden movement would send me running. 

"I wasn't staring," I said as I took a large bite of my sandwich. "Just thinking and you happen to be in the direction that I was contemplatively looking."

Dash snorted. "Uh huh. Sure. You don't have to admit you were staring, but you were thinking about me. That much is obvious." 

I rolled my eyes. "What are you doing over here anyway."

"Allie sent me over," Dash admitted sheepishly. "Said you needed my help with something."

I groaned. I am going to kill her!

"Don't worry about it. I'm working on a list and Allie is just being pushy."

"Let me help! It's the least I can do for the woman who saved me from getting fired." He held up two fingers. "Twice."

"Okay, first of all. The second time was a prank. And the first time was just a cup of coffee. It doesn't require owing."

Dash searched my face, leaning in slightly, which made my face burn. A slow smile spread across his features. "Whoa. Must be pretty big if it's got you this flustered. Should I start guessing?"

I threw my hands up in the air, refusing to let him start shouting crazy theories at the top of his lungs. "Allie is helping me put myself out there and I'm supposed to go on a practice date! OKAY!?"

It took all of half a second for Dash to shoot to his feet, eyes bright. "OH! LET ME HELP!"

"NO."

He sat back down, taking my hands, excited. "Oh come on! I would be a fantastic practice date! I already asked you out once. And I promise to make you laugh, pay for your meal, and not be creepy at all."

"I don't want to date a coworker."

Dash waved away my concern. "This is a practice date. It won't count. Come on. You know you want to get to know me better. I'm ravishing, intelligent and hilarious." 

He nudged me with his elbow, getting me to smile in surprise. "Plus, then you can cross it off your list. A list I want to see by the way."

I don't know if it was his smile. Or how excited he seemed, but to my own surprise and apparently to his, I said, "Okay. Sure."

Dash pumped his fist in the air. "PERFECT. Okay, don't worry about anything. I'll plan it and I am going to make the bar so impossibly high that anyone you go out on a date with after me will be dull by comparison."

"Pretty sure that isn't the point."

"It's my new goal." He shot me a mischievous smile. "Get ready Work Wife. I am going to rock your world." 

---

Thank you for reading chapter eleven! I hope you are enjoying the story! Or are at least curious to see where it goes! Add this story to your reading list to know when the next chapter drops!

UPDATE DAYS - A NEW CHAPTER EVERY FRIDAY!

Where will Dash take Lily on their date? 

What will Laurence's reaction be?

How will the date go?

What will happen next?

CHAPTER QUESTION - If you got to plan a dream date, where would you go?