A date for dahlia blosso.., p.1
A Date For Dahlia (Blossoms Book 10),
p.1
A DATE FOR DAHLIA
NATALIE ANN
Copyright 2024 Natalie Ann
All Rights Reserved
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without a written consent.
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CONTENTS
Author’s Note
Also by Natalie Ann
About the Author
Blurb
Prologue
1. Better Than Conflict
2. People Burn Out
3. Behind His Eyes
4. Attraction and Arousal
5. Doubt And Intentions
6. Avoiding Questions
7. No Expectations
8. Double Teamed
9. Peace In His Decisions
10. Second Date
11. Chance Meetings
12. You Could Have
13. Held Up To The Pressure
14. Good To Fit In
15. Dose Of Sunshine
16. Keep Facts Straight
17. Going About Life
18. Different Feelings
19. Conflict On Record
20. Protecting Other People
21. In A Routine
22. Step Forward
23. Prime Example
24. Work On That
25. Dirty Laundry
26. No Glue
27. Damn Hormones
28. Benefit Of The Doubt
29. Makes You Happy
30. Seen It All
31. The Right Decision
32. Be Happy And Enjoy It
33. Here With Him
34. Strong By His Side
35. Perfect For You
36. New Is A Good Thing
37. Be A Partner
38. Who She Was
39. The Right Thing
40. Not Letting Her Go
Epilogue
Also by Natalie Ann
About the Author
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Author’s Note
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
ALSO BY NATALIE ANN
The Road Series-See where it all started!!
Lucas and Brooke’s Story- Road to Recovery
Jack and Cori’s Story – Road to Redemption
Mac and Beth’s Story- Road to Reality
Ryan and Kaitlin’s Story- Road to Reason
The All Series
William and Isabel’s Story — All for Love
Ben and Presley’s Story – All or Nothing
Phil and Sophia’s Story – All of Me
Alec and Brynn’s Story – All the Way
Sean and Carly’s Story — All I Want
Drew and Jordyn’s Story— All My Love
Finn and Olivia’s Story—All About You
Landon Barber and Kristen Reid- All Of Us
The Lake Placid Series
Nick Buchanan and Mallory Denning – Second Chance
Max Hamilton and Quinn Baker – Give Me A Chance
Caleb Ryder and Celeste McGuire – Our Chance
Cole McGuire and Rene Buchanan – Take A Chance
Zach Monroe and Amber Deacon- Deserve A Chance
Trevor Miles and Riley Hamilton – Last Chance
Matt Winters and Dena Hall- Another Chance
Logan Taylor and Kennedy Miles- It’s My Chance
Justin Cambridge and Taryn Miles – One More Chance
The Fierce Five Series
Gavin Fierce and Jolene O’Malley- How Gavin Stole Christmas
Brody Fierce and Aimee Reed - Brody
Aiden Fierce and Nic Moretti- Aiden
Mason Fierce and Jessica Corning- Mason
Cade Fierce and Alex Marshall - Cade
Ella Fierce and Travis McKinley- Ella
Fierce Family
Sam Fierce and Dani Rhodes- Sam
Bryce Fierce and Payton Davies - Bryce
Drake Fierce and Kara Winslow – Drake
Noah Fierce and Paige Parker - Noah
Wyatt Fierce and Adriana Lopez – Wyatt
Jade Fierce and Brock James – Jade
Ryder Fierce and Marissa McMillan – Ryder
Fierce Matchmaking
Devin Andrews and Hope Hall- Devin
Mick McNamara and Lindsey White- Mick
Cody McMillian and Raina Davenport – Cody
Liam O’Malley and Margo West- Liam
Walker Olson and Stella White – Walker
Flynn Slater and Julia McNamara – Flynn
Ivan Andrews & Kendra Key- Ivan
Jonah Davenport & Megan Harrington- Jonah
Royce Kennedy & Chloe Grey- Royce
Sawyer Brennan & Faith O’Malley- Sawyer
Trent Davenport & Roni Hollister- Trent
Gabe McCarthy & Elise Kennedy – Gabe
Ben Kelley & Eve Hall – Ben
Paradise Place
Josh Turner and Ruby Gentile – Cupid’s Quest
Harris Walker and Kaelyn Butler – Change Up
Philip Aire and Blair McKay- Starting Over
Nathan Randal and Brina Shepard – Eternal
Ryan Butler and Shannon Wilder – Falling Into Love
Brian Dawson and Robin Masters – Mistletoe Magic
Caden Finley and Sarah Walker- Believe In Me
Evan Butler and Parker Reed – Unexpected Delivery
Trey Bridges and Whitney Butler – Forever Mine
Dylan Randal and Zoe Milton- Because Of You
Cash Fielding and Hannah Shepard – Letting Go
Brent Elliot and Vivian Getman – No More Hiding
Marcus Reid and Addison Fielding- Made For Me
Rick Masters and Gillian Bridges – The One
Cooper Winslow and Morgan Finely- Back To Me
Jeremy Reid and McKenna Preston- Saving Me
Christian Butler and Liz Carter- Begin Again
Cal Perkins and Mia Finley- Angels Above
Amore Island
Family Bonds- Hunter and Kayla
Family Bonds- Drew and Amanda
Family Bonds – Mac and Sidney
Family Bonds- Emily & Crew
Family Bonds- Ava & Seth
Family Bonds- Eli & Bella
Family Bonds- Hailey & Rex
Family Bonds- Penelope & Griffin
Family Bonds- Bode & Samantha
Family Bonds- Hudson & Delaney
Family Bonds- Alex & Jennie
Family Bonds- Roark & Chelsea
Family Bonds- Duke & Hadley
Family Bonds – Carter & Avery
Family Bonds- Egan & Blake
Family Bonds- Carson & Laine
Family Bonds- Grace & Lincoln
Blossoms
A Love for Lily – Zane Wolfe and Lily Bloom
A Playboy For Poppy- Reese McGill and Poppy Bloom
A Romantic For Rose – Thomas Klein and Rose Bloom
A Return For Ren – Ren Whitney and Zara Wolfe
A Journey For Jasmine- Wesley Wright and Jasmine Greene
A Vacationer for Violet – Violet Soren And Trace Mancini
A Hero For Heather- Heather Davis and Luke Remington
A Doctor For Daisy- Daisy Jones And Theo James
An Investigator For Ivy- Ivy Greene and Brooks Scarsdale
A Date For Dahlia- Dahlia Greene and Hugh Crosby
A Surprise For Sage- Sage Mancini and Knox Bradford
Looking For Love
Learning To Love – West Carlisle and Abby Sherman
Love Collection
Vin Steele and Piper Fielding – Secret Love
Jared Hawk and Shelby McDonald – True Love
Erik McMann and Sheldon Case – Finding Love
Connor Landers and Melissa Mahoney- Beach Love
Ian Price and Cam Mason- Intense Love
Liam Sullivan and Ali Rogers - Autumn Love
Owen Taylor and Jill Duncan - Holiday Love
Chase Martin and Noelle Bennett - Christmas Love
Zeke Collins and Kendall Hendricks - Winter Love
Troy Walker and Meena Dawson – Chasing Love
Jace Stratton and Lauren Towne - First Love
Gabe Richards and Leah Morrison - Forever Love
Blake Wilson and Gemma Anderson – Simply Love
Brendan St. Nicholas and Holly Lane – Gifts of Love
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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BLURB
Growing up all over the world, moving from one poverty-stricken country to another, Dahlia Greene wants one thing out of her adult life. Stability. She’s worked hard to get to where she is, even relocating to be by her sisters. Life was dull and boring—and just like she wanted it! Until the FBI comes knocking on her door, letting her know she is under investigation for missing money at her last job.
Special Agent Hugh Crosby left the Special Victims Unit behind and moved states away to work with white-
collar crimes. He’s seen and experienced one too many horrific things that will never leave his memory and now craves a slower career. A failed marriage and sleepless nights are the least of his worries. He meets Dahlia Greene while working on his next case and knows beyond a doubt this woman is going to disrupt his life more than ever before. He can only hope he doesn't blow it, but to do that, he has to protect her from the demons he carries.
PROLOGUE
“Why are you so moody?” Dahlia Greene asked her boyfriend. He’d snapped at her twice already and she was getting sick of this.
Shawn marched over to her office door and shut it with a loud firm click that echoed in her brain like her father’s words that it was time to move once again. “Don’t get testy with me in the office,” he hissed.
When she started to date Shawn months ago it never occurred to her that they couldn’t work together and have a romantic relationship. They were both CPAs for a large accounting firm. They never worked together on a project, as they were both managers. They might be in the same department, but it wasn’t a conflict in her eyes.
They didn’t even do the same job. She spent most of her time going out and auditing not-for-profits while he managed for-profit businesses. Even overseeing the daily accounting at some of those businesses.
Nothing the two of them did ever crossed paths.
Yet their office romance brought up more than one conflict in her life.
Like now when she was trying to work and he was in her office pacing. He was doing his best turtle impression trying to take the tip of her finger off as she held out some food. Just like he’d done for a few months now.
She was over this.
“You’re the one that walked in here and started to question me on things I don’t know anything about.”
“I just wanted to know if you’ve heard anything about Bob’s new promotion.”
Bob was her boss. They had a few in the department. He’d just been promoted to partner. That was her goal in life. But at just thirty, she knew she had some more work ahead.
“Nothing,” she said. “Good for him. He deserves it.”
And she hoped that meant there was a chance she’d get promoted into his position too. In her core group, she was next in line, but that didn’t mean someone from another group might not bump her.
She hoped not but had seen it happen. More so because she’d heard the rumors that she wasn’t always all that warm and friendly.
She wanted to know where in life it said you had to kiss someone’s butt to do a good job.
She was professional and respected by all her clients and even her coworkers. Just because she didn’t want to go out after hours to drink with people when they asked didn’t mean she wasn’t soft and fuzzy.
If she were married with kids no one would bat an eye at her turning down invitations. But because she was single—even though she was dating Shawn—it’s like she was expected to socialize more to move up. Why?
The double standard always got to her too.
Like the double standard she had growing up and living in different countries. The boys had more freedom than the girls.
She was the one who didn’t fight it, just accepted and moved on. It was easier that way.
“I heard he’s going to be put in charge of my core group and that Tiffany was moving to another division,” Shawn said.
Dahlia shrugged. “No clue,” she said. “Partners move around and oversee multiple divisions. You know that. They always do. What’s the big deal? I thought you liked Bob.”
“He’s a do-gooder,” Shawn said sarcastically.
“I find him thorough. I think he’s going to do a great job. If that is the only reason you came in here, I’ve got work to do.”
“I’ll be at your house at six tonight for dinner. What are you making?” If he wasn’t asking her to pick up the tab when they were out to eat, then he was expecting her to cook for him.
She raised her eyebrows at him. He didn’t ask. They didn’t live together. She had no intention of living with him.
If he kept up this attitude of talking down to her, snapping at her, making assumptions and putting her in the slot of a woman who had to have his dinner on the table, they weren’t going to be together much longer.
“I’m not sure I’ll be home by six,” she said. “I’ve got to finish a few things here.”
“Bring it home with you. I’m in the mood for something light. Chicken is good.”
She crossed her arms. “Then you can pick it up and cook it,” she said. “I don’t know what I’m doing yet.”
“Fine,” Shawn said. “We’ll do it tomorrow. I’ll go out with the guys tonight.”
“Works for me,” she said. He’d mooch a meal off his friends, she was sure.
“You know,” he said, opening the door, “you could be a little nicer to me when I’m under stress.”
He’d been doing that crap more and more lately. Blaming her and doing it where others could hear, making her out to be the villain.
It wouldn’t help her chances at the promotion.
She ground her teeth but refused to say anything back.
When there was a knock in her doorway, she looked up to see Lori standing there. One of the new accountants that she supervised.
“Can I help you with something?” she asked.
“I should mind my own business,” Lori said. “But I can’t help it. You’re so good at your job and never say anything bad about anything or anyone. Why do you let him talk to you that way?”
Dahlia let out a sigh. Shawn’s voice had gotten loud, but she’d learned to not tell him to lower it or he’d get even more upset.
If other people were seeing this, it wouldn’t bode well either. They could think she was a punching bag and that might be worse in her eyes than being looked at as not outgoing or unwelcoming to clients.
She was starting to wonder if Shawn was sabotaging her career and didn’t know why that might be.
“Sometimes we need other people to point out what is obvious. The truth is, I don’t know.”
“I’m sorry,” Lori said. “I’ll stay out of it.”
“No,” she said. “I’m glad you said something.”
When Dahlia was alone she put her head down and wondered how she fell victim to a relationship like this when she’d sworn she would never follow a man or be talked down to. She’d stand on her own and make the decisions that worked for her and no one else.
Yet here she was, not listening to herself.
1
BETTER THAN CONFLICT
Two Years Later
“I’m going to stay with Brooks tonight,” Ivy said.
Dahlia looked at her younger sister who just popped her head into her office at Blossoms.
“Have fun,” she said.
Ivy grinned and did a little booty shake. “You know we will.”
She rolled her eyes playfully.
Not that long ago Brooks had ended things with her baby sister. She’d tried to warn Ivy that Brooks wasn’t the man for her. Her baby sister had a thing about depending on men in her life. Or needing them to take care of her.
But she’d been wrong and realized that Ivy had done a lot of growing up in the past few years that she’d missed.
Her sister was much more mature than she remembered and stood her ground. Brooks realized his mistake and the two were back together.
Even living with Ivy for the past nine months Dahlia didn’t see what was under her nose. That her sister was stronger than ever before.
Just like what Shawn had been doing with her almost two years ago. Treating her like crap and her allowing it because it was better than conflict. Guess she’d spent a lot of time with her eyes closed for no reason at all other than laziness...which totally wasn’t like her.
Dahlia could admit when she was wrong and she’d done that with Ivy.
“It’s not all about sex,” she said.
Ivy giggled. “If you were getting some then you’d think otherwise.”
“Ivy,” she said in that motherly warning tone.
“I’m just kidding,” Ivy said. “Seriously, Dahlia. You need to get out and have some fun. You haven’t been on one date since you’ve lived here. We didn’t even know you were dating someone back in Chicago until recently. Have you not seen any man since then? What’s it been, like two years?”
Ivy was always bugging her to get out and have a little fun.
