Page 30 of VOGUEish

“There you are, Chandler,” Ms. Birdie said, causing them both to jump in surprise.

The fairy godmother stood in the door of Isabella’s office, her gaze on Chandler. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. I should have known I’d find you here.”

“I was on my way home and thought I’d wish Isabella good luck with her new position.”

Ms. Birdie looked from one to the other, and whatever she saw made her smile. “Darling, I have a new assignment for you.”

He gave her a lopsided grin. “What company did you buy in the past hour?”

“Not a company. And the assignment doesn’t require your people skills. It requires your investigative skills.”

He walked to the window and leaned a hip against the sill. “Nonna, I’m not an investigator.”

“Nonsense. You have the perfect skill set necessary for this assignment.”

“Skill set is an interesting choice of words. Should I be worried?”

“Isabella has a location in mind for our cover team to meet. I’m worried the location isn’t safe, but she assures me it is. I’d like for the two of you to go and check it out together.” She smiled at Isabella. “Nothing personal, dear.” She turned back to Chandler. “It will need to be done during the evening hours since that’s when her colleagues will travel to be there. If, after seeing the location, you feel it’s appropriate, then you will let me know.”

He glanced at Isabella. “Where do you live?”

Did he not know? Was he not Ms. Birdie’s informant? “Gowanus in Brooklyn.”

He frowned. “Isn’t that where the polluted canal is?

“You know your canals.”

“Is it safe to breathe the air?” he asked.

She laughed. “It’s fine. The area is fine. There really is no need for you to check it out.”

“Nonsense,” Ms. Birdie said. “I’ve been around the block a time or two. Your idea of not dangerous and mine are probably quite different. I trust Chandler to know what I will deem acceptable.”

Chandler heaved a sigh. “Isabella, I’ll meet you back here at closing time and drive you home.”

His enthusiasm was underwhelming. “Will you come up and collect me, or shall I meet you where the taxi dropped me the first morning we met?” If he had a car, why had he taken a taxi the day they’d met?

“He will pick you up, of course,” Ms. Birdie said. “He’s a gentleman. But”—she turned her attention on Chandler—“I’m afraid I can’t allow you to drive Isabella home.”

“And why is that?” he asked.

“I’m certain the other employees of NR will not have drivers to take them to this location and pick them up. They’ll be utilizing the subway. I’d like you to take the subway to her place, the way she does. I want to know all aspects of the journey are safe for my employees. Not just during the hours they spend working on the project.”

“That’s an excellent idea, Ms. Birdie.” Isabella batted her lashes at him. “Unless you’re too good for the subway.”

Nonna clicked her tongue at them. “Of course he’s not too good for the subway. Now, Chandler, go ahead and invite her to dinner, which does not count as the date you owe her, and then take her up on her offer to teach you the ways of the subway system. It will do you good to walk among the masses. I understand your manners, when it comes to maneuvering the taxis of Manhattan, are lacking.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Chandler sat at the bar and watched as Isabella stepped through the double doors of Antonella’s Mexican Restaurant. Fuck, she was gorgeous. The kind of gorgeous that could drive a man to act impulsively.

“Dude, take a breath.” The guy sitting next to Chandler at the bar punched him in the shoulder.

Chandler grunted. “She’s something else, isn’t she?”

“She yours?” the stranger asked.

“Yep.” No way in hell would he tell the asshole she was on the open market. “See you around.” Chandler stood and walked toward the woman who’d turned more than his head since entering the restaurant. “Isabella.”

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