Page 23 of The Love You Win

My boss has been talking my ear off for the last hour about this promotion. I’m not sure how late I’ll be. Isla, please tell me you’re not already there? I will leave right now if you are.

My stomach sinks. Of course, this would happen. And I know Jess would walk away from her boss to make sure I’m not alone. Because they’re worried about me. But I don’t want her to do that. She’s been gunning for this promotion, and she’s worked so hard for it.

So I lie.

Me

Nope! Couldn’t find my keys, so I just hopped in the Uber. I’ll tell her to turn around. We can do this another time.

Jess

I am so sorry, babes. Are you sure?

Of course. Go get that promotion. Tell me all about it later.

Nev

Sorry, Isla. We’ll make it up to you.

Locking my phone, I sigh. I guess I’m finishing my mojito and heading home. It would be one thing to sit alone at a coffee shop. I could read a book on my phone without looking like a total loser. But here? Nope.

The sound of a throat clearing has me looking up.

A golden-haired man in a very expensive-looking outfit stands less than a foot away from me. He has boyish features and his eyes crinkle in the corner as he offers me a smile, and he must be almost six feet tall. The clothes accentuate a slim but fit build, and his jaw has the faintest hint of stubble. “Hey, Isla, right?”

I fidget in my seat. Have I met this guy? “Um, yes?”

“Blake Carter. You don’t know me, but Jessica Martinez’s firm does my company’s advertising campaigns. I’m the CEO of GoTravel. It’s a house-sharing app. Maybe she told you about me?”

“Uh, no. Sorry.” How does this guy know who I am? Instantly uncomfortable, I’m trying to think of a way to get away from him when he sits down beside me. Uninvited.

“Well, I hope this doesn’t come off as weird, but Jessica had a photo of you and another friend on her desk and she told me all about you. I was actually at her office today and she mentioned something about going out tonight. I didn’t realize she meant here. Small world.” His gaze rakes over my body in an assessing way. “I have to say, the photo didn’t do you justice.” He flashes me a wide smile that’s probably supposed to be charming, but I feel a bit like Little Red Riding Hood looking down the muzzle of the Big Bad Wolf.

“Oh. Wow.” What the hell am I supposed to say to that?

He chuckles. “Jessica is here, isn’t she?”

“I’m waiting for her and our other friend. They should be here soon,” I lie.

“How ‘bout I keep you company until they get here?” He scoots his chair closer.

“You don’t have to do that.” Unfortunately, I tend to either babble or laugh when I’m nervous, and a strangled laugh claws its way out of my throat.

“I don’t mind at all. It’s serendipity.” He winks. Gag. Not waiting for my acceptance, Blake leans toward me, giving me his whole focus while I try not to crawl out of my skin. “So, Isla, what do you do for a living?”

“Uh, I’m a teacher. English.”

He nods his head. “That’s right. Jess told me. Center High? That’s very altruistic.”

Oh god. She told him where I work?

“Not really,” I say, because this is incredibly awkward, and even though this guy has a baby face and looks like a human Ken doll, he’s also sizing me up like he’s plotting how to get in my pants. “I get as much out of it as they do. I love teaching.”

Blake nods again like he understands, but I know he doesn’t. This guy’s a CEO of a growing real estate sharing app. I highly doubt he gets what I mean when I say that the kids give me just as much as I give them. “You know, some of our listings offer discounts for teachers.”

Really? Is he trying to pitch me a vacation I can’t afford? What is happening?

“Uh, that’s nice.”

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