Page 4 of Worth the Risk

I imagine him saying that last part with his charming smirk and that sexy wink he tossed at me yesterday and my smile grows wide. Then I notice the time.

Taylor

It’s 3:00 p.m.… Little early for a drink?

Austin

Last time I checked we’re both unemployed… I think we deserve it.

I laugh, jumping up from the couch and heading to my bathroom to try and revive my unbrushed hair and add a touch of makeup. When I get to my closet, I’m suddenly overthinking everything.

Is this a date? He said he wanted to ask me on a date. Was that only if I didn’t get the job? I got the job, though, so it’s not a date then… unless I don’t tell him I got the job… But what about Noah?

“No.” I snap myself out of it. I promised myself last night that if I end up not taking the job and working with Austin, that is a line I don’t want to cross with him. As hard as it would be not to…

I decide on a simple button-down blouse and my favorite jeans. It says effortlessly chic with zero implications of anything more. I add my usual jewelry pieces and slip on my Tory Burchflats, grabbing my purse and heading over to meet up with a stranger I met on a train.

CHAPTER 2

Austin

“Hi, train girl.” I smile down at Taylor like an idiot.

“Hi,” she says back, her voice a touch breathy.

“Would you like to come into my murder pad—I’m sorry, I mean my apartment.”

She laughs and it’s sweet, if not a touch nervous.

“I would have nobody to blame but myself at this point,” she adds, stepping over the threshold and into my apartment. I take her purse, hanging it on the hook by the door. “Nice place.” She shoves her hands into her pockets as she looks around for a second before settling her gaze on me.

Her blue eyes look even more pronounced than they did on the train. A stark contrast to her pale skin and wavy strawberry-blond hair.

“Part of my smart financial plan.” I tap my temple. “A small, relatively inexpensive place that has everything I need in a safe area and right next to my train stop. Can’t beat it.” I lean against the kitchen island, Taylor switching her hands from her front pockets to her back pockets. “You seem nervous.”

She shrugs. “I’m still coming to terms with the fact I’m in a strange man’s apartment whom I met twenty-four hours ago.”

“You don’t date?” I push off from the counter, grabbing two wineglasses from the cabinet and the bottle of wine I put in the fridge earlier.

“I mean, I do—kind of. I just started dating again actually, but I don’t go over to their house on the first date.” I glance up from pouring the wine to see her face flush pink. “Not that I think this is a first date. I just meant I don’t—when I do go on dates…”

“I understand.” I smile, handing her a glass. “No one-night stands or random hookups with strangers. Certainly safer.”

She takes a small sip and sighs. “That’s so good, thank you. What about you? Lots of strange women seeing your place after less than twenty-four hours?”

“No.” I chuckle. “My dating life consists of me working till ten p.m. in a cubicle farm most nights… or did rather.”

“Ah, yes, to unemployment.” She lifts her glass to mine and we cheers before taking another drink. “Any more decisions regarding starting your own firm?”

“Let’s have a seat.” I nod toward the couch and she follows me over, taking a seat on the cushion farthest from me. “So, the client called me this morning.”

Her eyes grow wide like she’s just as excited as I am. “And?”

“He said, and I quote,” I lower my voice, attempting to recreate the same gruff tone, “‘let’s get this goddamn ball rolling, son. What the hell are you waiting for? The sun to shoot out your ass and tell you to pull the trigger? Start the damn firm and make me more money.’”

She laughs at my impression, her eyes sparkling. “Holy shit, that’s amazing. Congrats! What are the next steps?”

“I’ve spent all morning looking through office building rentals. One of my college buddies, Craig Nelson, he’s really up-and-coming in the corporate real estate world so he’s helping me navigate all of that. But get this. That’s not even the biggestnews. He told me two of his business partners want to move over to my firm starting day one.”

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