Chapter Three
Blake
I hit send on an email and glanced at my watch for the tenth time that hour. It was five fifteen, I’d just finished my last meeting, and I still needed to wrap up a few things before I could take off for the night. I usually worked later than this, because I accomplished a great deal more when I was the only one in the office, but I hadn’t been able to focus since running into the Scooter’s girl in the elevator during lunch.
What were the odds?
The last thing in the world that I was looking for was a relationship, even a casual one. Skye and I called off our engagement months ago, yet the residual ick had me determined to stay single for a long-ass time.
Forever sounded pretty fucking awesome to me at that point.
But there was just something about the Scooter’s girl.Amy.After so much dishonesty with Skye, so many little white lies that piled up as teasers to her Big-Ass Lie, it was refreshing to bearound someone who seemed so open. I’d only met her for a total of five minutes, so technically I didn’t know dick about her, but compared to my just-let-me-explain former fiancée, she felt…real.
I hated small talk—and most people—in general, yet talking to her had beenfun.After we’d gone our separate ways in front of the Incite building, I’d sent her a quick text, just so she had my number.
Testing 1-2-3.
She’d responded immediately.NOW who’s the bunny boiler? I JUST left the building and you’re already texting. Obsessed much, Joe Goldberg?
I’d stopped walking to send:Did I mention that one of my cats is blind?
Because the look that had crossed her face in the elevator when I said I had a cat was fucking golden.
She replied,You are a menace, Mr. Chest, and I should probably block you for that sort of filth. Also, on a random side note, when you call tonight, make sure you have the kitties nearby so I can hear their little meows.
Damn it if I wasn’t really looking forward to calling her.
Fucking lunacy, that.
“Knock, knock.”
I looked up and Pam Carson, the HR manager, was leaning into my office.
“Hey, Pam,” I said, giving her a smile even though all I wanted was for her to go away.
“Hey.” She smiled back and said, “Listen, Isabella Shay, ournew generalist, started today, and I just wanted to introduce you before she goes home. If you have a second.”
“Sure,” I said, even though I had no interest in meeting her new employee.
It wasn’t that I was uncaring, but Pam—and the entire HR department—ran like a well-oiled machine. Technically, on the org chart, they were part of my team, but unless something unusual was going on, the HR director handled everything and I had very little contact with the group.
Except when Pam showed up at my door every few months to introduce me to a new hire.
“Isabella, this is Blake Phillips.”
Pam stepped sideways in the doorway, and a brunette smiled and raised her hand in a casual wave. I opened my mouth to say,Nice to meet you, but the girl standing just outside my office looked exactly like—no, holy shit, it was—Scooter’s Amy.
What in the actual hell?
Izzy
“You havegotto be kidding.” I knew I was beaming like a toddler looking at an ice-cream cone, but what else could I do except grin? Fate was literally throwing this man at me. This big, gorgeous, charming man. I said, “Youagain?”
“This is getting ridiculous.” Mr. Chest looked super important, sitting behind the huge desk in the huge office. He was smiling at me, but that wrinkle was back between his eyebrows.
“Do you two know each other?” Pam asked, swinging hergaze back and forth between us like nothing had ever been more interesting.
“I spilled coffee all over this guy at Scooter’s this morning.”And also gave him my number.“It’s a shockingly small world.”