Page 14 of Single Chance

“So he gets Rusty Anchor into restaurants and bars?”

“That’s right. He’s very good at what he does. We’re lucky to have him.” She took out a key chain and unlocked the office on the inside corner. “This is you.”

There was a desk with a computer on it and a table with four chairs but not much else. No windows, but the overhead lights were warm and daylight bright with a dimmer switch.

“It’s everything I’ll need,” I said. I didn’t imagine I’d do much to decorate it. I didn’t have many photos or posters to put on the walls.

“Sorry it’s so bland.” Chloe frowned at it as if she was seeing it for the first time. “It needs colorful paintings. If you don’t have anything you want to bring, you and I can pick some out, and we’ll order them.”

“That sounds great. I don’t think my high-school science classroom materials would’ve fit in.”

She left the door open and led me back toward her office, but she paused at the open door that had previously been closed. “Come meet our director of marketing,” she said, peering into the office with a smile.

I followed her. When I laid eyes on the man rising behind the desk, it was all I could do to keep moving forward.

No. Fucking. Way.

“Chance Cordova, this is Rowan Andrews, our new assistant.”

I felt like I moved in slow motion toward the desk, taking in the so-damn-handsome face of the man I’d ushered in the New Year with. Meeting his gaze, I watched for a glint of recognition from him, but he gave no hint that we’d ever met.

Holy awkward moment.

My heart thundered in my chest as I tried to figure out how to handle this, deciding in a flash to follow his lead.

“Pleased to meet you,” he said as he shook my hand with a firm grip and a benign smile.

“Hello,” I managed, my mouth going dry. I couldn’t get out any pleasantries about how nice it was to “meet” him.

“Welcome to Rusty Anchor.” His eyes were still on me, telling me he did indeed recognize me—my God, I’d hope he would recognize me—but he’d decided not to reveal our connection.

Okay then.

“Thank you,” I said formally. “I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

I only half listened as Chloe told him this was an experiment for both of us, with me planning to return to teaching in the fall and her getting a better idea of how she could best use an assistant. I was too lost in my head.

I need this job. I can’t do anything to screw it up.

Would it really screw it up if Chloe knew I’d met Chance a few nights ago?

I couldn’t make sense of why he was pretending not to know me unless he was embarrassed or regretful. Maybe he was. Hehadsneaked out while I was asleep.

I’d been neither…until now.

“Holden and I are taking Rowan to Henry’s for lunch,” Chloe said, apparently not noticing any weirdness between him and me. Which was good. “We’d love to have you join us.”

“I have an errand I have to run over lunch,” Chance said, his eyes on Chloe now. “I’ll have to pass today.”

An errand or he didn’t want to have lunch with me?

Hello, complex. I was suddenly developing one.

“Next time,” Chloe said. “We have lots to cover, so we’ll let you get back to work.”

“Have a good first day,” he said to me with a smile. That dimpled smile.

Flustered, I managed to get out, “Thanks. I hope to,” then walked out after Chloe, internally flipping out.

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