Page 57 of Undone

“And that’s Mr. Harris,” Lana added.

“It’s nice to meet you. We’re glad to have you on board,” he said.

Something about him made me uneasy, though I couldn’t quite put my finger on why.

After the brief introductions, Chad cleared his throat. “How have you been settling in?”

“Good, good,” I replied. “Everyone’s been really welcoming.”

“A change from city life, huh?” Mrs. Rodriguez said with a wink.

I nodded. “Yeah, definitely different, but I like it. Needed the slower pace.”

Mr. Harris leaned in slightly, his eyes lingering. “A fresh start can be good,” he said smoothly, something about him making the hairs on my neck stand up.

I hated how I would overthink the simplest of interactions lately. But that was my reality after John. He made me question everything: myself, other people, even the most basic conversations.

I forced a smile. “It’s definitely a nice change of pace for me,” I replied lightly, steering the conversation away from whatever he was hinting at.

Brooks smiled casually. “Woodstone definitely has its charm,” they added, brushing a strand of their short hair out of their face with a light laugh.

After a while, the others headed to the bar to order more drinks. I decided to stay behind with Lana, not trusting myself with alcohol around new colleagues.

I still felt like the new kid trying to find my place. I was trying to navigate my way through this new small-town life as a single, almost thirty-year-old woman recovering from not only a failed relationship, but the ultimate failed relationship.

Lana was easy to talk to though, making me glad I’d come tonight.

I turned slightly, and my breath caught when I saw him.

Dorian stood at the entrance of the bar, Colt beside him. His tall frame was unmistakable, even in the crowded space. His eyes locked onto mine immediately, like I was the only person in the room.

Lana continued talking about the small-town quirks of Woodstone, but despite my best efforts, my attention kept drifting.

I noticed her gaze move past me, following the spot where my eyes kept moving to, and she paused mid-sentence. A knowing smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

“Dotty is your friend, right?” she asked.

“Yeah, she’s my best friend. That’s why I moved here,” I said, hoping my voice stayed firm despite the rush of thoughts in my head.

Lana’s smile deepened as she raised an eyebrow. “So, you know her brother, Dorian?”

“Yeah, we’re…just friends,” I replied, keeping my tone casual.

“Friends?” she said, the word dripping with playful doubt. She glanced over her shoulder, then turned back to me with a knowing grin. “Because from where I’m sitting, it looks like he’s staring at you like he’s seeing something more than just a friend.”

I could feel the heat creeping up my cheeks, betraying me. “It’s not like that.”

Lana leaned back in her chair. “Noah, I might not know you well yet, but I know that look. Trust me, that’s not how a guy looks at just a friend. That look says he’s ready to jump your bones and then propose.”

I nearly choked on my sip of water, coughing as I wiped my mouth.

I couldn’t help but glance back at Dorian, who was now making his way through the bar.

“I’m not really in a good place right now to get into a relationship,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

“I mean, you could always do something… uncomplicated.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

---