Page 7 of Believing in You

He was wearing a wool cap pulled low on his forehead and a scarf around his neck. The tan peacoat looked stylish and expensive, and like everything he wore, the outerwear didn’t hide his muscular body.

Detailed memories of how good it felt to be cradled in his strong arms rushed to the forefront of her mind. The intensity with which he’d looked at her. His scent. His mouth. All of it had every cell in her body sparking to attention. While desire ping-ponged within her and had her squeezing her thighs together.

This is not good.

Nyla swallowed hard as Harrison’s long, sexy gait carried him farther into the building, but a man he was about to walk past stopped him. When they shook hands and started talking,Nyla released a long breath that she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

Get it together, woman.

Wait.

She turned back to Jamie who was grinning.

“By the way you were licking your lips, I’d say I chose well for you.”

“He’s my boss,” she whisper shouted, and Jamie frowned. “He’s the guy I report to at my temp job.” Jamie had no way of knowing that since she rarely discussed her temp jobs with him.

“Get the heck out of here,” he said, and then he burst out laughing. “Fate. It’s gotta be fate, and the way you were just drooling over him—”

“I wasn’t drooling,” she grumbled under her breath. “I was just surprised.” She took another peek over her shoulder, and Harrison was still talking to the other guy. “Quick. What’s Harrison’s story? He seems like a nice guy, but—”

“He’s cool,” Jamie interrupted as he wiped down the bar. “One of the best men I know. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be trying to hook you two up. I’m not sure how he is at work, but he’s funny, dependable, and there’d been a time when he’d do anything for anybody. Unfortunately, a few years ago…”

When his voice trailed off, and he glanced away, Nyla followed his gaze that landed on Harrison.

“What happened a few years ago?” she asked.

After a slight hesitation, Jamie huffed. “Let’s just say he’s been through some things. Things that shook him to the point of not trusting people anymore, but I think you can help him with that. You’re just what he needs. You interested?”

“Nope, just curious,” Nyla lied, her words spilling out a little too quickly.

She was interested, but she was serious when she said she didn’t have time for a relationship. Especially a relationship with someone with baggage, and Harrison came with a lot of it.

She knew all about trust issues and bad relationships. Her ex, John, had seen to that. One minute, she thought he was a great guy who really cared about her. The next, he’d made her feel like the lowest form of human life when he told her he was no longer interested in her. He’d wanted someone more of his equal.

Nyla took that to mean he wanted someone who worked in corporate America like he did. Or someone who was well educated, smart, and business savvy. Whatever he’d been looking for, clearly, she hadn’t been it. But he’d found it a few weeks later. Nyla had run into him and a mystery woman at the theater when she and one of her sisters had gone to see Wicked. The couple looked extremely cozy, and she had a feeling they’d been seeing each other for a while.

Nyla stood straighter when Harrison headed toward the bar, and she noticed the moment he spotted her. He slowed, narrowed his beautiful, almond-shaped eyes, and then his gaze bounced between her and Jamie.

Behind her, Jamie was chuckling. “This is too funny,” he said.

“This is not funny at all,” Nyla deadpanned.

“Nyla? What are you doing here?” Harrison asked when he made it to the bar.

“I’m the manager of Moody Days,” she said.

“Funny thing,” Jamie said, giving his friend a fist bump, “Nyla is the woman I’ve been trying to get you to meet.” Jamie glanced at her. “I don’t know who’s more stubborn, you or him. I received the same brush off from both of you, and one thing is clear—you two like each other.”

Nyla rolled her eyes at her friend. Maybe she should’ve listened when he’d said he had someone he wanted her to meet.Then she would’ve known it was Harrison and could’ve said,no thanks. But at that time, all she could think about was how often her mother tried to play matchmaker for her and her siblings. It was getting old.

“Manager?” Harrison said, ignoring Jamie as he glanced around the club before returning his attention to Nyla. “I didn’t realize you had another job.”

“Yeah, the temp jobs are my side hustle,” she said absently, distracted by the way he was shrugging out of his overcoat.

He was still wearing what he’d worn to work earlier, but somehow his shoulders seemed broader. His chest wider. And his flat abs were more defined despite the dark fabric of his turtleneck.

Gawd, this man!

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