Hunter

Would an hour be long enough, or do you need the full ninety minutes?

Me

An hour is plenty

I can schedule again with the people I’m interested in

Hunter

We’ll do ninety minutes for a second meeting, and up it to one-twenty for anything after the third

Me

Sounds good

My phone buzzed with the first addition to my schedule, a coffee meeting at 9:30.

The 10:45 date was brunch, and it was scheduled in a little café a few doors down from the studio. I was a regular there, which might make it awkward. But it also might make it more comfortable.

And the convenience of the location was unmatched. I should still have time to set up before my client arrived.

I pulled up my email inbox, and when I saw the hundred and twelve messages I’d missed, I got the hell out of there.

That was a problem for another day.

Abandoning my phone on the seat next to me, I lifted my eyes to the forest around us and let out a long breath.

I really, really hoped things would work out. Even if I wasn’t sure how.

My combat bootswere loud in the Lodge’s mostly-empty hallways. Charlie’s shoes were similar, but he didn’t have the same problem with noise that I did as he followed me to the door.

Clay was leaning against the wall when I got there, a fabric tote bag dangling from one of his hands and a coffee cup in the other.

I hoped the coffee’s strong scent would hide the smell of other guys on my skin.

I waved at Charlie, and he slipped away as I reached Clay.

“Peace offering,” Clay said, holding the coffee cup toward me. “It’s decaf.”

I accepted the cup gratefully, taking a quick sip.

Yummm.

He knew exactly what I liked.

“I forgot to stop on the way home,” he said.

“I was fine.”

“You’re addicted, Gorgeous. I’m sure you’ve had a headache all day.”

He wasn’t wrong.

“You’re not allowed to call me that anymore, remember?” I took another sip.

“I remember you saying that. I also remember deciding not to listen.”