Page 31 of Suddenly Desired
Blake nodded, emerging from the conversation the same way he emerged from dreams. He blinked, the room gradually reforming around him, noticing the muted sounds from the rest of the library, the sunlight filtering through the window.
“God, sorry, I really went on,” Ellie said.
“No, not at all,” Blake replied, feeling as if they had been talking for a matter of minutes. When he checked his watch his jaw almost hit the floor. Over two hours had passed since they’d entered the room. “Wait, is that right? Were we really talking all that time?”
“Youweren’t,” she said. “I was. I don’t know when to stop.”
Never, thought Blake.You never have to stop.
“That was amazing,” he said. “I mean, really. This is all your work?”
“Yeah. I’ve been working on it for ages. Foryears, really. It’s where my heart has been.”
“I can tell. It’s so you, so naturally brilliant. It’s like all those wonderful thoughts have just spilled out of your beautiful head and—”
Blake choked on his words.Shut up, you idiot!his brain yelled, and he gasped for a way to cover his tracks.
“I mean . . .” was as far as he got before Ellie started laughing.
“You’re ridiculous,” she said. “But thanks for being nice.”
For what felt like a small eternity they looked at each other, their unspoken thoughts hanging between them like the little specks of dust floating in the sunlight.
Then his phone buzzed in his pocket, breaking the moment.
He pulled it out, and a text from Nate lit up the screen:
Landed. Office in an hour. See you there.
Blake felt the familiar pulse of adrenaline surge through him. This was it — his chance to get answers, to figure out who was behind the sabotage and how to clear his name. But as he glanced back at Ellie, the thought of leaving her here felt wrong.
She noticed the shift in his expression, her brow furrowing slightly. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah.” He slipped the phone back into his pocket. “I’ve got a friend helping me with access to Heartbook. His plane’s just landed. I need to meet him.”
Her eyes widened slightly, and for a second, he thought he saw something like disappointment flicker across her face.
“Oh,” she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “Then you should definitely go.”
And it was true, which is why he was so surprised to hear himself say, “Will you come with me?”
Chapter 16
ELLIE
Ellie felt as if she was riding a roller coaster, with each new minute bringing an unexpected twist or a breathtaking loop-the-loop.
What is happening?she had to ask herself as she walked by Blake’s side, down the sweeping staircase of the library and out of the main doors. She couldn’t believe she’d talked his ear off for so long about LifeWrite, and that he’d listened to it all without looking at his watch, yawning dramatically and making an excuse to leave — which is what Josh had always done.
Most of all she couldn’t believe he seemed genuinely interested, and ithadbeen a genuine interest. His questions had all been intelligent and curious, his comments insightful. He’d heard every single word she had said. The whole thing had been literally unbelievable, yet here she was, walking out of her favourite building with her new favourite person.
Though she was certainly theonlyperson in the Blake Fielding fan club at the moment.
Even with his glasses back on, subtly disguising his features, people were starting to notice him. Some of it was unavoidable — he exuded a quiet, commanding presence that naturally drew eyes.
But it wasn’t the kind of brash confidence she’d come to expect from the few wealthy people she’d encountered in passing. Blake’s aura felt . . . different. He carried himself with a calm, reassuring strength, the kind of energy that made you want to lean in, not shy away. Her mum had always said that truly kind people had a certain light about them, and Blake practically radiated.
It didn’t hurt that he looked like he’d just stepped off the cover ofGQ. Those broad shoulders, the way his fitted polo shirt hinted at the muscle beneath — yeah, he was bound to attract attention.
