Page 14 of Say You Remember Me
“It is?” Her eyebrows knitted together.
“Yes. I briefly dated the woman in the red dress,” I said under my breath. “I think she and her friends are just curious about who you might be to me.”
“Oh.” Maddie’s eyes widened as she did a double take at Tennille and her friends. “So they probably don’t realize I’m your assistant?”
“Probably not.”
“Which means they probably hate me?”
I chuckled. “I think that’s a safe bet.”
“Oh goody,”Maddie muttered under her breath. And I had to resist the urge to pull her closer—to protect her from the prying eyes.
We reached our table, tucked slightly away from the crowd but still within view of those watchful stares. My gaze wandered to Tennille again, her long blonde hair and icy-blue eyes standing out. And just as expected, she was staring right at us, her perfectly manicured nails tapping rhythmically against her wine glass as she whispered something to her friend.
We’d met at a party last summer, and after hitting it off, had spent a whirlwind weekend in Costa Rica. The fling had fizzled almost as quickly as it started, but the jealousy in her eyes now suggested it had left more of a mark on her than I’d realized.
Which was part of my problem—too many brief flings leading to too many hurt feelings.
It was why I’d decided to cut myself off from all of it last August after I returned from my trip to Italy.
Okay fine, if I was beingreallyhonest, losing hope of ever having a chance with Addisonmayhave also dulled the thrill of chasing after anyone else, especially after realizing how empty my superficial hookups had been. Getting my hopes up with my best friend’s girl had shone a spotlight on everything I’d been missing.
Which was why my kiss with Maddie at the club had blindsided me. It was my first real flirtation since I’d sworn off those reckless impulses, my first slip-up in nearly a year.
And at first I’d thought it might be a sign—like maybe the universe was giving me the green light to get back into the dating game. That I’d learned my lesson and could pursue the captivating woman who’d shocked my black heart back to life.
But nope, it was simply a test. A cruel twist of fate since the woman I’d kissed in that moment of weakness was none other than my new assistant. About as off-limits as she could be, and a harsh reminder that I really needed to keep my hands to myself.
But even if I felt lonely at times, it was a worthwhile sacrifice since my performance at work had never been better. I hoped that by this time next year, when my dad announced his plans to take on more of a part-time advisor role at the company, I’d be the obvious choice to fill his shoes.
Which was just another reason why the business summit had to go well. It wasn’t just about boosting our company’s image—it was about showing everyone that Hastings Industries was still a force to be reckoned with in the business world and stronger than ever.
So instead of letting my mind drift to the drama of my past, I turned my focus back to Maddie. She had paused beside me, seemingly debating which seat to take.
“Here, let me get that for you,” I offered, moving to pull out the chair closest to us.
“Oh. Th-thank you.” Her eyes widened as though she wasn’t used to anyone doing something as simple as pulling out a chair.
Had her ex not done things like that for her?
“Of course,” I replied softly. Our eyes lingered for a moment, and when a faint pink flush rose to her cheeks, I couldn’t help the pull of attraction I felt.
She really was so pretty. Beautiful, yet somehow approachable in a hometown girl kind of way.
And though I had typically chased after flashy, shiny women in the past, this sweet single mom from a small town… Well, she rattled me.
And I was rarely rattled by anyone.
As I helped her into the chair, the faint scent of her perfume—citrusy and light—drifted between us. It was subtle but intoxicating, and though it was probably the same scent she’d been wearing when she’d kissed me at The Garden, it felt familiar for another reason.
Out of nowhere, a flicker of the past surfaced: a girl I’d met on a beach during spring break of my freshman year of college. Her face was blurred by time, but the scent—or maybe just the feeling of that moment—brought it back.
Weird.I furrowed my brow as I took my seat, trying to pin down why the memory had suddenly resurfaced when I hadn’t thought about it in years.
Had the girl on the beach worn the same perfume as Maddie?
Possibly. Scents had a strange way of embedding themselves in memories.
