Page 28 of Tuned To Break
“But you want it to,” Ella observes, her voice gentle but knowing.
“Yeah,” I admit quietly. “I want it to.”
“So what are you going to do about it?” she asks.
“Respect her wishes?” I say, though it comes out more like a question than a statement.
“Wrong answer,” Yasmin replies immediately, her voice firm. “Look, I don’t know Stella personally, but from everything I’ve heard about her, she’s not the type to say something she doesn’t mean. If she said it can’t happen again, there’s a reason. But that doesn’t mean the reason is insurmountable.”
“Right, so I should leave her alone then?” I blow out a strained breath, feeling defeated.
“No,” Ella corrects firmly. “You should figure out what the reason is and address it. If it’s about professionalism, show her you can be professional. If it’s about trust, prove you’re trustworthy. If it’s about fear of complications, demonstrate that you can handle complications without letting them destroy what you’re building.”
“Or,” José suggests with a wicked grin, “you could just seduce her again. Worked the first time, didn’t it?”
“That’s terrible advice,” Yasmin laughs, but she’s smiling as she says it.
“Is it though?” Chase asks thoughtfully. “I mean, if they’re both feeling it, and she’s just overthinking the professional implications...”
“Women always overthink,” Rhys chimes in, earning a sharp smack from Ally.
“That’s a dangerous generalisation,” she warns, but there’s affection in her voice.
“But not necessarily wrong in this case,” Ella muses, her expression thoughtful. “If she’s new to the job and trying to establish herself professionally, she might be overcompensating by being extra cautious about personal relationships. It’s a common response to feeling vulnerable in a new environment.”
“So what do you suggest?” I ask, genuinely wanting their advice.
“Be patient,” Ella says. “Show her you respect her professional boundaries while making it clear you’re interested in more. Don’t pressure her, but don’t disappear either.”
“How do I do that without sending mixed signals?”
“Small gestures,” Yasmin suggests. “Things that show you’re thinking about her without being overwhelming or obviously romantic.”
“Like what?” I ask, feeling slightly lost in the complexity of it all.
“You already brought her lunch once,” Chase points out. “That was good. Thoughtful without being too forward.”
“Make sure she’s not working too late,” Arden suggests. “She’s been putting in long hours, and someone should be looking out for her well-being.”
“Learn what she likes,” Ella adds. “Coffee preferences, food, music. Pay attention to the details that matter to her.”
“And for fuck’s sake,” José says with exasperation, “stop looking like a kicked puppy every time she’s professional with you. It’s pathetic.”
“I don’t look like a kicked puppy,” I protest, though I have a sinking feeling he might be right.
“You absolutely do,” Asher confirms with brutal honesty. “Yesterday when she told you to finish that parts list, you looked like she’d just told you your dog died.”
“The point is,” Chase breaks in, trying to steer the conversation back to constructive territory, “if you want this to work, you need to show her you can handle whatever she dishes out. She’s not going to respect weakness or neediness.”
“I’m not weak,” I say, feeling defensive.
“No,” Ella observes quietly, “but you’re acting like her rejecting workplace romance is a personal rejection. It’s not. It’s her being sensible and protecting herself professionally.”
“So prove you can be sensible too,” Yasmin adds. “Show her that you understand her concerns and that you’re willing to work within whatever boundaries she sets.”
“While also making it clear you haven’t given up,” José finishes with a grin.
Arden starts plating up the meat, the steaks perfectly cooked and arranged with the precision of a professional chef. “Bottom line, Jake—if you want her, go after her. But do it right. She’s not some bar hook-up or casual fling. She’s potentially something real, something lasting.”
