Page 9 of Surprise Me Tonight
Stella blinks. “I—I think I’d start by—”
She glances at me again.
Her voice falters.
That flush creeps higher up her neck, the way it did when she first looked at me. It hits me again, hard. Sharp enough that I forget to keep up my mask.
“Sorry,” I interrupt, leaning forward slightly. “Do I know you from somewhere?”
Her expression tightens. Her fingers tug at the edge of her cardigan. Her gaze meets mine properly now, and there’s something cold and clear in it. Not flustered. Pissed off.
“I usually pride myself on not forgetting a face,” I say, still watching her, “but with you... it’s bothering me.”
Her jaw sets.
“You literally bumped into me,” she says. “At the coffee shop. You held the door for the yoga beauty, walked straight into me, and didn’t even blink.”
I freeze.
“You probably can’t remember my face,” she adds, “because you never looked at it. I wasn’t worth it.”
Silence.
I should respond. I should say something to pull it back.
But I don’t. Because she’s called me out and she’s right.
And somehow, her saying that makes everything worse.
The way she’s looking at me now, with flushed cheeks, a steady gaze, and breath just a little too fast, it hits like a punch to the gut.
Arousal. Guilt. Frustration. All tangled into one tight, heavy pull low in my stomach. Frustration at myself, mostly. Because I can absolutely see myself doing this.
I don’t remember bumping into her, but the fact she looks familiar makes me wonder if I clocked her without realising. If, deep down, I noticed her and dismissed her in the same breath. She’s not the kind of woman I usually pay attention to. And maybe that’s exactly the problem.
Still, none of that changes the fact that she looks like she wants the floor to open up beneath her. I should give her an out.
“If this doesn’t feel like the right fit--,” I begin.
“She’s hired,” Jess cuts in.
Stella and I snap our heads to the phone.
“What?” we ask, together.
Jess is already nodding. “She’s perfect. Competent. Honest. And clearly not afraid to call you out. If she’s willing to take the job, it’s hers.”
Stella’s mouth parts slightly. Stunned. Still breathing a bit harder than before.
I say nothing. I can’t. My thoughts are a mess and half of them are completely unprofessional.
Jess looks at her. “Well?”
Chapter 4
Stella
Jess’ question hangs inthe air like a challenge and an invitation at the same time.
