Page 53 of Beneath the Stars (Sugarlake 1)

He sucks in a breath, but clamps his mouth shut and nods.

“You two know each other?” Regina points between the two of us.

Chase starts to answer. “Yeah, actually we used—”

“Our folks are neighbors,” I interrupt. “We grew up together, but no. I never really knew him.”

I stand stoic, my gaze never straying from Regina. But I can feel him. My body hums, reminding me of the first time I saw him at eleven-years-old, and just like then, I have to clench my fists to keep from reaching out. Pathetic.

He clears his throat. “Right.”

Regina stands up and grabs her purse. Is she leavin’?

“Well, that makes things easier then, considering the two of you will be spending lots of time together.”

Chase goes rigid. “She’s my point of contact?”

Regina looks at him, arching a brow. “Is that a problem?”

“No, I just—I was under the impression I’d be dealing with an office manager.”

“She is the office manager.”

He glances my way. “Not an instructor?”

I stay quiet, but the beat of my heart drowns the room with how hard it’s slamming against my chest. All of my energy goes toward keeping it together. Just a few hours and you can go home and fall apart in private.

Regina laughs, a slight blush gracing her cheeks when she glances at Chase. Oh, honey. Don’t waste your time. “Instructor? I don’t need any instructors, I need someone who can file papers and show up on time. After this morning, I’m not even convinced she’s capable of that.”

Embarrassment rises to my cheeks, and I literally ha

ve to bite my tongue to stop the retort. She has no idea what I’m capable of.

I peek over at Chase, the blueprint in his fist gripped so tight it’s crumpling.

Regina continues, “Anyway, since no introductions are needed, I’m off. You two have a lot to talk about, I’m sure. Chase, if you could just lay out for Alina what you did for me, that would be great. I’ll check in later this week.” She turns toward me. “Alina, I left a list of things for you to complete before the end of the day. Menial tasks, but my cell number is written at the bottom in case you have any questions. Let’s try to be on time tomorrow, hmm?” And with that, she’s out the door.

The room is jarring with its silence. I keep my gaze locked on the desk, unwilling to be the first to break. Because I was always the first to break. I need him to see I’m not the same girl he once knew.

“Goldi, I—”

“I told you not to call me that. My name is Alina.” I bring my hand up to rub my pulsing forehead. “Can you just show me what you’ve got, so we can get this over with?”

“Yeah, yes. Sure.” He shuffles his feet and attempts to smooth out the wrinkles on the blueprint he smashed.

I cross my arms as I watch him. I thought he was grown in college, but clearly, God wasn’t done sculpting his masterpiece. His style hasn’t changed, still casual in a black t-shirt and dark blue jeans. But the veins that line his forearms and the way the cotton stretches around his shoulders has my mouth dry and my panties damp.

I work my way up, drinking him in. It’s like I’m dehydrated, from going so long without seeing him. I get to his face and my eyes meet his. I gasp, my heart jumping from being caught. His gaze burns into me, and my stomach clenches. The threads of our connection come to life. They sizzle and pop, elated at our close proximity.

“You look good, Alina.” His voice is husky.

His words make me want to preen, but I catch myself—sickened by my reaction to him after all this time. After what he’s done.

“And you look like my biggest regret.” The words are out before I can stop them. He winces. Guilt tries to slither its way through me, but I slap it back down.

He wasn’t there when I needed him most. Cheated on me while my mom was dying in the hospital. He doesn’t deserve my remorse.

He sighs and leans back, gripping the edge of the desk. “Look, I had no clue you worked here, and I won’t lie, I’m excited about this project. But I don’t want to make things harder for you, so if this…” he waves his hand back and forth between us, “will be an issue, I’ll tell Sam to put someone else on the project.”

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