Page 14 of Then There Was You

CHAPTERFIVE

Seb

It’s been a few days since Taylor moved into the apartment above the bar, and even though I’ve been at Eden every day since then, I haven’t seen her. I guess it’s not a big surprise. When I’m not serving, I’m stuck in my office doing paperwork, so it’s possible I’ve missed her.

I’m in the office, tackling some ordering, when my stomach rumbles and I realize I’ve missed lunch. I close down the laptop and head to the bar. It’s Wednesday, and it’s always quiet midweek, but I notice a few regulars are in. Ryder’s off today, but Alex is behind the bar, and I’ve got one server, Trudy, out on the floor.

“Hey, Alex. How’s it going?”

“Pretty quiet. Just a regular Wednesday. I did meet the new tenant, though.”

“Taylor?” I ask, frowning. He nods. “She was in the bar?”

“She still is.” He gestures to one of the high tables across the room. Following his gaze, I see her engrossed in whatever is on her open laptop, a glass of red wine on the table next to her. “You never said she was gorgeous.”

I ignore his comment and watch as her fingers fly over the keyboard on her laptop, her bottom lip pulled between her teeth. Her long blonde hair is piled on top of her head in a messy bun and black-rimmed glasses sit on her nose.

“How long has she been here?”

“A couple of hours.”

I’m still staring when she looks up. Her eyes meet mine and she smiles, raising her hand in a wave. I leave Alex behind the bar and walk over to her.

“Hey, Taylor. Are you all settled in?”

“Hi, Seb. Yes. Almost. I have a desk on order, but sitting on the sofa to work is killing my back, so I’ve come down here for a couple of hours. I hope that’s okay.”

“Of course it is.” I gesture to her half-drunk glass of wine. “Do you want a top-up?”

“I’d better not. One glass is my limit when I’m working. Any more and I’ll be making mistakes.” She giggles, and I smile.

“What is it you do? I don’t think Paisley ever said.”

“I’m an editor.”

“What do you edit?”

“Romance books. Erotica mainly.”

My eyes widen in surprise, and I sit down on one of the high chairs. “Really?”

She laughs. “Yes, really. You sound surprised.”

“I guess I am.”

“Why?”

I shrug. “You just seem a little shy, that’s all. I didn’t have you down for enjoying mommy porn.”

Her mouth drops open. “Mommy porn? I’m editing it, not acting it out. Have you ever read an erotic romance?”

“Well, no…”

“I can recommend some if you’re interested.”

“I’m more of a thriller type of guy.”

“You do read, then?”

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