Page 5 of The Holiday Hookup

That’s why it’s better if I don’t date. I told Char as much, to which she rolled her eyes and demanded I stop being dramatic. It’s easy for her to say. She has a hot date every other week, choosing not to settle down because she simply hasn’t foundthe one.

I scoff, tearing off a piece of bread and stuffing it in my mouth with a cube of cheese. I type out my reply as I chew.

Me: Let it go. I’m not messaging him.

Char: I’m not letting it go

Char: you need to get laid

No arguments there, Char. It’s the whole reason I agreed to download the freaking Tinder app to begin with. But it’s been two months, and all I’ve had are two no-shows. If that’s not a sign from the universe, I don’t know what is.

To be fair, it’s not like I tried that hard. Between work, my pilates sessions, and my furry cat Felix, I keep busy. I’m also not a socially driven person. As Trent pointed out, I don’t want to go out all the time. I like hanging out at home with my own thoughts. Char and I have a standing Sunday brunch date, and we often see each other throughout the week. She is my best friend, after all, and living a few blocks away certainly helps.

“Hey, Kate.”

My coworker, Victor, takes a seat next to me with a plate of his own food, followed closely by his boyfriend. We take up amicable conversation and twenty minutes later, the place is full of noise and bustle made by the fifty or so employees from our branch at Valeri Financials. I excuse myself from the table to start making rounds, saying hello to the others, most of which I only recognize from seeing in the halls.

If all goes well, I’ll be out of here in an hour and back to cuddling Felix while watching reruns of Friends. I pause to talk with coworkers I know and their plus ones. I chat with Lily for a few minutes and when she finally excuses herself, I let out a breath. Glancing at my watch, I confirm it’s 9:30 pm.

Right on schedule.

I’m about to step up on the entryway when Rowan’s rushed words force me to stop.

“Kate! Come meet the new hire!”

So close.

I pivot, coming face to face with—

“Lorenzo?!” My mouth is hanging open like an ogling baboon, so I close it and blink.

“You two know each other?” Rowan says, watching us like a tennis match. He’s still wearing the shit eating grin I normally appreciate.

“We met last night, actually,” Lorenzo replies, his eyes glued to me. He wears the same smirk I couldn’t stop thinking about as I fell asleep. It sends an unexpected wave of tingles through me. He’s still in all black, but this time it’s slacks and a dress shirt rather than the jeans and long-sleeved tee. “What are—”

“I ran into him at the grocery store!” I sputter out. I tear my eyes from Lorenzo and smile at Rowan, who’s eyebrows crease in.The grocery store??

“That’s right. She accidentally bumped my car with her cart. Thought I was gonna have to put in an insurance claim.” His smirk widens and that stupid twinkle appears in his eyes.

Luckily, Rowan laughs.Ido not. Rowan says something I don’t process, then walks off, leaving me standing here with Lorenzo.

I round on him immediately. “Seriously? Bumped your car? You couldn’t come up with anything else?”

“It was that or watch your eyes bug out of your skull. Don’t get your panties in a bunch, princess.”

There must be fumes emitting from the top of my head. A server walks by with a tray of champagne flutes, and I grab two before he even notices. Lorenzo reaches out a hand but I throw one of the flutes completely back, followed by the second.

Because this is a joke, right? Some sick, twisted joke that the universe is playing on me. How in the world is Lorenzo starting at our firm? I went to bed last night storing the box that contained the memory of running into Trent on the ‘did not happen’ shelf.

Holding the empty flutes, I grit my teeth. “Can I speak with you outside for a moment?”

I stalk off to a removed area of the yard, dumping the plastic flutes in the trash bin I pass. The nearby bushes provide a glow from the lights strung along every inch of them. I spin around, facing— no one.

What the hell? Where did he go? I glance around, locating him talking to some employees at the closest table. I roll my eyes and sigh, my mind reeling at the speed of light.

I need to get this under control, STAT. I didn’t even tell Char about last night’s aggression, because that would require acknowledging it really happened.

Lorenzo finally walks over, at a very unhurried pace I might add.

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