Chapter 10

ten

ISLA

I walk through the week in a daze, but maybe there's an upside to my disastrous date with Maddox Graves. Alex has consumed my thoughts for five months. But this week? He's only popped into my head a few times.

Progress is progress, no matter the cause.

Jess and Nevaeh texted me earlier in the day, demanding a girls' night out. Apparently, staying in on a Saturday night is a crime. They want to get dressed up and meet for dinner and drinks at this posh downtown bar called Skin and Tonic . The bar boasts the best cocktails, delicious food, and go-go dancers who sway to the beat in cages that hang from the ceiling.

It's a bit too expensive for my blood, but after roping me into a miserable date, my friends have offered to pay. They feel guilty about the whole thing, but it's fine. I'm over it. And I'm not really in the mood to go out tonight, but they won't take no for an answer .

They're worried about me. I get it. So, to ease their minds, I agree to dinner.

I'm not interested in drawing attention to myself, so I wear a simple black dress that hugs my curves and hits just above my knee. My hair is in loose curls, and I've winged out my eyeliner sharply enough to cut. Jess and Nevaeh draw attention wherever they go, so if I want to blend into the background, I need to look good, but not too good. I fidget with the hem of my dress the whole Uber ride there, checking my phone every few minutes.

Jess texts to say she's running late.

Hopefully Nev is on time.

Skin and Tonic thrums with energy. The girls made a reservation, so I follow the hostess to our table, dodging patrons who laugh and dance. She seats me close to the bar and I settle into the chair facing the door so I can wave to the girls when they arrive. A harried server scurries over to take my drink order, and I try to relax. A few familiar faces dot the crowd—I recognize them as people Jess and Nev work with—but I don't try to initiate small talk.

I'm sipping my passionfruit mojito and alternating between checking the door and my phone when it buzzes with a new text.

Nev

Ladies, I am so sorry. Got roped into an emergency situation at work. I'm not going to make it.

Jess

My boss has been talking my ear off for the last hour about this promotion. I'm not sure how late I'll be. Isla, please tell me you're not already there? I will leave right now if you are.

My stomach sinks. Of course, this would happen. And I know Jess would walk away from her boss to make sure I'm not alone. Because they're worried about me. But I don't want her to do that. She's been gunning for this promotion, and she's worked so hard for it.

So I lie.

Me

Nope! Couldn't find my keys, so I just hopped in the Uber. I'll tell her to turn around. We can do this another time.

Jess

I am so sorry, babes. Are you sure?

Of course. Go get that promotion. Tell me all about it later.

Nev

Sorry, Isla. We'll make it up to you.

Locking my phone, I sigh. I guess I'm finishing my mojito and heading home. It would be one thing to sit alone at a coffee shop. I could read a book on my phone without looking like a total loser. But here? Nope.

The sound of a throat clearing has me looking up.

A golden-haired man in a very expensive-looking outfit stands less than a foot away from me. He has boyish features and his eyes crinkle in the corner as he offers me a smile, and he must be almost six feet tall. The clothes accentuate a slim but fit build, and his jaw has the faintest hint of stubble. "Hey, Isla, right?"

I fidget in my seat. Have I met this guy? "Um, yes?"

"Blake Carter. You don't know me, but Jessica Martinez's firm does my company's advertising campaigns. I'm the CEO of GoTravel. It's a house-sharing app. Maybe she told you about me?"

"Uh, no. Sorry." How does this guy know who I am? Instantly uncomfortable, I'm trying to think of a way to get away from him when he sits down beside me. Uninvited.

"Well, I hope this doesn't come off as weird, but Jessica had a photo of you and another friend on her desk and she told me all about you. I was actually at her office today and she mentioned something about going out tonight. I didn't realize she meant here. Small world." His gaze rakes over my body in an assessing way. "I have to say, the photo didn't do you justice." He flashes me a wide smile that's probably supposed to be charming, but I feel a bit like Little Red Riding Hood looking down the muzzle of the Big Bad Wolf.

"Oh. Wow." What the hell am I supposed to say to that?

He chuckles. "Jessica is here, isn't she?"

"I'm waiting for her and our other friend. They should be here soon," I lie.

"How ‘bout I keep you company until they get here?" He scoots his chair closer.

"You don't have to do that." Unfortunately, I tend to either babble or laugh when I'm nervous, and a strangled laugh claws its way out of my throat.

"I don't mind at all. It's serendipity." He winks. Gag. Not waiting for my acceptance, Blake leans toward me, giving me his whole focus while I try not to crawl out of my skin. "So, Isla, what do you do for a living?"

"Uh, I'm a teacher. English."

He nods his head. "That's right. Jess told me. Center High? That's very altruistic."

Oh god. She told him where I work?

"Not really," I say, because this is incredibly awkward, and even though this guy has a baby face and looks like a human Ken doll, he's also sizing me up like he's plotting how to get in my pants. "I get as much out of it as they do. I love teaching."

Blake nods again like he understands, but I know he doesn't. This guy's a CEO of a growing real estate sharing app. I highly doubt he gets what I mean when I say that the kids give me just as much as I give them. "You know, some of our listings offer discounts for teachers."

Really ? Is he trying to pitch me a vacation I can't afford? What is happening?

"Uh, that's nice."

He looks pleased. "It's a really great platform. Have you ever used it?"

"No. Can't say I have."

"I can get you a great deal." He's giving me bedroom eyes. Does he think offering me a deal on a weekend rental of some rando's house is a flex?

"Thanks…?" Is this really happening? Baby-face Ken looks at me like I'm a sure thing. Like I must be gagging for his CEO dick. Too bad for him. I have no intention of finding out if he's packing an amorphous blob down there like the Ken dolls of my childhood. I'm getting the hell away from him as soon as I get the opportunity.

"So, Isla, Jess mentioned that you recently got out of a long-term relationship." There's a predatory twinkle in his eye and my spine stiffens.

What the hell?

"I'm so sorry to hear that," Blake continues. He either doesn't notice how visibly uncomfortable I am, or he doesn't care. I grit my teeth when he scoots closer to me. So close, our knees touch. I immediately shift in my seat to put some distance between us.

"Yeah, well, shit happens." I scan the bar, searching for an exit or an excuse to bolt, but Blake doesn't seem to catch the tone of my body language, and he trails a finger down the length of my bare arm.

"It's hard to put yourself back out there, isn't it? You just never know if you'll click with someone. If you'll have sexual chemistry."

Shudder .

"But when Jessica told me about you, I had a feeling we'd get along."

Oh, he did, did he? Well, unfortunately for him, I'm not interested. At all. In fact, I would rather sleep with Maddox Graves—a man who clearly despises me—than the creep who's pressing further and further into my personal space.

I want to leave. But this guy is just creepy enough that I'm nervous about him following me home. If Jess mentioned where I work, who's to say she didn't also mention what neighborhood I live in? As unlikely as that seems, I'm not willing to risk it.

I need a plan. Or a miracle.