ome respite from city noise and the we

find inspirational. Now it just reminded her of him. Of that night. Of the man who'd

cry. Not

numbness ov

at your work. Let

king of cas

er. If he wanted professionalism, fine. She'd be the definition of it. She didn'

rk in this city, the easie

to it-late nights, double shifts, spreadsheets,

d her, peering at her over the rim of her c

y. "Just focusing

aused. "Jaxon Black isn't the easiest cl

couldn't afford to let a

the upcoming brand review meeting

cour

r boss left the roo

tens t

listened. He remembered

best friend, Cassie drag her out to a local art exhibit

by a painting with vacant-looking ey

went up. "D

and pretending your heart wasn't stomped on by a

There's nothin

at her. "You told me you

d

d n

ne. "Now I'm putt

elieve

dn't a

about this-let me set you up.

itated.

nned. "You don't have to date him

es. But she didn

spoken, kind eyes. A tech startup founder named Reed, who

coffee the fo

spresso. "Cassie's not an easy sell. When she likes someone, th

Ava replied wit

ubt t

t bring up past relationships. He told her about his work, ho

't try to kiss her; he just brushed her arm sof

in years, Ava no longer felt like her

faster tha

back, and navy suit pressed sharp enough to cut. She didn'

eccable. Distant. He gave her a brief nod and s

timelines, and PR angles. Every word she s

h the meeting, she

his gaze lingered too long on her mouth when she spoke.

she handed him a file, she saw s

gr

ickly. "Everythin

opy to fit the new specs and se

ood.

was

on. Just the same unread

e didn't

own life t

eeks

Funny, in a low-key kind of way. He asked about her work, rememb

s hand brushed hers, her mind flickered ba

hate

he'd looked at her like she was the on

still wondered what

he charity gala t

rowing partnership with Blackstone Holdings. She wore a sle

be there. But of course, he

her across the b

nt, she le

t Reed, who had joined her t

jaw ti

l hours later when Reed had

sed, eyes flicking o

n," she sa

ed. "He's n

in the eye. "You lost

owed har

t wait fo

alked

o hear it, but because this t