Burning for You

was supposed to

chains that dominated the business district, this place had character. Mismatched furniture, local art covering brick walls, and baristas who actually remembe

presentation for the Henderson Group had to be perfect. Three years of climbing the ladder at Morrison & Associat

the counter, her purple hair catching the m

ade replied, not looking up from her scree

hythmic hissing, the soft chatter of early morning customers, the jazz playlist that Maya insisted gave the p

disruption all

de half the cafe turn. A man stood in the doorway, phone pressed to h

s needed to include the overseas margins. How am I suppos

been doing exactly that all morning. His suit was expensive but rumpled, his tie loosened as if he'd been tugging at it. There was some

are if you have to call Harrison a

with the same warm smile she gave everyone, but Jade could see the slight wariness in her posture

get you?"

will keep me functional

h mor

. My assistant quit, my presentation is falling apart, a

voice, a weariness that went deeper than just a bad morning. She knew that feeling well. The weight of

" Maya said cheerfully. "And hey, at lea

r the first time, taking in the eclectic decor and relaxed atmosph

g shots with practiced efficiency. "Some of us believe coffe

arista had strong opinions about what she called "corpo

eral vision, noting the way he seemed to deflate slightly as the initial adrenaline of his p

is hand to Maya. "And you're right abou

there swears by it." Maya nodded toward Jade's corner,

, the kind that seemed to see more than they should. For a moment, neither of them looked

voice quieter now. "Not exactly the peaceful mo

ed by the breathless quality of her

h an intensity that made her pulse quicken. "You don't l

coffee cup and really look at him. Up close, she could see the fine lines around his eyes that spoke of long hour

eceiving," she

seemingly forgetting about Maya and his waiting

ngerous territory, the kind of conversation that led to complications she couldn't afford. She had rules about

interest in his eyes, she felt those caref

carrying a note of amusement that suggested she

whatever had just passed between them, she needed to get back to her presentation. The Henderson Gr

you'd mind if I sat down? My morning hasn't exactly gone according to plan,

ould make or break her career trajectory. Then she looked at Damien, at th

use the company," s

nsformed his entire face. The tired lines softened, and she caught a gl

r across from her. "And I promise not to take any m

no promises about my own st

osed his eyes briefly. "Maya wasn't exaggeratin

"I found it by accident a few mon

cid

ded up staying for three hours working on a project that had been giving me

again. "I can see why. It's not tryin

at made Jade study his face more carefully.

ggested more depth than his professional exterior revealed. "I've spent the last five years bu

e hadn't meant to say something so personal to a stranger. But there was something about the morning li

nt to build?" Ja

essing it further. "I was good at it, taking companies apart and putting them back together more efficient

tly what he meant, the gradual erosion of idealism th

t how to do the work I love without losing

y the morning light caught the stubble along Damien's jaw, the way his fingers curved around his coffee cup. There was an elegance to his

thodical, the kind of person who analyzed potential relationships like business

d, pulling her from her thoug

ut thinking, then felt heat rise in her cheeks agai

n leaned forward slightly, his attentio

ciates." She gestured toward her laptop. "Currently tryin

cli

might finally get the respect I've b

r face with an intensity that made her pul

ha

spect. You're just working in a

actly what she'd been afraid to acknowledge. Morrison & Associates had given her opportuniti

to say to someone you ju

hy

o believe you actually see

were only inches apart. Jade could smell his cologne, something warm

could hear. "Someone who cares enough about her work to steal thirty minutes of peace before facing whatever dragons await her in

catch in her throat

green eyes holding hers c

ould feel her carefully constructed defenses crumbling, could sense the

spell. A text from her assistant: Henderson Gro

er she'd been building for three years. Everything that mattered was waiting for her at Mo

said, already reac

back, but his eyes never left

utes, he'd managed to crack something open inside her that she'd kept carefully locked away. The par

w?" she asked, surprising

t her heart skip in respon

e ti

aware of Damien's eyes following her movement. As she reac

resentation, Jade. You

between two worlds. The safe, predictable path that led back to Morrison & Associates and the u

he wasn't entirely sure which w

ven minutes to perfect the presentation that could change her life. But as she walked toward her car, she

alized, were worth the

himself into. He had his own presentation to worry about, his own career hanging in the balance. But all he co

e with a knowing smile a

e," Maya said, settling

replied, still staring out the window

in every morning at eight-t

atching the matchmaker's gl

you're stressing about? You'll figure it out

slides. Somewhere in the city, Jade Martinez was preparing to fight for the care

he thought, were w