ffee routine. It was a lie, of course. She could have made time, could have stolen thirty minutes between meetings like she always did. But thirty minut

substitute. She'd thrown herself into work with renewed intensity, staying late to perfect proposals tha

n't wo

tired when she'd been getting plenty of sleep. The partnership meeting had gone well. David Morrison himself had complimented her strategi

ke she was sleepwalkin

r: Maya says you've been buying coffee from machin

d in her chest. He'd gotten her number from Maya, which meant h

responses before settling on: Some cri

tely: What are you pre

gathered her things to leave. But as she waited for the elevator, she found herself thinking about the wa

pressing the button for the parking garage. As

30. Just in case you decide terribl

at happened to pass by The Grind, just to see if the construction on Fifth Street had been compl

ght as she chatted with the early customers, the mismatched furniture arranged in

tside, she could see the smile that transformed his face, could feel the pull that had been d

ot to you?" Damien asked a

standing, one hand on the back of h

ow, amusement dancing in his green

ly visits establishe

if I'm willin

ossible given the tension humming between them. Jade found herse

offee," she observed, notin

g. I had a feeling

in your powers

inability to tolerate

he slid across to her. "You think you know

. It's a profe

have you

on your left wrist anyway, which suggests you care more about aesthetics than convenience. You check your phone exactly every twelve mi

across her knuckles from a childhood accident she rare

you. Obs

t el

. You're avoiding me because you are interested, and that

w. Jade felt heat rise in her cheeks, felt the careful wall

presum

it w

llenge there, the invitation to

s it sca

ard to get where I am to let attraction derail my focus. Because men like you don'

moment, processing he

getting what you want without

u think I want?

't y

e to corporate ethics. I want to know what makes you laugh and what keeps you awake at night. I want to underst

e'd forgotten they were there. But they also terrified her, because they suggested Dam

want from someone

me know yo

g smile and a plate of pastries. "On the house," she announced. "For

barista was already walking aw

" Damien

she's appointed herself

should probabl

eling some of the tension leave

nt. There's a

I'm sitting, it looks like h

de, if I'm making you uncomfortable, if you want me

suit she'd encountered from other men, the assumption that her resistance was just a game to be won. But D

me alone," she admitted qui

that a p

s I can't have has nev

you can't

you're here temporarily and I'm tr

hing against hers. The contact was brief, barely

y doesn't have to

if it

running away before we even find out what this

d pull away, could maintain the distance that kept her safe. Or she could admit that the past three day

w to do casual,"

s this i

eaving in

s cha

cessful consultants don't usually rearrange th

circles on the back of her hand. "You're right. They don't.

in her throat, felt the ground shifting beneath her feet. This was dangerous t

he said, but she made no m

e do you

always wo

Even corporate war

voice in her head warning her about professional boundaries. "I

nei

plication I c

be I'm exactly

& Associates ringtone that meant work was calling, reality intrudi

e said, reluctantly pulli

nswered, watching Dami

day? The Henderson Group wants to move forward, and w

nversation that could change everything. "O

Conferen

amien, who was watching her with an

ews?" h

ging news. P

ou shou

on the opportunity that could make her a senior partner before her thirtieth birthday. But loo

o say?" she asked. "Ab

ful in it. "Go handle your career-changing

ll

re tomorrow

y confident

. You're too curious to

ind Damien still watching her, and for a moment she let herself imagine what it would be li

mie

ea

ifth Street. Seven o'clo

but not before she saw the smile

or partner track, her own team, a salary increase that would change her life. Everything

of the day thinking about gree

then switched to something more casual, then back to professional because she didn't want to seem like she was trying too hard. Finally, she settled on

hile couples settled into intimate booths along the walls. Jade gave her name

d by a man who looked like he belonged in expensive restaurants. His shirt was perfectly pressed

aid as she appro

think I w

. But you've been

d but somehow felt perfectly natural. As she settled into her seat, Jade caught

go?" he asked once t

ally. They're promotin

hat's what you've b

hree y

nd as excited

surprised by its accuracy. "I am

ut

opportunity, a chance to b

ht, his green eyes seeing more than she

there's

The fact that you're twisting your n

It's just... the timeline is aggressive. They want me to take over the Henderson account

h is eve

vel. Probably no time for..." S

omplic

ing that i

k orders and disappearing again. In the silence that followed, Jad

ns now?" Damie

career. I do what

d u

ction, there's chemistry, but there's

ing to work aroun

ntually you'll get tired of comp

assumptions abo

ence, men who claim they're

hear. "I'm not other men, Jade. And you're not other women. Mayb

ting, how the candlelight made his eyes look almost predatory. She could feel the pull betwe

e you su

re it goes. No expectations, no demands on your t

rks, Damien. It doesn't stay

But maybe that's

took their dinner orders. The interruption gave her time to think,

d him watching her with an expressio

deflecting from the conversation

you want

id you

, but I lost myself in the process. Started making decisions based on profit margins i

u ran

urse. There's

I'm sitting, it looks like y

. But Jade was tired of dancing around the truth, tired of pretending th

mien's voice was carefully controlled, but

s complicated. And I think I'd be foolish to get involved wit

d of being hurt that she's willing to sacrifi

g. Jade felt her defenses rise, the familiar armor of

t run when thing

ng The Grind for three day

s diff

ow

depending on me. I can't just pack up and

with frustration. "Is that what you think I

n't

use success without purpose is just expensive emptiness. A

building? When the novelty wears off and

you get so focused on building your c

m, the restaurant continued its evening rhythm, couples laughing over shared meals, the cl

a sharp turn from flirtation to confrontation. They ate in relative silence, the eas

e said finally, se

ing a

eeting tomorrow, and this conversat

uctive, Jade? What

at him across the table, at the frustration and something deeper i

ng me want things I can'

ch

m worth rearranging a life for. Someone w

, covering her hand with his. "

how l

ng as you'

She wanted to believe him, wanted to trust that this connection could survive the demand

nd trusting it were dif

," she said, pulling

much

n't k

ed. "Take all the time you need. But Jade? Don't take so much time

ever came next. The evening air was cool against Jade's skin, carrying the sounds of the

dinner," she

for takin

Take a

he warmth radiating from his body. "You showed up. For so

lingering just long enough to make her breath catch. When he p

ight,

dnig

ty lights. Only when he was completely out of sight did she realize she was

raction, the way he'd looked at her when he'd asked what she wanted from him. Her body hummed with an energy she couldn't q

at she wanted. Not just someone who stayed, but someone who made her feel alive in a way her career achievement

kiss her properly, let herself sink into the connection they'd been building since that first morning

eep, Jade carried with her the memory of Damien's lips against her cheek and the question