“Maisie, let me introduce you to my fiancée, Harlow,” Walker began.
“It’s so nice to finally meet you,” Harlow said, her smile radiant. “I would love to talk to you about a few small decorating jobs if you’re interested. Maybe we can get together for lunch tomorrow or someday soon?”
“That would be great,” Maisie told her. “And I’m free tomorrow. Want to meet back here at noon?”
“Perfect!”
Walker cleared his throat before introducing her to Connor, Slater, and Milo. She shook all their hands, and when everyone went to sit back down, she ended up sitting between Axel and Slater. Connor pulled up a chair and sat at the end of the table.
Her thigh was pressed against Axel’s, and she had to hold in a moan. She’d missed him so damn much, she didn’t even think it was possible. They barely knew each other, and yet she couldn’t stop thinking about him. Day and night.
But mostly at night.
She missed being tangled up with him, feeling the heat of his body pressed up against hers, and being touched by him. He was always affectionate, and it was something that had been missing from her life—something that had never been there—and now that she’d experienced it, she wanted to feel it again.
Only…she couldn’t.
She was heading back to Manhattan on Friday for her cousin’s wedding, and she had no idea what life was going to look like after that.
Everyone was talking to her at once. Before she even ordered food, she agreed to decorate Connor’s home once he decided on one and talked to Milo about redecorating his Seattle offices. Her head was spinning. She ordered a chicken sandwich and ate while everyone had dessert; the entire time, she was completely aware of the heat coming off of Axel’s body. She longed to lean into him and it took every ounce of strength she had not to.
Still, by the time they were all done, she was feeling a bit euphoric. For three weeks she’d been trying to find new clients, and one dinner had her confirming three of them!
They all slid out of the booth, and Maisie was almost sorry the meal was over. It had been a long time since she’d just hung out with a group of friends and felt so…included. Working with them wasn’t going to be a hardship.
“You ready?” she heard Axel softly ask from behind her.
Well, maybe a little bit of a hardship.
She had a feeling that seeing him and just being coworkers wasn’t going to be easy.
But it was necessary.
Getting involved just wouldn’t work, no matter how much she wanted it to.
“Um…yeah,” she said, turning and following everyone out of the pub.
Outside, she listened as they all made plans to go back to the resort. Connor was going to pick up his daughter, Harlow and Walker needed to buy groceries, and Milo and Slater were going to join them. They all wished her a good night and planned for when she would see them again. When it was down to just her and Axel, she was almost afraid to look at him.
“I guess I’ll be seeing you,” she said quietly, not quite meeting his eyes.
“I guess so,” he replied flatly.
They stood in awkward silence for several long moments, neither moving away.
But when Maisie finally forced herself to take a step back and look around, she noticed that everyone was gone. “I guess you drove yourself here because it looks like everyone left.”
“What?!” Axel frantically looked around and must have come to the same conclusion because his expression was furious. Pulling out his phone, he tapped the screen with way too much force before he put it to his ear. “What the hell, man? Where are you?”
She wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but she couldn’t make out who he was talking to.
“No, I didn’t leave with Slater! Am I at the grocery store with you?” he demanded and then paused. “I’m standing in front of the pub with Maisie, Walker! Why didn’t you wait for me?”
Now he paced away from her. She watched as his arm was waving around as he continued to argue with Walker. Part of her wanted to be insulted that he was so opposed to being here with her, but what did she expect? He’d been so angry with her the day she left the resort, like he couldn’t wait to get rid of her, and now he was stuck with her again.
Ugh…
“I’m not doing that,” she heard him say. “I’ll call a cab or go on Uber or something. I’ll just see you back at the resort.” He paused before muttering, “Yeah, whatever.” Sliding the phone back into his pocket he let out a long breath before turning around. He seemed surprised that she was still there.
