“How about for yourself?”
She makes a humming sound. “Let’s see, rose would be my dad’s homemade pizza.” Her face falls slightly. “Haven’t had it in years, but it was the best. He’d make his own dough and sauce from scratch. Some of my favourite memories are of him and Charlie making pizza together.”
There’s something more to what she’s saying, something that has made her sad. But it’s not my place to ask what, and before I can say anything, she continues, blowing out a breath and shaking her head slightly.
“And um, my thorn would probably be cooked spinach. That texture is terrible.”
I chuckle. “Don’t ever let my mother hear that, she’ll make it her mission in life to get you to like it.”
“Not a chance,” Isla says emphatically. She’s not quite back to smiling, but she seems to be mostly over whatever it was that shifted her mood.
“She’s a health nut,” I say, hoping to distract her. “A lifelong vegetarian, which is how I was raised. Then, as an adult, I discovered the pure joy of a good steak with garlic mashed potatoes.” I smile and rub my stomach. “So good. Anyway, she’s the kind of mom that refused to buy snacks from the grocery store and would make homemade granola bars and stuff. I hated it as a child, watching my friends get all kinds of treats while I had trail mix and dried fruit, but obviously, the habits stuck with me, since even now I tend to avoid sweets.”
Isla shakes her head, her face a picture of mock horror. “You mean, no fruit snacks? No Dunkaroos? No Oreos? What a terrible childhood. I think Charlie would run away from home if I took away his Froot Loops. Do you eatanythingsugary now?”
I grin. “Can I tell you a secret?”
She nods, leaning forward.
“I’m addicted to Nutella.”
She bursts out laughing, and it lights up her entire face.
“Really. Chocolate and hazelnut. That’s your vice?”
“Yep. I keep a jar in a mini fridge in my office for when I get a craving.”
Just then, there’s a loud banging above our heads. “Hello in the elevator, this is Captain Danson with the Cedar Creek Fire Department. Is everyone alright?”
“Yeah, we’re fine,” I call back, staring at Isla as she stands and smooths her hands over her hair.
“Good to hear it. We’ll have you out in a minute, sir.”
“Great. Thanks.”
Then there’s a screeching sound and the elevator door is forced open, revealing the smiling face of a firefighter.
“You two ready to get outta there?”
I nod and gesture to Isla. “Yeah, gether out first.” Thankfully, Isla’s so focused on exiting the elevator that she doesn’t look back. I awkwardly climb to my feet, realizing my legs are shaky. I’m literally weak in the knees for this woman. Which is a bigger problem than just hiding my leg.
I’m also hiding how I feel.
7
ISLA
I normally hateconference rooms where every wall is glass. It feels like I’m in a fishbowl.
However, every time I’ve had to sit across from Luca in this space, I’ve found myself feeling quite grateful for the awareness that anyone and everyone can see us in here.
It’s helping me keep my absolutely insane attraction to this man in check. An attraction that is even stronger after being stuck in an elevator with him for over an hour and getting to know him as a person, not just my employer.
Juniper thinks it’s hilarious, the fact that my new boss has me thinking all kinds of things I have no right thinking. She immediately googled him the second I confessed to her how incredibly handsome I think he is, but he has a remarkably sparse online presence. Which I already knew from my own search before I agreed to take the job.
Juni asked if he was asexy silver foxand while I agreehe’s definitely sexy, and a fox, the silver is more salt-and-pepper.
Aaaandnow I’m staring at his hair again.
