Page 46 of For the Love of Art

CHAPTER

SEVEN

My heart was now pounding so hard it hurt. The smell of his cologne encircled me, and I wanted to give in. I wanted to let this sexy, successful man kiss me.

Familiar green eyes flashed through my mind.

“I can’t do this!” I cried out.

I pushed past Nathan and swiftly made my way down the hall, the stairs, and out the door, all with Nathan calling my name repeatedly.

I reached the elevator and hit the button more times than necessary.

“Isla!”

No time.

I looked around and saw the sign for the stairs. I sprinted down them. I heard my name again before bursting into the main lobby, then spilling out on the street, tears pouring down my cheeks.

When I was about a block away, I looked over my shoulder. Nathan wasn’t following.

I managed to hold myself together as I figured out the transit system to get from Nathan’s apartment to mine. Once in the door, I fell to my couch and cried.

The couch dipped, and something fuzzy ran along my arm. I turned my head to see Hamburger sitting and staring at me. I reached out and petted him, a purr coming from deep in his throat.

“I think it’s always going to be you and me against the world,” I admitted. “I’m obviously never going to be with a man again.”

The next morning, I peered through the doors of the gallery. Dori was at the computer, and there were, thankfully, no signs of Nathan. I pulled the door open and breezed in with a confidence I didn’t really feel, but I needed Dori not to catch on that something was off.

“Good morning, Isla!” Dori’s voice was chipper.

Mission accomplished.

“Good morning,” I replied with a wave before making a beeline for my office.

Once inside my office, I leaned against the door, my eyes closed as I let out a small breath of relief.

I figured I could hide in here for the majority of the morning before having to venture out. Unfortunately, my amazingly laid out plan was ruined when I heard–

“Isla.”

I opened my eyes.

Nathan sat in my desk chair, turning it slightly left and right as his eyes bore into me.

“Hi, Nathan,” I said, my voice shaky.

Nathan stood up and walked around the desk. “I wanted to clear the air.”

I tried to back up, but the closed door was in the way.

“It’s fine. Everything’s fine.”

“No.” Nathan shook his head. “It’s not fine.”

I pressed my lips together and did my best not to let it show that being in the same vicinity as Nathan was doing things to me. He looked worried, and the slight stubble on his cheeks and the bags under his eyes made me think he might not have slept well.

“Isla, I need you to know I didn’t invite you over for… that.” He shook his head and paced my office. “God, I feel stupid just thinking about it.”