Page 112 of The Heart You Kept

“Can I take your order?” the waiter asks.

“Oui.” I smile. “You can.”

I check myself out in the elevator mirror, fitted dress, flat ballet shoes and my hair swept up into a ponytail. I think I’m nailing the cute corporate look…well, at least giving it a red-hot crack. I’m excited for today, Nel Davenport is the contact of contacts, and if all I was supposed to reconnect with Edward for was to meet her then so be it. She texted me yesterday about our meeting this morning and I’ve never been more excited.

The elevator doors open and I stride out into the foyer, I’ve got this.

Even if I haven’t, I’m going to fake it till I make it.

I walk into the restaurant and look around and I see her sitting by the window with her laptop open.

I nearly skip over to her. “Nel Davenport?” I ask.

“Yes, you must be Alora Sorenson?” She smiles as she stands.

“Hi.” My voice comes out high and squeaky.

Play it cool

“I mean…hi,” I say lower as I hold out my hand to shake hers. “It’s nice to meet you.” God, she’s beautiful. Even more stunning in real life than in photos.

“I hope you drink coffee.” She gestures to the table. “I already ordered.” A cup of something black as the depths of hell sits in front of me.

Eesh….

“Thank you, I love coffee.” I smile, not a lie, I do love coffee, just more the type that doesn’t kill you.

“So….” She looks me up and down. “You’re a friend of Edward’s.”

“Oh, well.” I act casual. “An old friend, but we reconnected recently at a charity auction.” I shrug as the need to elaborate takes over, I’ll go with his story, “I went to college with his sister in London and when he found out that I owned an antique store he wanted me to meet you about the refurbishment of the hotel.”

“Oh, how fascinating.” She smiles all dreamily as she leans on her hand. “You’ve known Edward for a long time then.”

Hmm….

Something tells me that Nel Davenport is interested in more than the refurb.

“I have.”

“So were you as shocked as I was?”

“About?”

“Him and Hermione breaking up.”

“Did they break up?” I act oblivious.

She looks left and right as if about to commit a crime. “My sister’s best friend’s cousin is Hermione’s personal assistant.”

“She has an assistant?”

“Yes, and out of the blue, Edward called it off with her a few weeks ago,” she whispers. “Apparently she’s devastated.”

It’s blatantly obvious that she likes him, and I begin to hear my jealous heartbeat in my ears. “When was this?” I ask.

I haven’t heard from Edward at all. I have, however, watched the security footage an alarmingly large amount of times and my poor vibrator has been working double time.

“I don’t know, apparently he abruptly broke up with her but nobody knows why.”