Her eyes wandered as she considered. “You’re asking the wrong person. I’ve always put business first.”
I tapped my fork on the lined table, satisfied with her response. “Actually, I think I’ve asked the right person. And thank you for confirming my initial thought.”
“Ah, so this wasn’t hypothetical?”
“Not for me at least,” I answered.
“Well, to tell you the truth, I’m going through something similar. I just uh…signed a deal with someone I considered…more than an acquaintance but not exactly an old friend.”
I raised a brow since she appeared to be regretful of the decision. “And?”
“It’s not easy.” Her eyes wandered up and around. “He can be very…secretive about his business plans and I don’t like to work that way, you know?”
“Sounds like you might need to cut that tie loose.”
“Also, not easy. This…uh, deal, happens to be my…highest paid, currently.”
I watched her, running a thumb across my bottom lip, taking a moment to try to make sense of what she was saying. Not because it didn’t make sense but because she was talking around something. Like coding certain words.
I needed to snap the hell out of this before I say something stupid again.
“Anything I can help with?”
She gave me a hard stare while shifting the pendant on her necklace back and forth.
“Sorry, forgot the rules.”
She rolled her eyes. “I don’t have rules. I just don’t like to mix business with pleasure. If I tell you what I do, it would be hard for you not to think about it.”
I leaned forward. “I’m super intrigued now.”
“I’m just Isabel. Single, yes. Live in New York City, of course, and I tend to dress for success.”
“Well, I thank you for those three wonderful facts, Isabel—and full disclosure, I only found one of those facts kind of wonderful.”
She blushed and I grinned in response. I knew I could turn it around.
“This dish was truly delicious,” she commented.
“I’m glad you liked it.”
Something dark flashed in her eyes and her smile faded. It was so sudden and whatever it was, it was bothering Isabel. She lifted her palms abruptly and shook her head. “I don’t know why I said that.”
I drew back. “So you didn’t like it.”
“No, I did.” She looked back at me from her plate. “I don’t think it was truly delicious. I thought it was very good. I especially enjoyed the olives. And the wine. And the breadsticks.”
Normally I would have frowned at such peculiar behavior, but everything about Isabel just intrigued me, and I only wanted to hear more. A slow smile spread across my face as she went on.
“I don’t think I’ve ever uttered the wordstruly delicious, that’s not who I am, to be honest,” I laughed at myself and leaned back in my chair. “And quite frankly, I’m pretty full and I think I would prefer to just walk with you and maybe even stop for mint chocolate ice-cream.”
ELLE
My heart beat like a thunderbolt. Why the hell did I let Char get in my head? I—noIsabelhad always been smooth, swift and easy with Scott. Now I let Char’s stupid condition of being myself ruin everything. I really wasn’t hungry for an entrée or anything else for that matter. Although this place was so perfect and romantic, I’d just felt claustrophobic suddenly. But jeez, did I have to insist on ice cream?
Sure you don’t want to add that you’d like it in a cone, Elle?
But to my surprise, the man didn’t flinch. He barely took his eyes off me. Scott lifted a finger slightly, and the waiter was at the edge of our table within seconds.
