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“Thanks.” I smile shyly. I’ve come a long way in the confidence department in the past three months, but I’m still shy around strangers. That’s just who I am, and I’m okay with that.
“I know you’re heading into a meeting, so I’ll go. I’m meeting Jules for a late lunch and a little shopping.” Natalie grins at her husband. “Don’t worry, I won’t go crazy.”
“Go as crazy as you like,” Luke says. “You’ve earned it and more. Love you.”
“Love you, too.” She turns her friendly smile to me. “It was good to see you again, Lexi.”
“You, too.” Natalie leaves, and I glance over at Luke, who’s watching the door with a lovesick look on his ridiculously handsome face. “She’s pretty great.”
“You have no idea,” he replies before straightening his tie. “We can go to the conference room. I hope your trip was good?”
“A bit of a bumpy landing in Seattle, but not horrible.”
“It’s always bumpy landing here,” he says. “And thanks for coming in. I know it seems silly to bring you all the way to Seattle for an afternoon meeting, but I like to have everyone here together, rather than try to discuss things in a Zoom meeting. I feel like things get lost in translation, and you can’t always depend on internet connections.”
I smile as he stops at the kitchen to order a coffee. I join him, and he continues talking while we wait for our orders.
“It’s okay. I haven’t been on a trip since the last time I was here. I think I’ll spend a couple of days in the city, go to a museum, shop, that sort of thing.”
I’m not going to assume that I’ll spend time with Shawn. I know I’m going to see him today, and I’ve managed to keep my emotions in check. I haven’t heard from him in three months.
The man just isn’t interested.
But I can be professional, friendly, and get myself through the day without making an ass of myself. We can be coworkers.
That’s been my mantra since Luke’s email came in two weeks ago. At first, I was terrified. But I meditated, and once I was thinking clearly, I realized that Shawn and I are adults.
Everything will be fine.
When our coffees are ready, Luke leads me down the hall to the conference room that Shawn and I worked in when I first arrived here. It’s the same sterile space, and I’m grateful that I don’t have to work here regularly ever again.
I glance around the table, but I don’t see Shawn.
“Shawn’s late,” a woman says with a shrug.
“Pretty much a normal thing,” I reply and take my seat. The only empty spot is directly across from me, so I’ll have to stare at Shawn for the next couple of hours.
I take a deep breath, and just as I raise my coffee to my lips to take a sip, the door opens, and in walks the man that has haunted my dreams for three months.
Holy hell in a handbasket, he’s better-looking than I remember.
How is that even possible?
His green eyes scan the room and land on me. Then they darken, and he keeps his gaze focused on me as Luke greets him. He doesn’t even look away as he takes a seat across from me.
I’m the first to look down at the paper in front of me as scenes from our time together flash through my mind. Laughing and talking. The incredible sex. The days walking the beach, and our time at the cabin. Helping his family at the pub and spending time with his parents.
I still talk to his parents. Weekly, if I’m being honest. I adore them. Besides my time with my mother, the regular chats with Fiona and Tom are my favorite part of the week.
For a while, it helped me not miss Shawn so much. Now, they’re my friends.
I glance up to find him watching me calmly, his eyes not showing any emotion. Yeah, I’ve missed him, and I’d love nothing more than to climb over this table and have my way with him.
This is going to be a long meeting.* * *“Thanks again for coming all this way, Lexi,” Luke says, shaking my hand. “I think it was valuable, and this movie is going to be fantastic.”
“I agree,” I reply with a smile. “Thanks again for taking it on, Luke.”
“Thanks for writing a story we want to see on the screen,” he says with a wink before he walks out of the room. I see Shawn discussing something with Adam, the director, so I take the opportunity to duck out and quickly gather my things and walk down the hall to the elevators.
I’ve just walked out the front doors of the building when I hear his voice.
“Lexi.”
It’s the same tone from the airport. Firm and strong. I stop where I am, take a deep breath, and turn to find him standing ten feet away, his hands at his sides, waiting.
