Page 40 of The Secret Mate Society

"Everything," he said simply."But let's start with why journalism?What made you want to chase stories for a living?"

I hesitated, the familiar weight of my past pressing down on me.The real answer involved monsters and obsession and years of therapy.Not exactly first date material, or first‘friend date’material either.

"My dad," I said finally, choosing the simplest version of the truth."He always said I was too curious for my own good, asking questions nobody else would.After he died, I guess I channeled that into something productive."

Jake's expression softened with sympathy."I'm sorry about your dad.Car accident, right?"

I nodded, the familiar lie slipping out easily."Yeah.Long time ago."

"Still hurts though," he said, not a question but a statement of understanding."My dad died when I was in college.Cancer.Some days it feels like yesterday."

The genuine pain in his voice caught me off guard.It was the first truly personal thing he'd shared, a crack in that confident exterior."I'm sorry," I said, meaning it."That must have been tough."

Jake shrugged, but I could see the grief still lingered in his eyes."Life, right?Throws curveballs when you least expect them."He reached across the table, his large hand covering mine."Maybe that's why I recognized something in you that first day.That look people get when they've lost someone important."

His thumb traced small circles on my skin, sending little sparks up my arm.The tenderness of the gesture made my throat tighten unexpectedly.

"Jake..."I started, not sure what I was going to say.

The waitress appeared then, saving me from having to finish the thought.Jake reluctantly withdrew his hand as we ordered, but his eyes never left mine.

"So," he said once we were alone again, "enough sad stuff.Tell me something fun about yourself.Something nobody at work knows."

I thought for a moment, grateful for the shift to lighter territory."I'm secretly really good at karaoke.But only after exactly three drinks.Any more or less and it's a disaster."

Jake laughed, the sound rich and warm."Now that I have to see sometime."

"What about you?"I asked."Any hidden talents?"

"I make a mean soufflé," he said with a grin."Surprised?"

I was, actually.The image of this broad-shouldered man delicately preparing soufflés in a kitchen was unexpectedly charming."Very," I admitted."Wouldn't have pegged you for the baking type."

"There's a lot you don't know about me, Ethan Murphy."There was something in his tone, a hint of challenge or perhaps warning, that made me pause.

My phone buzzed again in my pocket, but I ignored it.Jake was right here, real and solid and interested.Whatever Calder wanted to explain could wait.

"Well," I said, leaning forward slightly, "I'm looking forward to finding out."

Jake's smile widened, satisfaction evident in his expression."Good.Because I think we could be really good together, you and me."The conviction in his voice was flattering, seductive even.It would be so easy to get swept up in his confidence, to let him take the lead and see where it went.But something held me back, a nagging voice in the back of my mind that whispered this was all moving too fast.

"Maybe we should focus on the friends part first," I said carefully."I'm still getting settled in Portland, figuring out my life here."

"Of course," Jake agreed, though I caught a flicker of something… disappointment?irritation?It swept across his features before his easy smile returned."No pressure.I'm a patient man."

Our food arrived, and the conversation shifted to safer topics.Jake told me about his favorite hiking trails around Portland, his love of craft beer, his weekend trips to the coast.He was charming, funny, and exactly the kind of man I should want.So why did I keep thinking about light brown eyes and the taste of rain on someone else's lips?

My phone buzzed a third time during lunch.This time, Jake noticed.

"Popular guy," he said, though his tone was light, I detected an edge beneath it.

"Sorry," I said, pulling out my phone to silence it."I should probably?—"

The message preview made my breath catch:

Please, Ethan.I know I screwed up.Let me make it right.

Jake's eyes were sharp as they flicked to my phone screen."Everything okay?"