AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Isla laughed. “No. Shut up. No, it’s just that the first night we were in the bar, when Nico thought I quit and I said I absolutely did not want to quit, he texted that if you quit I was fired.”
I thought she was going to say more but when she didn’t I just nodded. “I’m not surprised. He sent me the same text. I had to play nice with you or lose my brand-new job.”
“Really? He sent you the same text? Interesting. Anyway, that’s what dressing sexy was all about. I wasn’t trying to get you to want me for my own satisfaction. It was more that the plan was you would get fired.” She wrinkled her nose. “I can admit, I’m glad you didn’t get fired.”
I was about three beats behind. I didn’t get the logic. “How was dressing sexy going to get me fired?”
“You would be completely inappropriate with me or you would lash out, in total sexual frustration.” Isla shrugged. “It made more sense at the time. Saying it out loud, it sounds like a long shot.”
“I still don’t even get it.” I really didn’t. “But thanks for being honest. I did appreciate the tight jeans, trust me, but the shoes were downright dangerous. I’m glad you’re back wearing boots because I don’t need you breaking a ankle to make an obscure point that was lost on me.”
“It was Dakota’s idea, but looking back, I can’t quite wrap my head around the logic. At the very least it was fun to torture you.”
That made me laugh as we walked down the sidewalk. It smelled like spring. New beginnings. There was a cold breeze, but daffodils were poking out of planters in front of shops and the trees had buds. “I’m sure there will be many more opportunities for you to torture me. Rest easy.”
“I think the irony here is that Nico’s plan backfired. He wanted us to get along, but I don’t think he intended for us to be having sex.”
“What he doesn’t know won’t hurt him. We’re entitled to a personal life.” Though if this relationship went the way I wanted it to, he was going to have to be told eventually. Which could be a massive, enormous problem.
Today wasn’t the day to think about that though.
Right now it was about possibilities and enjoying the moment.
We ate a very average lunch at the local pub. The food was under seasoned and over cooked. But that only served to reassure me there was room for another restaurant in Saugerties. Besides, I wasn’t really there to eat. I wanted to spend time with Isla and it amazed me what an easy rapport we had with each other.
Yes, she liked to snark at me. Yes, I liked to tease her and watch her get riled up. But it was a dynamic that worked for us. We both enjoyed going back and forth, trying to best each other. Not only was it entertaining, it was definitely a turn on.
By the time we were back on the road to Brooklyn, I was kicking myself for driving so far out of the city. Then again, that look on her face was I’d shown her Sadie’s would be cemented in my head for a long ass time. It had made me feel proud of myself for working so hard for what I wanted, and for honoring my grandmother.
It had made me feel worthy of having a real relationship with Isla.
While I spent the drive thinking of all the ways I could show her in bed that we were meant for each other, she was clearly on a different thought path.
We were twenty minutes from her apartment when she said, “I need to confront Martin. I’ve been avoiding the situation for weeks and I don’t like that.”
Yep. She was definitely on a different wavelength.
“And say what?”
“That he is an asshole and I hope he chokes on a turnip.” She wrinkled her nose. “Not in actuality, but you know what I mean. Seriously, why am I tiptoeing around? He stole from me. I am not the woman who sits around and lets people shit on me.”
“I agree. But what is confronting him going to do? I seriously doubt he’s going to admit wrongdoing or change his menu.”
“It should make him feel guilty. If it doesn’t he has no soul. But I guess that’s not even really the point. I need him to know I know he sucks.”
“If it makes you feel better, I guess. But let me go with you in case he gets crazy.” I didn’t really see the point. What difference did it make? Martin clearly didn’t care what Isla thought or he wouldn’t have lifted her ideas in the first place.
“No, you are not going with me. This is my fight, not yours. Besides, you being there will just make things worse. He hates you.”
She had a fair point. He did hate me for whatever reason. “Just be careful.”
“I worked with him for a long time. I deserve an explanation.”
“I think the explanation is that his ego was dented.”
“No, if his ego was dented he would steal from you, not me.”
“That’s true.” I glanced over at her. “Do you need me to do anything?”
