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My irritation doubled alongside the suspiciously-like-jealousy-but-couldn’t-possibly-be-jealousy tendrils snaking through my veins.
“Oh! Hi.” The blankness gave way to a surprised smile. “Kai Young outside the Upper East Side. I never thought I’d see the day.”
“Miracles happen every day.” I assessed the man beside her with a cool once-over. Late twenties or early thirties. Tall, lanky, with curly brown hair and a distinct European artist vibe amplified by his plaid scarf and ink-stained fingers.
I disliked him on sight.
“This is Leo Agnelli,” Isabella said, following my gaze. “He’s the author of one of my favorite books,The Poison Jar.Have you read it?”
Thatwas why he looked familiar. Leo had been the darling of the literary world a few years ago. He was still well-known, but his two-year hiatus from publishing had stunted his momentum. Rumor had it he was working on a new book, but nothing had been confirmed.
“Yes.”
Isabella was too busy gushing about him to notice my unenthused reply. “I joined a local writing group to see if it would help with my block. Today was my first meeting, so imagine my surprise when Leo showed up!”
“I’m friends with the organizer,” Leo explained. “I’m in town for some meetings, and I dropped by to say hi.”
“Perfect timing.” Isabella’s dimples flashed. “It’s like fate.”
“How fortuitous.” I didn’t understand her excitement over Leo. He was good, but he wasn’tthatgood.
Unlike most writers who stuck with one or two genres, Leo’s works spanned literary, contemporary, and historical fiction.The Poison Jarwas the most introspective piece in his catalog, and Isabella hated lit fic.
They carried on like I hadn’t spoken.
“Are your meetings about your next book?” she asked.
“Some of them,” Leo said with a grin. “I’m working on a travel memoir about the two years I spent abroad.”
So the rumors about a new project were true. Normally, I would’ve texted my books and culture editor with the news, but I was too distracted by the way Isabella’s face lit up at the confirmation.
“Yes! I read your guest column inWorld Geographic.I can’t believe you went diving in Silfra,” she breathed. “That’s one of my top bucket list items.”
My jaw tensed as she rambled on about his adventures. Personally, I didn’t think they were a big deal. So what if Leo went diving between tectonic plates? He didn’tdiscoverthe Silfra Fissure, for Christ’s sake.
Isabella brushed a strand of hair out of her eye. Her tattoo peeked out from the sleeve of her coat, and I tried not to think about tracing its lines and swirls with my tongue.
I had a meeting to get to, but I couldn’t leave her alone with Leo. His timing was too suspicious. He justhappenedto be in town for meetings? Likely story. What if he was a stalker or, worse, a serial killer?
My phone buzzed with a new message from my assistant informing me the Whidby crisis response team was onsite. I reluctantly pulled my attention away from Isabella and typed out a quick response.
Me:I’ll be a few minutes late, but have them put together an initial crisis plan. Finance, legal, everything. I want bullet points when I arrive.
Alison:Consider it done.
Isabella was still gushing over Leo’s travels when I looked up again.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. Bungee jumping from Victoria Falls. Sailing through the Drake Passage to Antarctica.
Was he a writer or Indiana fucking Jones?
Unmistakable jealousy gnawed at my gut. She’d never smiled at me the way she was smiling at him, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she’d let him kiss her the way I almost had.
I shouldn’t have left her in the library.My sense of self-preservation and propriety had kicked in at the last minute, but for once in my life, I wished they hadn’t.
Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. My mouth opened before my brain could stop me. “There’s a big event this Saturday. It’s the VIP opening for a new piano bar in the Meatpacking District,” I said when Isabella paused for breath. “I have an extra ticket, if you’re interested in attending.”
It wasn’t hiking Mount Everest, but it was an exclusive event. Leo wasn’t the only one who could have fun.
