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All I could do was hope that maybe she’d call me. Text. Give me any excuse to go visit her and hold her in my arms again.
That never happened, so I’d tried to move on.
And I was left with the duty of helping Todd get back on his feet. I had to be there for him even though he hadn’t wanted the help. He had wanted nothing to do with me after our blow up.
I’d never been able to stop thinking about Lana. And being in the same room with her had my body instantly on edge, almost ready to pounce.
Alexander talked to Lana for a few minutes, and it hit me. I really didn’t know if it’d be a relief to finally be near her after so long, or if it’d be torture because she’d moved on and had no interest in reliving anything we had together.
“I didn’t know you were back,” Brent said warmly. “I wasn’t sure about this place, but now that I know you’re a part of the team, I’m not worried.”
They talked pleasantly for a bit, and Lana immediately started brainstorming some promotions and marketing opportunities she thought would work well for a brewery and for Deft Rock in particular. She promised to have more ideas to run past us within a few days.
When the meeting was over, I made my way to Lana when Beth approached me.
“Hi, I wanted to come introduce myself officially.” Beth held out her hand. “I’m looking forward to working with you and Brent. I’m excited to see what we can do for your business.”
“Likewise,” I replied. “I hope we can come up with some great things together.”
I watched as Lana spoke to Brent, but she seemed in a hurry to leave.
“Will you excuse me?” I said to Beth, not taking my eyes off Lana.
I reached her before she could make it out the door.
“Lana, hang on a sec,” I said, then I said to Brent over my shoulder, “I’ll catch up with you in a little bit.”
When he and Beth left, Lana and I stared at each other for a second. Then we both smiled, stepping closer, and I carefully pulled her into a hug.
“It’s so good to see you, Lana. How have you been?"
She hugged me, tentatively at first, then more tightly, before letting go and stepping back.
“I should have told you I’d moved back. I-I’ve just been so busy,” she said awkwardly. "What about you? The brewery seems to really be taking off."
"Yeah, it's going great," I said.
An uneasy silence stretched between us. The time apart hadn’t changed my pull towards her. I still felt magnetically drawn to Lana.
Having her in my arms again made my blood pound through my body. I still wanted her so much. The urge to kiss her was fucking unbearable, but I knew better than to do anything at her workplace.
“What are you doing tonight?” I asked. I’d missed being near her for three years. I didn’t want to add another day to that tally. “Have dinner with me.” I brushed my knuckles against her forearm, wanting to make my meaning clear. “Let’s catch up.”
Her big blue eyes met mine. I thought I saw want in them. Something that matched the way I felt.
But I could also tell that something was wrong.
21
LANA
Alexander and my direct boss,Chelsea, had a habit of springing things on me and the other managers.
I had no idea I was going to work on the Deft Rock account until Alex announced it in front of the whole room.
I was surprised not at the job or the work, but at being so unprepared to see Dylan Easton again. I’m sure I gaped like a fish trying to breathe the second I saw him.
He was wearing a dark grey suit that fit him perfectly, accentuating his broad shoulders and tall frame.
