CHAPTER 3: Isabelle

I wanted to die when he walked into the room. The very man that I spilled coffee all over was my boss. My very gorgeous boss.

I had stayed away from men since my last breakup. They were heartbreakers, and I had other things to focus on now, but Mason Drury was gorgeous. I’d heard his first name during the conversation between him and Hannah. He looked to be a bit older than I was and his eyes were mesmerizing.

Somehow, I managed to get through my paperwork as they both told me about the company. The pay was higher than I expected to get this soon and the benefits were amazing. I could afford to take Kendra to the doctor more often with my own money now and I thanked God for this job. I could afford our apartment and cook us decent meals. I didn’t have immediate family here, but the point was to get out on my own and be a mom to my six-year-old daughter. I just didn’t move so far that visits weren’t possible on a regular basis since I lived with my parents for most of the last five years. They watched her while I went on with my plans to finish college and get a degree that would allow me to have the job of my dreams. I appreciated them every moment of the long days at school and nights studying while Mom handled everything for me.

Once I graduated, I started sending resumes around California and the surrounding states. I’d always been interested in Oregon and Washington and saved enough money to move here, lucky enough to find this job just before the move. It all worked out too perfectly and Mason was going to be the hard part of the situation. I hadn’t dated since I broke up with Kendra’s father shortly before her birth. He didn’t want anything to do with her so we did our thing and moved into my parents. I didn’t want to, but I knew that supporting her and our own place would take all of my time and money. I’d have no time for school and Mom assured me that it was a good idea. She was a wonderful grandma, and I felt the sting of tears in my eyes for a moment.

I knew this was the best. I looked around my cubby for a moment, imagining the pictures I could hang here. I glanced towards Mason’s cracked door before I focused on the screen of the computer, reading over my welcome emails. This was going to be a great job, and I needed to keep my mind on that.

I researched the publishing company for a little while, recognizing some big names on the author list. The company had been around for some time and had a great reputation in the book world, so I felt like I scored a great job.

I knew that I could handle the programs and working with books felt too good to be true. I had lined up a great place for Kendra to go in the mornings and afternoons before and after school that had hours that went perfectly with mine. I had an older neighbor that I knew and loved they could watch her in a pinch. I felt like a responsible adult that was getting ahead of the game.

I was still close enough to visit my parents without too much of an issue. Dad was an airline pilot and got me free tickets even if standby was a regular occurrence.

I opened the company email that I was going to be reviewing with Mason and the list of books in the in-box was intimidating. He’d already shown me that departments were separated within the system and it would be relatively easy to remember the names after a few thousand emails. I took a deep breath and figured I’d go in order, reaching for the coffee and taking a large sip. It wasn’t bad but the best part was that he made the effort to get this for me. I figured that he would hate me forever for what I pulled this morning and I looked at his door for a moment and I took another drink from the cup.

I started with the oldest book, using the cues that Mason gave me to determine if they were being read yet. This one wasn’t, and I opened the document to see that it seemed to be a paranormal romance that I was going to read. Mason did tell me that he didn’t dislike any particular genre that the publishing company worked with so this might be fun. I reached for my reading glasses and pushed them on as I settled into my chair to begin reading. This was something of a dry run where I’d make notes about big changes before sending them on to Mason for the final thorough editing. His were the last pair of eyes to see the books before they went to production and I smiled at the idea.

I was a shy kid and spent most of my time reading. I had my close friends in school and out but once I arrived home, the house was overflowing with testosterone from my older brothers and I needed an escape. I started reading at an early age and grew to love it my whole life. Reading for a living was going to be amazing.

It didn’t help that I read extremely fast while still managing to be thorough. That was certainly a bonus. I read and jotted down notes about the story of all sorts, suggesting any changes that I’d make and blinked when I felt someone staring at me. I glanced up to see Mason looking down at me with an amused smile. “Are you going to read right through lunch?” He asked me as I glanced at the corner of the monitor to see that it was inching towards one. I brought a variety of snacks to work with me and nibbled all day. Blushing as I realized that my desk must be a mess.

“It would seem so. Thank you for bringing that to my attention. You might have to tell me to leave at night, too.” I made the bad joke and smiled weakly as he raised an eyebrow at me. “Is there an outdoor eating area?”

He explained that he was going with a manager to grab a bite, inviting me along. I held up my lunch bag and smiled again as he told me that he’d point me in the right direction. I didn’t have the money to just grab lunch out every day so I packed something every day for both myself and Kendra. I certainly wasn’t going to get assistance for that with this job, but she liked her lunches. We’d plan them together and pack them the night before. I found a table in the courtyard and opened my salad before I cracked open my La Croix. I already arranged with the supervisor of the Adventure Club that I could text and get little updates and I reached for my phone, nibbling my lip. I asked how Kendra did this morning and Terry assured me that she had a great time and happily went off to the school around the corner with a few of the student aides.

I breathed out a sigh of relief and closed my eyes. My daughter was sweet and confident, given that we moved away from her only home and stuck her in a brand new school for first grade. She had dark hair like me with a hint of red and light blue eyes like her father and was getting tall already for her age thanks to Jackson.

Jackson Carter. He was my weakness in high school and I’d foolishly fallen for his lines in Junior year. We dated, or so I thought for six months and then I ended up pregnant right towards the end. It was foolish on both our parts but I was willing to accept that and run with it after a few tearful conversations with my mother. Jackson had already graduated, and I realized that he was moving on.

He left me and my baby behind, but my parents stepped up to help me. They knew that I was not going to be the kind of mother to let them raise my kid. I didn’t, either. I was there for every milestone and still finished school and even went to the university in San Diego. Mom stopped working when Kendra was born and helped me out so I could focus mostly on my classes. It was a tough choice to move here all on our own but when I was looking for jobs, this position jumped out at me. I applied, and the rest was history.

I stabbed the salad and took a bite as I looked around. The sky was cloudy but dry and I glanced up at the covering that might allow me to be out here in the light rain. I thought ahead to tonight where we would eat, do homework and try to start a normal routine that would allow us both to get some sleep. My apartment wasn’t in a quiet complex but Kendra slept like a champ. I appreciated the near constant noise since it was a new house and we lived there alone.

I heard the ding of my phone and cleaned up to go finish my day at work. I noted that Mason was walking to the elevator with another man and watched quietly. He was a handsome man but even if he wasn’t the boss, I’d never have a chance with someone like that.