“Wow, you’re really good at this,” Matthew Jones tells me, grinning. He’s the main person I will be working with from Mr. Montfort’s company.

He’s got such an infectious grin that I can’t help smiling back. “Aw, thanks! I supposed after my infamous presentation, you were probably expecting me to be really terrible.”

He shook his head. “Actually no. I’d already heard a lot of good things about you.”

“Really?” I can feel myself becoming warm with pleasure. “Do you think Mr. Montfort has forgiven me for the shoe incident?”

He laughs. “I can put in a good word if you like?”

“That would be amazing. Thank you.”

He looks at his watch, goes to say something, then stops himself.

“Go on,” I urge.

“I was just wondering if you wanted to go back to my office and go through the survey documents with me. We can start analyzing the results this evening. It will save you time if we do it together. Then you can bring it all back here and work on it with your team. Only if you have time, though.”

“Thank you. That would be great,” I tell him, gratefully.

We pick up bagels and coffee on the way to his office. He takes me to their conference room where lots of files and sheets are spread out on the long table. We work together, munching on bagels as we go. It feels so exciting to be finally doing the project we’ve been working towards for such a long time, and it’s five o’clock before I know it. A day at work has never flown by so fast.

“It’s getting late,” Matthew says, flexing his shoulder muscles. “You can go if you want. I can finish up from here.”

I hesitate. I didn’t really need to leave right now seeing as Nina was working from my house and looking after Draco for me. A job flexibility I really envied sometimes. “It’s ok, I’d rather get as much done as possible. I don’t have any plans tonight, so let’s finish it. It’ll be quicker with the two of us.”

“I like your style,” he says, flashing another glimpse of his white teeth, and handing me another file to look through.

We work steadily for another hour and a half. “Phew,” I say, leaning back with satisfaction. “That’s the last figure inputted.”

He grins at me. “Well done. You were really fast. It would have taken me three times as long to finish on my own. Hey, you know you said you don’t have any plans tonight. Let me take you for dinner to say thanks for your help today.”

“Thanks, but I really should get home. I have a sick dog.”

He shrugs. “That’s a shame.”

My phone rings. It’s Nina. “That’s my friend now with the latest update,” I say, accepting the call.

“What’s up, Nins?”

“Well, I’m just calling to say don’t hurry back. I’ve just given Draco his medication and he’s gone off to sleep.”

“Right. Okay. I’ll see you soon.”

“I heard that. Your dog is fine and your friend doesn’t want you to rush back. Are you hungry?”

I nod slowly. “Yeah, I’m starving!”

“Great.” He flashes that smile again. “I know a place nearby.”

We head towards the Marina to a cute little Italian place. We’re walking down the street chatting when suddenly I stop in my tracks. Just up ahead of us Jackson is opening the passenger door of a car. His Mom steps out and kisses him. Oh, shit. My stomach lurches. He’s so hot.

I don’t know what to do. Did he see me? I drop my head quickly,

“It’s just around the corner,” Matthew says.

I follow him, even though what I every cell in my body wants me to do is run up to Jackson and tell him I’ve missed him like crazy.

“Do you know that guy?” Matthew asks, putting his hand on the small of my back and steering me towards the restaurant.

“Yeah,” I tell him as we walk into the restaurant. “But it’s a bit complicated.”

We’re seated at a little table with a checkered tablecloth and a candle in a wine bottle. It’s very cozy. Some might even call it romantic.

“Ha. I bet you have lots of admirers following you around,” Matthew says.

I can’t help blushing. “I wouldn’t go that far. But I’m sure you’re pretty popular with the ladies yourself.”

“Another life time ago.” He gives a sad half-smile. “But it’s a little difficult when you have a seven-year-old kid to look after. Not that I’m complaining. He’s my best friend.”

“You look too young to have kids.”

“It wasn’t planned, that’s for sure. We tried to make it work but we ended up getting divorced about a year ago. I found out she was cheating on me.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. That’s awful.”

“Yeah, I didn’t take it very well. Actually, I was devastated,” he admits, “But that was months ago now. The scars are healing. It took time, but I’m coming to realize I was never truly happy with her. It was one of those obsessive relationships, you know?”

The waiter approaches us with a bottle of red wine and pours out a generous amount into our glasses. He rattles off the specials for the day and we both order the same thing.

“I never thought I’d ever be able to trust anyone again,” Matthew says once we’re alone again, “But now I believe that no matter how much you’ve been hurt in the past, you just have to move on. Love again. Trust again. Hope again. So, was that your ex in the street?”

“Oh no, that’s just someone I’ve been kind of seeing,” I say. My stomach flutters when I think of Jackson. I want to see him so much.

“If it’s any consolation I think he’s absolutely crazy to be just kind of seeing you,” he says, smiling at me, his blue eyes shining.

I feel that first sense of unease. Is he’s flirting with me? I mean, he’s gorgeous and charming… but I don’t like dating guys I have to work with and more importantly, I can’t stop thinking about Jackson. There is no man I want other than him. I decide that I need to be careful not to give the impression I’m a free agent. As soon as we finish our food, I lean back and put my napkin on the table. “I think I better go home. It’s been a busy day for me.”

“Of course,” he says, smiling.

We’re outside the restaurant when he leans in towards me. If I hadn’t stepped back, he would have ended up kissing me. Now I know he’s definitely flirting with me. Oh god, this is awkward. I take another step back as casually as I can and he immediately apologizes.

“No, I’m sorry,” I say reassuringly. “I hope I didn’t lead you on, or anything. I’m just not sure if this is a good idea. If we’re going to be working together, you know?”

“No worries,” he says with an oddly hurt grin. “You are way out of my league anyway.”

My Uber pulls up and I waste no time in jumping in and waving goodbye. Phew!