Page 81 of At First Catch

“Because Mrs. Henderson saw you driving back.”

Miguel’s shoulders shake with silent mirth, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he watches me. “Relax. Nobody knows details.”

That does not relax me. At all.

I expect embarrassment. Instead, I smile as Miguel’s grin widens. “Don’t.”

“Didn’t say anything.”

“You were about to.”

“Absolutely.”

I leave him laughing and head toward the restaurant building.

By five o’clock, I’ve rewritten the same contractor email four separate times because my brain refuses to stop replaying the sound Hadley made against my mouth.

Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic.

My phone buzzes on the desk.

Hadley

Are you alive or did paperwork finally kill you?

My entire chest warms.

Me

Barely survived.

Three dots appear.

Hadley

Tragic.

Me

You seem unmoved by my suffering.

Hadley

I’m trying to stay humble after emotionally devastating you in the bookstore.

A laugh escapes me before I can stop it.

Christ.

She’s impossible.

Me

That kiss ruined my productivity.

My stomach flutters as I wait for those three little dots to pop up on the screen.

Hadley