Page 21 of Secrets

She shrugs halfheartedly. “My social meter had run dry, I’m afraid. It was unfortunate that I left not knowing if I’d see you again, though.”

My heart damn near does a somersault. “Same. Guess fate had other plans.”

Other plans being to investigate what’s supposed to be where your shop is.

As if I’d been wandering around a dark room, distracted by the glowing green flicker of light, the overhead fluorescents violently flood the space.

Fuck. I should really start taking my damn prescription. Or at least a vitamin or fish oil.Something.

Reminded of why I’m here in the first place, I readjust in my seat and clear my throat. “Um, completely random, but have you heard of a place called Lexton Glass?”

Elena’s head cocks to the side for a moment, her brows drawing in slightly as she considers my question. But before she can answer, Mrs. Ward’s voice floats from behind the counter. “Yes, they are a little deeper in Noxus. Same street, but on the East end.”

“Oh, yes.” Elena nods as though something clicks. “I’ve only had a few people wrongly end up at the store looking for them over the years. I’ve asked them to fix it on the website but I guess they still haven’t.” Her smile returns. “Looking to get glass blown, Agent?”

Relieved the place actually exists, I cast a playful net out, not able to tell her my true intentions. “Perhaps. Would you care to join me?”

Elena’s face softens. “I thought you said we would go hiking?”

I release a huff of laughter. “We could go to the top of Mount Everest if that’s what you want.”

“What about the moon?” she muses, her smile taking on a more genuine tilt. My eyes rack over it and commit the sight to memory. “Would you take me?”

“I would bring it to your front door.” I lean forward and try not to suck in a surprised breath when she mirrors me, meeting me head on. Our surroundings fade to nothing, and the only thing I can focus on is the incredibly intoxicating woman in front of me.

“But what about the adventure of the journey? It means nothing if you simply drop it at my doorstep.”

I scoff, only slightly baffled. “I should have known that.”

She picks up her cup to take another drink, her lids suddenly low. “Yes, you should have.”

Her voice is playful, lined with a dare to challenge her, and I eat that shit up. Hell, I want to eatherup. I slip my phone from my pocket and slide it across the table. “So how about we not leave our next encounter to chance?”

Elena’s eyes drop to my phone, and I don’t miss the small muscle in her jaw that ticks. She’s fighting a smile, and I’m not sure if I love that I can invoke a reaction from her, or hate that she feels the need to conceal it.

“Is there a reason you like to hide your emotions?”

She wraps a delicate hand around my phone and I notice her nail beds are clean with no dirt in sight, but a few bits of polish are chipped. For some reason, that seems odd. I would assume she’s the type to completely redo a messed up manicure the day it isn’t perfect. “I’ve never found being easy to read an intelligent trait. Especially in Noxus.”

“So you must think I’m pretty damn stupid.” I wear my emotions as plainly on my face as a cartoon character. Not a thought flies through my mind without it showing. It’s gotten me in trouble on more than a few occasions.

“Surprisingly, no.” She lifts a shoulder. “Actually, it’s rather intriguing, interesting, even, that you’re so forthright with people.”

I tilt my head comically as I watch her fingers float across the screen of my phone. “So I interest you?”

Elena pauses, the smallest smirk breaking through her hold. “How can someone like you not?”

Her words satisfy something so deep in my core, my nerves thrum with a shot of dopamine. I prop my chin on my palm again and bat my lashes playfully. “True.”

She huffs and rolls her eyes before finally tapping on the small screen and saving her number. When she hands it back to me, a smile spreads over my lips. “Elena Baudelaire. So professional.” I click and edit the name with one I deem more appropriate. As I slip the phone back into my pocket, my snoozed alarm comes back from the dead and reminds me yet again, my time is up, but for real this time.

I internally curse my uncle for the babysitter he’s saddled me with and sigh. “I’m afraid I’ve got to go.”

Elena nods once and tips her cup toward me. “As do I.”

We stand in unison, the atmosphere now suffocating as we say a goodbye to Mrs. Ward and I lead Elena back outside and to her shop. I linger by her door longer than I should before opening it for her.

She holds out her hand. “Thank you again. This was…surprisingly pleasant.”

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