Page 11 of Locking Down Qetesh

I laughed. "Fair enough."

A cheer went through the room, stopping any admissions from escaping unbidden, and keeping them away when speeches started. Thankfully, I didn't have to give one tonight, though the wedding was going to be a whole different matter. But I'd known what I was signing up for when I'd agreed to be Ella's Maid of Honour, and I was going to do the best job I could at it.

Chapter 5

QETESH

There was always something nice about sitting in the corner of the hotel's coffee shop with my laptop. Theoretically, I could claim one of the offices at Jinx HQ if I wanted to, but the idea of actually going into an office every day sounded terrible to me. I liked the freedom of working for myself and on my own timeline.

The barista brought over a fresh coffee for me and I flashed them a grateful smile. Of all the things that had become available over the years, coffee really was one of the best. Whoever had dubbed it the elixir of the gods wasn't wrong. It was certainly something that kept this goddess going.

I resisted the urge to drink some of it, knowing that it was too hot, and focused on my work instead.

My coffee was nearly finished when I heard a familiar voice, and I looked up to find Jacob standing at the counter talking to the barista. From the way they were interacting, it seemed like the conversation was going well, and that Jacob's choice of management style was working for him. I couldn't help but be impressed. It took a certain kind of restraint not to start changing things immediately. I was sure he had plenty of ideas for how to improve the way the hotel was run, and if I were in his shoes, I doubted I'd be able to do what he was.

He turned and caught me looking, flashing me a friendly smile.

I returned it, feeling a surprising surge of affection for the person I barely knew. Maybe it was just because he was Ella's brother. I'd heard her talk about him so many times that it was as if I knew him.

He finished his conversation with the barista and headed over. "Hey, Tesha. Hmm, is that weird?"

I laughed. "It's not."

"Oh good."

"Do you like Jacob? Or do you prefer being called Jake?" I asked curiously. I hadn't heard anyone refer to him that way, but maybe it was because he was at work.

"Jacob," he responded. "It made me feel important when I was a kid, and it kind of stuck."

I laughed. "Fair enough."

"Mind if I join you for a coffee?" he asked.

"Sure. I've just about finished this one," I said. "Though I was actually considering lunch."

"I've been meaning to try the food in the restaurant."

"I wasn't trying to insinuate anything..." I said quickly.

"You're not," he promised. "I really do want to try the food. I've tried samples in the kitchen, but it's not the same as sitting down to eat. Want to join me?"

"Are you sure I'm not an imposition?" I asked, even though I was the one who had brought up lunch in the first place.

"Eating alone is less fun than eating with someone. It's my treat."

"All right, but only because I've always wanted to try the chocolate bomb dessert."

He laughed. "Got it."

I powered off my laptop and slid it into the designated pocket of my handbag. Even though there was literally no way that this was anything other than a work lunch, there were some unfamiliar butterflies in my stomach, ones that I'd heard other people talk about, but not experienced that much myself.

I looked over at Jacob, wondering if I was experiencing a kind of attraction I didn't usually. But even if he was clearly a physically fit man, with a handsome face, it wasn't really doing anything for me. Other than being pleasant to look at.

He caught me looking and raised an eyebrow.

"Sorry," I murmured.

He shrugged. "It's fine. I'm used to it."

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