Page 14 of Suddenly Desired
“Uh, I know the reward said Bookworm’s,” she said, “but can we go somewhere else?”
“Anywhere,” he said without hesitation. “You name it.” He popped his lips, looking down the street. “Just maybe not anywhere too public, if that’s okay?”
She nodded, remembering why he was dressed down and out here in disguise. The pleasant glow she’d felt just moments earlier dimmed slightly as reality set in. Right now, everyone in the city thought that Blake Fielding was an utter twat, his name plastered across the headlines for all the wrong reasons. And, for all she knew, they might be right. But she couldn’t quite reconcilethatman, with his outdated, derogatory views, with the guy standing in front of her, no matter what image the press had painted. She was amazed he’d dared to even leave his office with the pitchforks out baying for blood.
He’d told her he was innocent, and she’d already decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. Besides, this might be the perfect opportunity to find out for certain.
“I know the perfect place,” she said, resisting the sudden urge to slide her arm through his. “Just give me a second to call my mum back first.”
Blake smiled, sliding his sunglasses back on his face, the corners of his mouth quirking up in a way that made her stomach flip. “Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”
Chapter 9
BLAKE
It really was the perfect spot. A cosy but dingy, dimly lit basement venue with soft wall lights and flickering candles. The only other customers were an old guy propping up the bar and a couple talking quietly at a corner table, their hands intertwined, their eyes full of love. Blake glanced at them briefly, then let his eyes settle on the mystery woman as she rummaged in her bag. The soft glow of the candles reflected in her glasses, and the little hearts on her purse matched the pattern on the dress she had been wearing earlier. Everything about her felt warm and easy,real.
“So,” she said, snapping his attention back, “what’s your poison?” She tipped a pile of coins from her purse on to the bar, and Blake’s eyebrows lifted in surprise.
“I can’t let you buy me a drink,” he replied, taking off his sunglasses and pulling down his hood. It would make him instantly recognisable, he knew, but there were so few people in here he hoped it wouldn’t matter. “Please, let me.”
“No way,” she said, pushing her glasses into place again. Every time she did it her nose wrinkled, something he found indescribably cute. “A deal’s a deal. You returned my notebook, I buy you a coffee.”
Blake chuckled, shaking his head in surrender. “In that case I’ll take a double-shot espresso, no milk, no sugar, please.”
She whistled, clearly impressed. “That’s a serious coffee,” she said. “One serious coffee coming up.”
She turned to the bar, her energy so casual and confident that Blake was momentarily at a loss. He wasn’t used to this. He was always the guy who made the orders and who paid. He could buy this whole bar with a cheque right now. He could buythe wholestreetwithout making a dent in his bank accounts. Yet here was his mystery woman, counting out battered coins on to the bar to buy him a coffee.
“Keep the change,” she said, sliding the coins across.
“Cheers,” said the barmaid. “I’ll bring the drinks over to you if you want to take a seat.”
The mystery woman turned to Blake with a bright smile. “How about right over here?”
Without waiting for his reply, she led him to a small booth along the back wall. She slid into one side and he slid into the seat opposite. The candlelight flickered between them, soft and warm and casting golden highlights across her face. Blake stared for a moment too long, completely disarmed by how beautiful she looked. His mind went blank, devoid of all rational thought. Luckily, she was a little more composed than he was.
“Is your day getting any better?” she asked.
He laughed, the sound surprising him. Somehow, in the span of a few minutes, she’d made him forget everything. Heartbook. The scandal. The headlines. But it all came flooding back with her question.
“Not really.” He sighed, thinking of the last news story he’d read on the way over to drop back the notebook.
“Well, I’ll try not to take that personally.” The little laugh she gave made his skin tingle.
“Oh, God, sorry. I didn’t mean you.” He laughed in return. “You’re not worse. You’re the opposite of worse.” He caught himself before he said too much. “I just mean, it’s nice to be with someone who doesn’t hate me. Or someone who hides it very well, at least. You might hate me. I don’t know. I don’t even know your name.”
She laughed, covering her mouth with a slender hand. “Oh, yeah,” she said. “It’s Ellie. Ellie Mae Woodward.”
She stretched the same hand over the table and he took it, holding it for a fraction longer than he should have. Her skin was soft, but her handshake had purpose, a quiet dominance that sent a jolt straight to his groin. He didn’t want to let go, not of her hand, nor the ache she’d stirred in him with a single touch. But if he didn’t, he’d blow whatever it was growing between them.
“I’m Blake,” he said quietly, feeling like an idiot as soon as the words had left his mouth. “But of course you knew that already.”
“Yeah,” she said. “Pretty sure the whole world and their cats know who you are by now.”
“You’re not wrong.” His heart sank a little. “I’m honestly surprised I managed to get here without being mobbed.”
Ellie tilted her head, curiously. “Why did you, then? Come here, I mean? You could have just posted my notebook.”
