Page 18 of Second Chance with the Enemy CEO
Then her eyes widen even further, and she lets out a high-pitched scream that could shatter glass.
“Maya, what’s wrong?” Grace’s voice calls out, and moments later, she appears in the doorway, wiping her hands on a towel. She freezes mid-step, her blue eyes going wide. Her soft blonde hair is pulled into a loose braid, and she is in a casual cream sweater and leggings that make her look cute. “Hazel? Is that really you?”
Before I can answer, Luke shows up behind Grace, towering over her with his broad shoulders. His sandy hair is tousled just enough to look deliberate, and his green eyes dart to me and widen in surprise, his mischievous grin faltering.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” he says, “the prodigal Hazel McKee returns.”
They recover quickly, rushing to envelop me in a chorus of hugs and exclamations. Grace’s embrace is warm and comforting, Maya’s tight and full of energy, and Luke lingers a second longer than the others, his arm brushing mine as he steps back, a lopsided smile on his face.
“You guys are acting like we haven’t seen each other in a decade,” I laugh as they pull me inside and practically dump me on the couch.
“Five months might as well be ten years!” Maya exclaims.
“When did you get here?” Grace asks, her eyes scanning my face.
“Yesterday.”
“Yesterday?!” Maya nearly shrieks. “And you didn’t tell us?”
“What kind of surprise would that have been,” I tease, shrugging off my blazer. “And I did say I had a surprise for you.”
“Yeah, but we didn’t think it’d be this!” Luke says, leaning against the doorframe with an amused look.
“You have got some explaining to do. We need all the details, now.”
Grace shakes her head, laughing softly. “We never thought… No, we knew we would never see you back in Autumn Cove, Haze. Not after…!” Her voice trails off, but I know what she means.
“You and me, both.” I wave a hand, brushing it off. “I am here now. That is what matters, right?”
Maya gives me a suspicious squint. “Okay, spill. Why are you back?”
I sit and lean back on the comfy sofa, eyeing the assortment of baked treats on the coffee table. “Work, and I have Lady Fate to thank for that. Got a gig with NextPhase Performance Technology.”
The room goes silent for a beat, and then Maya gasps. “Liam Callahan’s company?”
“Yep,” I say nonchalantly, reaching for a cookie.
“And?” Grace leans forward, curiosity lighting her gentle features.
“And what?”
“Did you see him?” Maya’s voice drops conspiratorially as if this is the juiciest gossip that she has heard all week.
I shrug. “Yeah, we met.”
“That’s it?” Luke says, coming out from the kitchen. His blue eyes twinkle with amusement.
“What else?” I quip, popping the cookie into my mouth. “There is no catching up for us to do. Right now, he is my boss, and I’m his employee. End of story.”
Maya whistles. “Wow. Talk about awkwardness. Are you okay with that?”
“It’s fine,” I reply firmly, though the memory of Liam’s cold gaze flashes in my mind. “I’m here to work, not dwell on the past.”
Luke sits beside me, his expression filled with concern.
“Seriously,” Maya presses, eyebrows raised. “No sparks? No drama?”
“None,” I lie, forcing a casual smile. “What is there to catch up on? It is ancient history.”
