Page 50 of I'm Looking for a Man in Finance
Coming.
The weekend ahead suddenly felt pointless as I duckedinto the subway station that would take me back to the West Village. Why would I go to the Hamptons for an article that could secure me a column talking about something that I had no interest in writing about?
Because you actuallywantto spend a weekend away with James.
Despite my better judgment, even though he tried his best to derail my article, I couldn’t help but feel amused by the sheer absurdity of his schemes, waiting to see what he’d try next. Those beautiful blue eyes, filled with warmth, made me feel truly seen for the first time in my life. Maybe that was why I kept my conversations with Anthea to myself.
When I walked into the apartment, Roxie was already sitting on the couch, phone in hand, scrolling through something that looked like a food blog.
“How was your day?” she asked casually, still distracted by whatever she was looking at.
I hesitated, glancing at the clock. “Uneventful,” I said, a little too quickly before disappearing into my room to pack a few last items. The truth was, I didn’t want to talk about the pressure from Anthea, or how I was struggling to figure out exactly why I was excited about James being in my life.
As I bent down to grab my suitcase from the floor, I heard a knock echo through the apartment. My heart skipped a beat, and I froze. That was it. The weekend had begun.
Roxie called from the living room. “I’ll get it.”
I stood still, trying to prepare myself for whatever came next. A slight shift in the air—his presence—wasenough to make me question my packed bag and my rapidly growing anticipation.
Then, as if the universe had been waiting for this moment to catch me off guard, I rounded the corner out into the living room. And there he was.
James stood in the doorway, dressed in linen pants and a partially unbuttoned short-sleeved shirt, revealing the same gold chain I’d seen the night of the dinner party we met at.
“Hey,” he said, with an easy smile, one that seemed unburdened by anything that the world could throw at him. It was the most relaxed I’d ever seen him.
“Hey.”
James reached for my bag and slipped it from my shoulder. His fingers brushing the exposed skin there. Warmth pooled in my veins, turning thick like honey. At this rate, I’d turn into a gooey mess before we even made it to the Hamptons.
“I picked up some bagels from that little stand down the street for when we hit the road,” James said, and Roxie’s eyes flickered to mine, her eyebrows raised in surprise.
“The one that Hallie reviewed a few months back?”
“One and the same.” James grabbed Roxie’s bag with his free hand before turning to look at the two of us. “Are you both ready? Sebastian is meeting us there. He said something about some sort of work emergency with one of his designers.”
Beside me, Roxie tensed, her face draining of all color.
“The city is already emptying out. So I’d prepare for a little extra time in the car.” James disappeared back outof our front door, leaving me standing just as frozen as Roxie was next to me.
“Are you ready?” I asked her, despite being unsure of the answer to the question myself.
As Roxie straightened, her uncertain look was replaced by a smile. “It’s a weekend in the Hamptons. Why wouldn’t I be ready?”
“Are you going to be okay spending the weekend with Sebastian?” I reached out to pull Roxie to a halt as she started for the front door. “I know the two of you only spoke briefly at the bar the one time …”
Tension tightened Roxie’s shoulders. She took a deep breath before turning to smile at me. “Of course, this weekend should be fun!”
“We’re nearly there. The house is just around the corner.” James steered his car past “houses” that were better classified as estates. Rolling green yards stretched out before me, each meticulously maintained with vibrant, professionally landscaped trees, flower beds, and bushes. Ten of my childhood home made up one of these mansions. Even the garages were massive, capable of sheltering at least five cars, if not more.
As I rolled down the car window, a rush of fresh air enveloped me. Unlike the city, there was not even a hint of smog, car fumes, or the stench of garbage. Instead, the salty scent of the ocean filled my nostrils, carried by the gentle breeze. In the distance, I could hear the rhythmic crashing of waves against private beaches.
