bChapter /bb73 /b

bJared’s /bbwords /bcaught me boff /bbguard/bb, /band I couldn’t bhelp /bbut stare at him. He didn’t even notice the awkward look on my bface /band just snorted blow/bb. /bb“/bYou dress bso /bbnicely /bbevery /bday now.

“bI /bbet a lot of guys have noticed you. Victoria, you need bto /bunderstand that outer beauty will never beat inner beauty. You don’t have to dress so shy just to impress me every day.”

I honestly thought Jared was out of bhis /bmind. I dressed up to feel good about myself, not to please him. “Honey, if an ugly freak stood in front of you, would you care about its inner beauty?” bI /basked with a smile.

“That’s boring,” Jared said, taking two sips of his bcoffee /bbefore standing up. “You’re noting tonight? Yvonne said she wants toe over.”

“No,” I said with a little anger this time. Jared thought I was being unreasonable and didn’t bring it up again.

As evening fell, I left work. Melissa suddenly invited me to her and her boyfriend’s ce for dinner. bIf /bI hadn’t been in such a bad mood, I wouldn’t have wanted to intrude on their time alone.

But maybe catching some of their good energy would help me, so I said yes. On the way, I bought a bunch of fruit.

When I got downstairs, I struggled carrying it all and set it down by the elevator door, leaning against the wall to catch my

breath.

“What are you doing here?” a deep voice said behind me, surprised.

I turned to bsee /bNathan holding two bottles of red wine. He was dressed casually. The light shone down, and as he looked at me against the light, his gaze was clear.

I nced at the elevator, then back at Nathan. I felt like there was some secret I didn’t know about between them. ‘Melissa is ying matchmakerb?/b‘ I thought.

“Is it too heavy? I’ll help you carry it upstairs,” Nathan said, reaching out and easily lifting my big bag of fruit.

“Thanks,” I said, my scattered thoughts calming down. I hadn’t made any secret ns with Nathan. I was just going to a friend’s house with him, so it didn’t cross any lines.

“What’s wrong? It’s the first time I’ve seen you blush,” Nathan smiled, asking as we rode the empty elevator.

I touched my cheek and said, “The car was parked too far, so I had to walk.”

“Oh,” Nathan said, his voice dropping a bit.

b“/bIs bit /bba /bcustom in your hometown to bring a gift card when visiting someone’s new home for the first time?” he suddenly asked.

“Ah,” I was surprised. “bIs /bthis the first time Melissa’s boyfriend is staying at his new ce?”

Nathan nodded. “Right, I brought a gift card. Since we came together, if I gave one and you didn’t, it might seem off.”

I opened my purse right away. “I’ll give cash.”

Nathanughed and quickly slipped his gift card into my bag. “Forget it. I’ll just give him a bonuster. No need for a gift

bcard/b.”

I looked at the gift card in my bag, ready to take it back, but then I heard him quietly say, “Just bkeep /bit for now. My pockets

Chapter yo

are shallowb, /band if it fell out, bthat /bbwouldn’t /bbbe /bbgood/bb./bb” /b

bI /bbdidn’t /bbknow /bwhat else to bsay/b. bHe /bcared about me. bThe /belevator arrived. Melissa had already opened the door, waiting for bme/b, but she didn’t bexpect /bus both to show up.

b“/bVictoria, you and Mr. Hallman have some luck. In a city as big as Hachester, you meet in the same elevator,” Melissa said bwith /ba smile, helping with the bags. “Thanks for the gift, Mr. Hallman.”

Nathan chuckled softly. b“/bMs. Murphy bought the fruit. bThese /btwo bottles of wine are for Zachary,”

AD