Page 97 of Discerning Blake

“Why didn’t you tell me someone was interviewing for a job at the agency?”

She hesitates and furrows her eyebrows. I put her back down on the ground, hating that she’s hiding something.

Does it have to do with Ethan? Is she having trouble with the agency?

“Whatever is going on, Ames, I hope you know that I want to help you.”

“But I don’t need help. Everything is fine.”

“Everything is not fine when you don’t want to tell me the truth.”

I grab her hand and pull her to the bed. We kick off our shoes and lie down facing each other.

“Talk to me,” I say.

“I’m not supposed to.”

“Did Ethan tell you not to tell me, becau—”

“No! It’s nothing like that. Alright, I’ll tell you. But you have to promise not to tell anyone until Monday.”

My panicked heart settles down a little as my curiosity spikes.

“Nina isn’t here to interview for a job. That’s just a cover. Nina is Georgina.”

What? Comprehension hits me, and I burst out laughing.

“Why didn’t you want to tell me? I can’t wait to tell Bryce. He thinks he’s in love with her.”

“Oh, Bryce! He just met her.”

“He says he has a gut feeling.”

“Um… Well, you can’t tell him. You can’t tell anyone. It’s part of our deal with Georgina. She’ll stay in our hotel, but only if we keep her incognito.”

That um has me curious, but I answer the second part first. “Alright, I won’t tell him.”

“Thank you. Mayor Anderson would kill me.”

“But what if he really is in love with her?”

“He’s not.” She shakes her head like it’s the most obvious thing.

“You don’t believe in love at first sight?”

“No. Love is something that grows. You have to know the person’s personality to love them. And you can’t know that at first sight.”

“You can tell a lot about someone’s personality based on how they present themselves, you know, the look in their eyes.”

“Do you believe in love at first sight?” She raises her eyebrows teasingly.

“I don’t just believe in it. I’ve experienced it.”

The teasing look is replaced with fear. “You have? When?”

“I think the year was two-thousand and seven. Luke invited us out to a bar in Oakridge. He said that Mads was singing there and he wanted us to go watch. I got to the bar and Luke said, ‘Blake, I’d like you to meet Mads’s sister Amelia.’ Our eyes met, and I knew.”

Her throat bobs up and down. “Knew what?”