Never With You (Always Say Never, #1)

by Kortney Keisel

I let it all slide because our lives were so intertwined. We ran the event department together at Houselink Solar, and deep down, I knew that if our relationship failed, one of us would have to quit our job. And by one of us, I mean me. Isaac is the darling of the company. He’s not going anywhere.

That’s why you should never date someone you work with. Never. Those are words to live by, or you’ll end up getting dumped in a glass-walled office with your coworkers watching from their cubicles. Good news, though, I didn’t cry.

His message means nothing. I got dumped today. I don’t even like men right now.

Nate Farnsworth bothers me.

But on day one, I was annoyed at him for all the wrong reasons. He was too attractive. Too charismatic. Too funny. Too athletic. Too charming. And too much like my ex-boyfriend, Isaac—the man who’d just decimated my heart.

Now is probably a good time to mention that Nate doesn’t like me either.

“I am pretty important.” I can see the rest of his unsaid thought lingering on the tip of his tongue: ‘Unlike you, a travel event coordinator nobody cares about.’ His pompous view that a sales executive is superior to an event coordinator aggravates me.

He’s the work rival that complicates everything day in and day out, and he does it for sport.

“You’re no longer coming to New Zealand.” “What? Why?” I spit out the words, desperate for answers. “The New Zealand trip is small, and we don’t need much help. I prefer to run the whole event on a skeleton staff.” At this moment, my dislike for Nate Farnsworth has escalated to hatred.

“Seriously. I don’t know why you’re so upset. I don’t think it’s your time of the month, so this level of anger isn’t making sense.” “How sexist of you to accuse a woman of only being upset when she’s on her period.” I smack the table with both hands and rise to my feet. “I’m upset because you kicked me off my trip so you can pad your pockets.”

This feels personal, like Nate is purposely kicking me off another exotic trip so he doesn’t have to travel with me. It’s Isaac all over again. I’m being held back in my career because of a man. The realization nails me in the gut. I need to get out of here before the hurt reaches my eyes. I’d rather die than have Nate Farnsworth see me cry.

The realization nails me in the gut. I need to get out of here before the hurt reaches my eyes. I’d rather die than have Nate Farnsworth see me cry.

“I get that he’s ‘Voyager Travel’s most eligible bachelor and the reason we come to work every day.’” Their words. Not mine. “But”—I point at Taryn, who’s chomping to get in on this conversation, but I’m not finished—“he’s still the worst human that ever existed. Maybe he’s not human. It wouldn’t surprise me if he were the devil himself. That’s how bad he is.” Shelly’s eyes widen in horror. “I know, I know. It’s blasphemy to suggest the ‘office hunk’ is Satan’s spawn, but there’s no other conclusion.

“Oh, and he says, ‘someone with your personality’ like I’m so unbearable because I enjoy making lists. Then, he apologizes, but it’s not a real apology. ‘I’m sorry if YOU misconstrued my tone.’ He’s such a jerk. Everyone else might buy into his nice-guy persona, but he’s not fooling me.” I dramatically point to my chest. “I’m the only person in this office who isn’t swayed by his ‘pillow-soft lips and angel eyes.’” I pull out the chair in front of me and plop down at the table. “It takes a lot more than a perfectly round derrière to impress me.”

Their eyes dart from me, to something else, and then back to me. Everything clicks. All the fidgeting. All the crazy eyes. All the efforts at interrupting me. “He’s behind me, isn’t he?”

I reach my arm back, fingers colliding with what’s most likely Nate's six-pack.

Why is this my life?

“Hey, Carly.” “Nate.” There’s a slight raise of my chin. “I didn’t know you were in here.” “Yeah, your speech hinted as much.” His look is both smug and amused. “That speech wasn’t meant for you to hear.” “You know…” He leans forward a little more, giving me the perfect view of his long, dark lashes. If I didn’t hate him, I’d ask what serum he uses for that kind of growth. “I’m getting a lot of mixed signals from you.” “I’m not sure how. I’ve been consistent from the beginning, always saying what I think about you.” “That my lips are pillow-soft or that I’m the reason you come to work every day?”

“I was quoting others,” I defend through gritted teeth. “But I find it funny that out of everything I just said about your character, that’s what you came away with.” “A perfectly round derrière is what I came away with, but I didn’t want to embarrass you. I take my role as office hunk very seriously.”

“Well, no one cares what you think, so run along.” I flick my fingers, signaling for him to leave. Nate shoots a charming smile across the table. “It looks like Taryn and Shelly want me here.”

“You two fighting is my favorite thing.” Shelly leans in, more interested than ever. She might as well have a bucket of popcorn in her hands.

His playful gaze shifts in my direction. “I know you have a shrine of me somewhere in your house.”

Shelly shrugs. “Nate signaled for us to be quiet and let you talk.” “And you just listen to everything Nate says?” “No, but he seemed amused, and so was I. Like I said, you two fighting is my favorite thing.” “It’s totally my Roman Empire.” Taryn leans against the counter, waiting for her food to heat. “It’s all sparks and chemistry and sexual attraction coming to a head. One of these days, the tension will explode, and the two of you will end up in the supply closet, gettin’ it on.”

“Yes!” Shelly gasps. “You’re Nate’s crush he chases around the playground, and you pretend to hate it. It’s like first grade all over again.”

“See?” I smile over a mouthful of food. “Menstruation cycles are a way better topic than Nate Farnsworth.” Taryn lifts her brows. “You're the one who keeps bringing him up.” It’s because he’s always on my freaking mind.

“Oh, Carly.” His charming expression puts me on edge even more. “Always so grumpy with me.”

“Carly?” He grabs the side of my chair, forcing a half-turn so I’m facing him. His hands go to the armrests, and his body hunches over so his face is close, his eyes in line with mine. Holy Hannah! He’s never been this close.

“Fine, I’ll go. But only to make sure you don’t choose something stupid, like a fidget toy, for the executives of a multimillion-dollar company.” “I’d never choose a fidget.” The corner of his mouth lifts as he backs away from my chair, causing me to breathe easier. “But a slap bracelet, I make no guarantees.” I grab my purse just to hide my smile. The last thing I want is for Nate’s ego to get a boost from me. It’s already big enough.

Ugh. Of course he looks incredible in black-rimmed sunglasses. They somehow accentuate his strong jawline and perfectly angular nose. Casually, he rests his elbow against the door while the other hand steers. My eyes travel up his arm, tracking his masculine veins until they slip under his rolled sleeve. I can only imagine all the other manly things under that shirt. Biceps, triceps, and shoulders. Oh my! “So this is what it feels like to get undressed by someone’s eyes.” His sideways smirk is entirely obnoxious and warranted. My head turns, shielding my blush from his gaze just in case he can see it through his tinted lenses. “I’ll take things that never happened, Alex, for $600.”

“Wow, that’s a lot!” He grins back at her. “I bet you love having a big family. Is Carly a good big sister?” My stomach tenses, not wanting to hear her answer. Caroline shrugs as she looks out the window. “She never comes home.” I feel Nate’s eyes on me, but I grab my phone to avoid his gaze. “I better text my mom and tell her we picked her up from school already.”

“Caroline left her…” He holds up the backpack as he steps inside, but his words trail as his gaze darts around the messy kitchen. “Don’t say anything,” I snap preemptively. “I know it’s disgusting, but it’s not my problem anymore.” An emotion I can’t name passes through Nate’s expression. It leans closer to gentleness than anything I’ve seen from him before. “I wasn’t going to say anything. I was just bringing in her backpack.” He sets the bag down and turns around, heading for the door. “I’ll wait for you in the car.”

“Did you tell him about the dream? Is that why you’re at your parents' house together?” I punch in the garage code, half distracted. “What dream?” Camila doesn’t answer. “Mil, you there?”

An unspeakable tragedy. My eyes shoot to him and the slow grin spreading across his lips. “No, no, no!” I fumble with my phone, trying to disconnect the Bluetooth. When I can’t, I just end the call. Cut the embarrassment off at the knees. My head hangs as I suck in a sharp breath. I hate this day.

“You had a sexy dream about me in the supply closet at work. It’s natural, nothing to be embarrassed about.” I draw in a breath, trying to distract myself from this nightmare. “So what was I doing in this dream?” I can tell from his voice he’s way too pleased with himself. “Or should I say, we? What were we doing in this dream?” “We’re not talking about this.” “Wow, that much, huh?” “No.” I lift my chin. “I’m just not interested in feeding you delusions of grandeur.”

“Honestly, this is the cutest You’ve Got Mail thing I’ve ever seen,” Emma says with a sigh.

“I thought you liked keeping things vague with him. Like, you were a proponent of that,” Emma says. “I was in the beginning.” I lift my shoulders, thinking back on how fragile I was the first time we messaged. “Isaac had just dumped me, and the thought of dating or trusting another man seemed impossible. But if he was just some stranger online, that made things easier and less intense.”

I glance around the table at everyone laughing at my expense, and I know it’s going to be a long night.

“You’d love her too if you got to know her.” A sweet smile accompanies Emma’s words. “She’s someone you definitely want in your corner. On a moment’s notice, she’d drop everything to come and help you. Plus, she’s so much fun and adventurous. Nothing scares her.” “Is that so? I haven’t seen that side of her, but I’d like to.” Nate eyes me, and something about his playful stare turns my stomach over. “But for me to get to know her, she’d have to drop her weapons of war first.”

He turns to my friends with lifted shoulders and an annoyingly handsome grin. “Until then, I guess I’ll just be the guy Carly loves to hate.” Juliet’s eyes gloss over at the sight of his cute smile. “I think it’s just a timing problem. If Carly hadn’t just made the rule never to date a guy at work and hadn’t just broken up with⁠—”

“Took you long enough.” The corner of my mouth lifts as he walks up. “Some of us were exiting from the back of the plane.” He grabs the luggage in my hand and lifts it onto the cart. “How was your flight?” He turns around, and his gaze flicks over me. Swiping at my hair, I stare back at him. “Yeah, I know I look bad.” “Uh…” He drops his eyes to the bags and clears his throat. “I actually thought you looked nice.”

“Traveling with you is my worst nightmare.” He glances away, bored and annoyed with my presence. “And you think I want to be here with you?” I drop my clipboard on the table with a huff. “You’re the last person in the world I’d want to spend time with.” “The feeling is mutual.” The sentiment was said under his breath, but I heard it.

“You don’t get it. I told some…” He sucks in a deep breath as he pinches the bridge of his nose. “I told some lies recently to get my parents off my back, and now there’s no way out of them.” “You told some lies?” He drags both hands down his face, and it’s kind of nice to see the cocky guy from work in a little bit of distress. “I may have told my parents I had a serious girlfriend and was bringing her on the Thailand trip with me.”

I start to say but stop when my gaze latches onto something familiar across the lobby. All the blood drains from my face and rushes to my heart. “Oh, no.” “What?” Nate whirls around on high alert. “Is it my dad?” It’s worse. Much, much worse. Isaac is here with a gorgeous brunette draped on his arm.

Who is that woman on Isaac’s arm? “Oh, this is my fiancée, Lauren Ashley.” Fiancée? The way my chest hurts is justified, but I still rub my hand over my heart as if it can somehow stop the pain. Isaac said he didn’t want to get married. Isaac said marriage wasn’t in the cards for him. What Isaac really meant was that he didn’t want to get married to me. A devastating realization.

I hear Isaac’s footsteps, and my ribs release the tension I’m holding. After a minute, Nate lifts the tablecloth with a satisfied smile. “Well, well, well. As the tables turn.” I rise to my chair with a seething glare. “Shut up.” “Ye without sin cast the first stone.” Smugness radiates from his smile. “What was that you were saying about being a mature adult?”

All his features soften. “Is this the first time you’ve seen him since you left?” My gaze drops, mostly so Nate doesn’t see the tears pricking my eyes. “Yes.” I brush my hair back, blink a few times, clear my throat, force a smile, and look up to meet his stare. “What a small world.” “Too small.” There’s genuine concern edged into the lines of his eyes. “If I had known who he was, I would’ve given you a heads up that he would be here.”

Nate scoffs, falling back into his seat. “She wasn’t even that pretty. Her hair was a mess. Her face had no expression, like she’s done one too many rounds of Botox. And don’t even get me started on those lip fillers. Objectively, you’re way better than her.” A small smile threatens. “You’re just trying to make me feel better.” “Is it working?”

“I guess I just thought when I saw him again, I would finally be the woman I intend to be, you know? Like I’d be successful, in a new relationship, and wearing something more flattering than a Voyager Travel t-shirt. But I’m not any of those things right now.” My gaze peeks over to Nate. I don’t like the genuine look on his face, and I definitely don’t want to hear his response to everything I just told him, so I quickly change the subject before he has a chance to comment. “Anyway, I owe you an apology.” I sit up taller. “I’m sorry I was jerky about your parents.” “I’m sorry your ex-boyfriend is here with his new fiancée.” I’m sorry about that too.

Fine. I lied. I’m a liar. Happy now?

Nate is already at the meeting spot. Casually, he leans back against the bar with a drink in his hand. His gaze halts when he sees me, slowly tracking up and down my body. This dress isn’t meant for him, but I can’t help the uncontrollable heart spasms happening in my chest.