14. Hayden

She surprised me.

Again.

For some inexplicable reason, Gabriella always seemed to jolt and throw me off my game. How the hell did she do that?

I studied the spitfire before me, perplexed. My head was still spinning over the fact that I’d just told her I was going to pursue her—even though I had repeatedly tried to convince myself I was done with women and relationships entirely.

And she didn’t even know my name yet?

That didn’t seem like it should be possible.

“Hayden Carmichael,” I said, holding out a hand because I wanted to feel her flesh against mine as well as appear more professional and in control of my faculties than I actually was.

“Hades Carmichael?” she murmured, making a face and nodding before saying, “Hmm. Makes sense.”

“Hayden,” I corrected. “Not Hades. Which reminds me, I never got your surname.”

“Salazar,” she returned, furrowing her brow as she shook with me. “Didn’t Kaitlynn mention that?”

“Kaitlynn and I don’t speak, so no.”

“But—”

“And I’d appreciate it