Every Breath You Take (Oasis Book 1) by Kenna Avery Wood Page A

entered the locker room. Five minutes later, I came out.
    I blew out a breath. Nothing.
    But on the other screen, heading back into the gym, appeared a figure. One wearing a dark hoodie, tall, and fast.
    “There,” Curtis said.
    John froze the screen on the person, but we couldn’t see a face.
    “Looks like a man,” Curtis said, pointing. “See? The build in the shoulders and his height?”
    Finn curled his hand around my arm, and I appreciated the steadiness. He only nodded at Curtis and said, “I’ll be in touch. Thanks, John.”
    John nodded and swiveled back to the screen, looking unconcerned. He probably had strange requests all the time.
    Finn kept his hand on my elbow until we were out of the office. He stopped outside the door and turned me to face him.
    I shook my head. “Not now.”
    “Char–”
    “Please, Finn.”
    He rubbed a hand across his jaw, and then set his hands on his hips. “Okay. Later then. I’ll make sure Curtis and his team get settled into headquarters in the Commons and we get the extra men for the fundraiser.”
    “Good.” I nodded and started walking.
    Work. Work was good. It gave me focus. It distracted me from the man in the dark hoodie and the whispering I was sure I’d heard echoing around me in the locker room. Charlotte…
    () () ()
    I spent far too much time getting ready considering who I was spending the evening with. I shouldn’t have worn my favorite navy dress that skimmed my knees and flowed like a river over my hips. That dipped low in the bodice and made me feel sexy. I definitely shouldn’t have worn perfume–or at least not the kind that reminded me of dark corners and secrets. And most of all, I shouldn’t have worn my hair up with soft curls tickling my neck because it reminded me of what Finn had said earlier.
    But I did all of those things because once I got started, I got carried away. It had been forever since I’d dressed myself up for anything more than work. But above all that, I got lost in the routine of it. The step by step process that stopped my thoughts from heading toward things I’d rather not think about. Like the man with the hoodie in the locker room. Like the phone calls. Like Mark.
    As I finished with my makeup and heard a knock at the door, I hesitated. No. No, I wasn’t going to overthink this. I worked here now and I represented Oasis, just like Finn, which meant appearances were important. It made sense for me to look my best. When I opened the door and saw Paige instead, I blew out a breath of nervous laughter.
    Paige’s eyes rounded. “Oh my God, you have a date.”
    “A wine tasting.”
    She grinned. “I’m jealous.”
    “I promise I’ll take you to the next one. This one is sort of…business.”
    Her smile turned sly. She leaned against the door frame, with her arms crossed over her chest. “With Finn?”
    “Yes.”
    “Anyone else?”
    I didn’t answer, and she took in my dress appreciatively. “I’m putting it all together now. Nice dress, date with a cute man, wine–”
    “It’s not a date. It’s business,” I repeated.
    “Oh, it’s a date. In my fantasy, it’s a date.”
    I laughed. “Okay.”
    “Here.” She held out two squares of paper. “Paint swatches. The ones you liked–just in case you decide you want to do your living room or bedroom. I’ll even help if you ply me with wine and tell me stories about your business wine tastings.”
    “Sounds good. I might just brighten things up with throw pillows and curtains or something.”
    Paige nodded. “Is painting a little too permanent for you?”
    Having a job here in Oasis and forging a friendship with Paige might be a little too permanent for me. But that was only because I’d spent the last year trying to avoid doing anything like that. It made sense to avoid friendships and relationships. They’d end up hurt, or I’d end up hurt.
    But now…I finally had to stop avoiding life and start living it again.
    “I’m not sure,” I told her.