Page 17 of Off the Grid

“A place to live,” Isabella says. “We know a few areas that would be perfect for you.”

“I already have that sorted,” I say. “I have appointments to look at a few places tomorrow. Pretty sure by the pictures and the proximity to work that I already know which place I want to rent.”

“Wow. Impressive. You move fast,” Isabella says. “In that respect at least.” She winks and I roll my eyes, ignoring the comment.

“Yeah, well, it was either that or listen to my parents tell me over and over how I could live with them. I love them and all, but . . . um, no.”

“And living with parents is never good for the booty call scenario,” Gia says.

“True,” Isabella says. “But I still think you should look at a few I’ve found in my area.”

“I will if I need to,” I say simply to appease her, but I don’t exactly want to be in the city center where it seems like no one ever sleeps and where horns and voices echo through the neighborhood at all times of night.

“So when will you be back so we can start making plans?” Gia asks, one hundred percent on the Camilla Moretti Glow-Up plan.

“We need to schedule Genovese from The Salon for her,” Isabella says. She’s in the know on all fashion, all everything, here. “Then Valentina for skin.”

“And I’m thinking the first meet-up will be with Hunter, don’t you? He has the same vibe as Cami. Laid-back but uptight,” Gia says and laughs, talking like I’m not even here.

“Hunter. Then Archie. Possibly Paddy after. She needs choices. Strong, independent women like choices.”

“Where is the wine?” I mutter, glancing again over my shoulder to see where our server is. Our glasses are more empty than full, and I think I’m going to need several rounds to get through tonight.

When I look back, they’re both grinning goofily at me. “Why don’t you go find out the status of our drinks while Gia and I plan your life overhaul?”

“I feel a headache coming on,” I grumble.

“Wine helps with that,” Gia says and winks. “This is going to be so much fun.”

They high-five me as I rise and head toward the bar.

This was a planned ambush.

No one is going to make me believe any differently.

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CHAPTER FIVE

Camilla

“It’ll be just a minute, love,” our server says to me when I reach the bar. Her hair is pink, a ring is in the side of her lower lip, her clothes are funky, and her accent is cockney. I love everything about her. “We’re slammed tonight. I apologize for being slow.”

“Not a problem. We’re not in any hurry,” I say.

“Yeah, but I’m sure you didn’t come here to drink water.” She laughs and lifts a tray teeming with drinks that looks like it weighs more than she does.

I laugh with her and when I turn to head back to the table, I come close to running into the guy who I locked eyes with earlier. What the distance left to the imagination, doesn’t disappoint up close and personal.

He’s striking.

Dark hair with a wave to it. Light gray eyes framed by thick lashes. Sharp features. A smile that he clearly uses on the regular by the way he flashes it at me and expects me to react.

I hate to admit that I do.

My return smile is automatic as I take a step back. “Sorry.” My laugh sounds edged with nerves as I hold my hands up. “I apologize. That’s what I get for not watching where I was going.”

He narrows his eyes at me but his smile still plays at the corners of his mouth. “I’m questioning the sincerity of that apology,” he teases, angling his head to the side and studying me. “In fact, I think you make it more than a habit of running into devilishly handsome guys—such as myself, of course—”