I couldn't sleep all night and kept tossing and turning in bed. My thoughts were all over the place: a fresh start, a new life in Glisten, and the choice to never go back to my old life. It was both scary and confusing to feel the weight of this new chapter. By the time morning broke and I checked the time, it was 6 a.m. I climbed out of bed and went for a morning run because I needed to clear my head.

I thought Glisten would be a small, quiet place, but it wasn't. The streets were crowded, even though it was early. Since it was my first day here, I chose to stay close to my hotel to be in familiar areas. I found a park close by and began my run there.

The sound of my thumping steps soothes my soul; it feels like I am venting my stress or anxiety to the earth. I immediately stopped running when my eyes fell on a guy I found the most attractive on this planet. With his towering height and his lean body, I found it hard to let it go. It has been a long time since I noticed any guy this deep.

His symmetrical features feel like they were crafted by a skilled artist. His black, silky hair adds more awesomeness to his personality. His fair skin radiates pleasure to every passing person under the glow of sunlight.

What really drew my attention were the tattoos peeking out from beneath his sleeves and along his neck and knuckles, hinting at a hidden story waiting to be discovered. I tried to resume running but in reality, I was barely walking. I had a flutter in my chest. the world around me started to fade. He ignited something within me.

When I came close to him, he sensed I was ogling him. "May I help you?"

Renna this is not the time to melt panties, this is the time to respond and finally, I blurted out. "I'm lost."

He squinted. "What?"

I shook my head. "I was getting to my hotel because I'm new to the city, I think I lost my way."

He raised his brow. "Where are you staying?"

"Glisten Avenue," I sighed.

I am crying under my breath as Glisten Avenue is right behind me.

He pointed at the giant building right at my back. "It's right here."

Before I could say anything, my phone rang. I looked down and saw Kev's name on the screen. I looked into those dark eyes and lost again. He pointed at my phone. "You are getting a call." I bobbed my head and walked away from him. Kev's call ended but I called him back and when he picked it up, I cut the crap and directly hit him with what I wanted. "I am going to drop you off, and then I'll need your car for a day or two."

As expected, Kev asked. "Why the fuck do you want my car? Why not go for my other cars?"

I don't want to tell him my plans. "See you in fifteen minutes; come downstairs."

When I reached the hotel, I immediately rushed to the bathroom. I took a quick shower and dressed myself. All thanks to Valerie; she took me shopping at South Shore as I had nothing to wear.

Kev was standing there, waiting for me. I handed him coffee and he held out his hand to give me the car key. After dropping him off at his office, I was roaming around in Kev's car, I saw a job opening at a store. I jumped right in, even though I hadn't done it before, but when I asked Boyd, the store owner, to give it a try for three hours, he agreed.

I started around 10 a.m., and after about an hour, I once again found myself face-to-face with dark eyes from the park. I greeted him with an ear-to-ear smile. "Hi again."

He appeared slightly puzzled. "Hello."

I tried hard to make him remember me. "We just met in a park while running, you told me about the hotel where I am staying."

He nodded. "Yeah, right, you are new in the city."

I told him to continue our conversation. "First day in the city and at my job."

I started scanning his stuff and he asked me. "How come you have a job on your first day?"

While scanning, I told him. "That I can tell you after three hours."

Instead of pressing for further details, he simply lifted his bag and wished me luck. With a nod of acknowledgment, he headed off. Even after he left, my heart was thumping.

After three hours, Boyd told me. "You can start tomorrow."

I smiled. "Thank you very much. I really needed this job."

Boyd pointed at me. "10 a.m. sharp."

I nodded. "I'll be here at 9:59 am."

I asked Boyd for another job because I was new to Glisten, and he told me there was one at Galaxy for a bartender. I planned to go there after dinner. While roaming around the city in Kev's car, I heard a lot about the Italian restaurant in Glisten, so I decided to go there.

Kev and I ate dinner at an Italian restaurant, and Kev told me it belonged to Margot's friend. During dinner, I convinced Kev to celebrate his birthday this year. He initially outright refused, but after I explained how it would benefit both him and Margot to spend some quality time together outside of the office, he agreed to it.

After dinner, I said goodbye to Kev and lied that I wanted to go back to the hotel by walk. I don't want to go for the job of bartender at hummer. When I reached Galaxy, as I approached the bar, I noticed a young man standing on the other side of it. Due to the high beats, I almost shouted. "I'm here for a job."

The bartender leaned on his counter. "What job?"

I cleared my throat. "I heard Galaxy needs a bartender."

He leaned closer for the same reason as the high beats. "We need a mixologist, not a bartender."

I suggested it to him. "I think it's best for you to check my mixing skills because the place is pretty crowded."

He smiled and asked me to jump on his side of the counter.

As I began making cocktails behind the bar, those captivating dark eyes appeared before me for the third time that day, igniting a ball of heat between my legs. This time he started the conversation first and my stomach got butterflies.

He leaned on the counter. "Is this a coincidence or is the new girl in the city following me?"

I giggled. "I can ask you the same question."

He held out his hand. "Ian."

His name took me off guard and thoughts started popping into my mind. What if he is that Ian? Or maybe he is not that Ian. Kev never told me that Ian is damn handsome. I shut off all the questions and shook hands with him. "Renna."

When our skin touched. I felt a volcano erupt within me. Heat coursed through my body and I started feeling heat stroke behind my neck. My body started shivering but I still managed to stand still and he continued the conversation.

Ian held his elbow on the counter. "You told me that you came to Glisten but from where you came, you forgot to mention."

I immediately lied, without a second thought. "I came from the South Shore."

I added before he asked why. "I came here for the job."

Ian put his entire weight on his elbow and showed his curiosity. "Bartender or billing job?

Instead of answering his question, I reminded him. "You came here to talk to me or for a drink."

Ian chuckled and shook his head. "Today I am not in a mood to drink hard, Shirley Temple."

Before I started making a drink for him, I asked. "How many?" as he forgot to mention.

Ian smirked. "Tonight, I come alone."

I smiled and handed him his drink. "Enjoy your drink, Ian."

Ian accepted the drink and asked. "When can I see you again?"

I squared my shoulders. "I have no idea."

Ian nodded and before turning around, he said. "Okay, Ren. We'll see."

I was on cloud nine after he nicknamed me. Ren, no one has ever called me that, and I have no sorrow because he was the first one to give me a nickname.

After Ian left, the bartender made a teasing comment. "Flirting is not allowed during working hours."

I rolled my eyes. "I wasn't flirting. I was talking."

He raised an eyebrow skeptically. "You don't blush when talking to me."

I met his gaze squarely. "I wasn't blushing, either."

When the club became less crowded, the bartender held out his hand. "I am Alex."

I shook hands. "Renna." and I felt no heat course through me anymore.

Alex nodded. "Tomorrow at 8 Renna."

I playfully saluted Alex. "Aye aye, captain!"

He chuckled, shaking his head. "You're something else, Renna."

As I was headed out, I felt someone following me. I was worried that if something happened to me this time, Kev would kill me but when I turned...