My Great Escape Led Me to You (Emily Blair) novel Chapter 1177

Amelia laced up her sneakers, her mind still tangled up with thoughts of Isabella and Dennis. “It’s warm,” she said, not really looking up. “It’s freezing out, and it’s supposed to snow soon. What do you expect me to wear out there?”

Kevin didn’t push the issue, though he looked like he wanted to. He shook out his newspaper, folded it neatly, and set it on the coffee table. “The guy you’re meeting is Garnett’s grandson. The Douglas family is a big deal. Just… make a good impression, alright?”

“Yeah, got it,” Amelia mumbled, and slipped out the door.

The restaurant Kevin picked wasn’t far. It took maybe fifteen minutes to get there. A waiter showed her to a private room where a man in a crisp suit was already waiting, looking calm and put together.

This was Hanley, the guy Kevin thought so highly of. He was polite, charming, and clearly knew how to act in public, but to Amelia, he just seemed bland. Maybe it was because she’d grown up with Andrew around. Every other guy seemed dull in comparison, like they were all just pretending to be interesting.

They traded the usual small talk and sat down.

Hanley seemed genuinely interested, asking her about her studies and her life. Amelia, on the other hand, just went through the motions, giving short answers and not really getting into it. Still, Hanley was smooth. He kept the conversation moving, never letting things get awkward. Even though she tried to distance herself, he’d always find something to talk about, drawing her in despite herself.

At some point, Amelia glanced at her phone. She was surprised to see that more than an hour had passed. She’d barely noticed.

Hanley caught her checking the time and smiled gently. “I’ve really enjoyed talking with you, Ms. Lane. If you have somewhere else to be, please don’t feel like you have to stay.”

Worry for Dennis tugged at her. She wanted to leave right away, but Hanley’s kind eyes made her hesitate. “Are you sure?” she asked, a little unsure.

She hadn’t been interested at all in the beginning, but Hanley was so thoughtful and polite that it softened her a bit. Even when it was obvious she wasn’t really engaged, he never seemed annoyed. He kept things comfortable, always picking up the conversation and never letting it get awkward. By the end of the meal, she actually found herself liking him a little more.

“Of course,” Hanley said, taking out his phone. “Would it be alright if we exchanged contact info? Just so we can keep in touch?”

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