I’d awoken before the alarm, causing my slightly hungover boyfriend to curse obscenities, as I raced to the shower. Tyler hadn’t gotten home until late, like wee-hours-of-the-morning late. It had been like this since I’d arrived.

Constant late nights. Constant clients to impress.

I knew it was a process, a race to the top, but I honestly worried about him. How long could he carry on this routine before he burned out?

Before we burned out.

I didn’t want to think about that.

He had still been in bed, willing himself to get up, when I gave him a quick kiss good-bye.

I’d like to say, in the last several days, I’d figured out the subway system in the city, but sadly, I still looked like a disheveled tourist trying to make my way from one end to the other of the city. Everyone else seemed to meander about without even looking up, texting and talking on their phones or reading a newspaper, dodging and weaving, to their destination.

I, however, remained standing in place—looking at the map, pointing with my finger at signs overhead, and talking to myself like a nutjob—as I tried to remember exactly what train I was supposed to catch.

After nearly taking out a stroller and toppling over an old man as I exited the train, I headed to work with little to no trauma, and I’d even managed to stop on the way and grab breakfast.

And I had done it all without being late.

I seriously wanted to pat myself on the back, but I settled for a mental high five instead.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t the only one trying to beat the sunrise. Thanks to thin walls, I surmised that my diligent boss had arrived sometime before me and had already locked himself in his office for the foreseeable future.

So much for some friendly chatter and a helpful hand. How the heck was I supposed to get to know the guy if I never actually saw him?

I’d tried the Internet already. Maybe I needed to try my hand at being social for a change. I used to be good at that—talking to people, being a part of the human race.

That was, until I’d moved here.

“Just give yourself time,” I chanted quietly to myself.

“What?” a female voice that was definitely not my own answered back.

Looking up, I found myself face-to-face with a beautiful blonde. She had bright brown eyes and cheekbones that rivaled top runway models.

Hell, with that height and minuscule waist, maybe she was a model.

“Sorry,” I answered, “I was talking to myself. It gets a bit lonely around here.” I immediately felt dumb.

“Just a few days on the job, and he’s already driving you mad, huh?” She grinned, displaying perfectly straight teeth that would make any dentist proud.