Chapter 2
“I want you to understand before you look at this that it’s just the first thought that came to me. I can adjust it, or completely redo it, based on your desires.” Afraid her hands would give away her nervousness, she rested them on the painting’s back.
“I’m sure it’s beautiful.” He reached for the canvas. “Let’s see what you have so far.”
She lifted the cloth covering the canvas first and held the painting face down in her lap. “You’ll see it better if I hold it.”
Chase was quiet as he stared at the painting. He tilted his head left and then to the right. He stood and rested his hands on his hips, still contemplating the painting.
He was taking so long, Meri’s stomach churned. She was sure he hated it.
Finally, he looked at her and smiled. “This is brilliant. I love how you’ve incorporated the colors and the mountains seem so real. When can you get started?”
She let out the breath she’d been holding. “The painting of the outer office is finished, so all I have to do is to purchase the paint. I’ll do that today and can start tomorrow. If that’s all right with you, of course. If not, I’ll wait until Thursday as we planned.”
“That’s excellent. Tomorrow will be fine. I’ll give you an advance on the mural. Do you want half down now? Do we need to move Rita’s desk?”
“I don’t need money yet. Eventually, you’ll have to move her desk, but not right away.
I’ll start on the opposite side from her and I’ll do my best to keep out of the way of you and your clients.
That will not be a problem, will it? Me being here while you meet with your clients, I mean.
I know you have a very high-profile clientele who cherish their privacy. ”
He sat on the end of the sofa and crossed his arms. “That won’t be a problem as long as you aren’t a gossip or some such to tell people who it is that comes to see me.”
She laughed. “No, I’m not a gossip. I like to keep my own council.”
“Wonderful. It’s only eight-forty. How would you like to join me for breakfast?
” He looked at his watch. “We can go to Starbucks downstairs if you want. Or,” He snapped his fingers.
“There’s a new place called the Twilight Café down on the mall.
It’s only about two blocks from here. I’ve been wanting to try it. Say you’ll come.”
Meri felt astonished that he wanted to spend time with her, but it was obvious that he had also felt the jolt. “I’d like that very much.” She stood. “I’ll leave the painting here for now, if you don’t mind. I really don’t want to be carrying it about.”
“Of course. Shall we go?”
“Yes.”
He stepped beside her and placed his right hand at her waist. “I’ll just let Rita know where I’ll be.”
They stopped by the woman’s desk.
Chase stepped up. “Rita, we’ll be having breakfast at the Twilight Café. I have my cell, if you need me.”
The woman smiled and made a note. “Sure thing. And let me know how you like the café. I’ve been wanting to go there but haven’t made it yet.”
“Will do.” Chase turned to Meri. “Shall we go?”
They walked to the elevator, and he again placed a hand at her waist.
She wondered at the old-fashioned courtesy, but she enjoyed having his hand on her. She’d like it to be more than just her back. She felt her body electrify with his touch.
When they reached the ground floor, they walked across the lobby and Chase opened the door to the outside for her, then ushered her through. She noticed the people stopped and stared at them. Was it so unusual for Chase to be seen with a woman during the day?
Outside was sunny, yet it was early enough to be quite comfortable.
The high temperatures of July hadn’t hit yet today.
Plus, the tall buildings provided shade for the street.
It was an easy walk of two blocks, and since most people were at work, the street wasn’t overly crowded.
They reached their destination in no time.
The cafe was on the ground floor of one corner of the Hoffman Building. When she walked in, the first thing she smelled was bacon frying and the sweet aroma of pancakes. She’d love to find a place down here that served a proper breakfast, not a frou frou one.
Chase stood at the greeter’s station until someone came.
She was a brunette and evidently a server. She had tattoos on both arms, her hair was in a ponytail with the ends curled up and bright red lipstick. Meri looked around and all the servers wore the same uniform and the same red lips. This was definitely a ‘50s-style diner.
“How many?” she asked.
“Two for breakfast,” said Chase.
“Follow me, please.”
He let Meri go first as they followed the greeter to a booth in front of the window.
The interior of the restaurant was like an old-fashioned diner with booths in the middle and around the outside.
The counter had seats, too. The servers wore those old white waitress uniforms that are rarely seen anymore, along with green aprons.
Meri didn’t enjoy sitting as if on display, but Chase didn’t seem to notice, so she decided not to say anything.
Their server, a perky blonde with a long braid, bright red lips and a nose ring, set two glasses of ice water on the table. “Hi, I’m Betty.” She pointed to the nametag she wore. “I’ll be your server today. What can I get you folks to drink?”
Meri looked up at her. “I’d like a coffee. Do you have any flavored creamer?”
“Sure do. French vanilla, hazelnut and Irish cream.”
“Irish cream, please. Four of them.”
The girl smiled. “Coming up.” She turned toward Chase. “And for you, handsome?”
“Coffee, black.” Chase never seemed to take his gaze from Meri.
Heat crept from her neck up.
Betty wrote the order on her ticket book and then left.
“So, Meri, tell me about yourself.” Chase took a sip of his water and then sat forward, like he wanted them to be so close they could whisper.
Meri shrugged. “There’s not much to tell.
I’m thirty-two and I grew up with three brothers.
My little brother, Ben, is a year and a half younger than me.
My older brothers are Gage, thirteen years older than me, and Barry, who is almost nine years older.
Gage joined the Army when he was eighteen and Barry joined when he was seventeen.
Dad had to sign a paper for him to enter.
Then it was just the four of us—Dad, Mom, me, and Ben.
Mom always said it was like she had two families to raise.
Dad traveled a lot for work, so she was almost like a single mother. ”
He frowned, reached across the table and put a hand over hers. “That must have been hard.”
Meri’s pulse raced and she shivered at his touch. “Yes, but my mother is the strongest woman I’ve ever known. She still is. Now, what about you? Tell me about Chase Harper.”
“Not much to tell that hasn’t already been online or in those gossip rags.”
“I don’t read those, but I Googled you and I know you’re wealthy and that this security business isn’t where you made your money.” She squinted, trying to remember. “That was in…in what? Give me a minute.”
He smiled and lifted his glass for another sip.
Her ignorance of what he was famous for seemed to please him. “Okay, what is it? I can’t remember.”
“I design programs for computers. I’ve created several phone apps that have been exceedingly popular, a couple of games, that kind of thing.
” He shrugged. “I still do that, but I like the security business better. I enjoy dealing with people and protecting them.” He placed both forearms on the table and leaned forward so only she would hear.
“Some of my clients are in danger every time they leave their home.”
“That’s right, I remember now. I feel sorry for those people who have to use your services.” She shook her head. “I couldn’t live like that. It’s bad enough with all the hacking and phishing that happens. I’d go find some property somewhere and become a hermit.”
“I’d like to take you to my ranch in Montana. You’d be able to be a hermit there.”
She leaned a little toward him. “A ranch? The one from the photographs in your office? Or do you have more than one?”
He nodded. “Just the one.”
My boss or not, he seems to be moving a little too fast for me. I shouldn’t even think about having a relationship with him. What is wrong with me? If I was a man, I’d just say I couldn’t keep it in my pants, but sex is only part of it. Yes, I’m that attracted to him. Stop it!
But she couldn’t. Meri closed her eyes, seeing her dream ranch…
somewhere she could have a real studio and paint up a storm, not worrying about if they would sell or not.
She opened her eyes and saw him staring at her with a smile curving one side of his lips.
“Sorry, I was away thinking about horses. I’ve always loved them.
When I was a kid, Barry rented a horse for Ben and me for the summer.
We lived in the mountains then and had a horse pasture already fenced off.
He got the animal from one of our uncles.
The horse’s name was Joker, and I loved him.
But when I first met him, he was mean. He bit me.
” She laughed. “We got to be friends, though. I was sad when summer ended and we had to give him back.”
“Why didn’t your uncle just give you the horse for the summer?”
She shrugged. “He probably needed the money. It was a scarce commodity when I was a kid. I promised myself I would never be that poor again. I know my parents did the best they could, but most of their paychecks went for the house payment, food and utilities, upkeep on the car and, of course, gas.”
“We were never that poor. My dad was an accountant and my mom owned a clothing store catering to large women. But we still had to save up for special things, like a dinner out.”
“How did you wind up designing phone apps and computer games?”
Betty returned with two mugs and a coffee pot. “Sorry I took so long, but I brewed a new pot for you.”
Chase looked up at her, his lips turned up. “Thank you. That was very kind.”