Chapter 2 #2
Her mouth split wide as she grinned, set the mugs on the table and poured them both a cup of coffee.
Then she pulled three Irish cream pods from her apron pocket.
She turned toward Meri. “Those are all I could find, but I’ll check the other tables and be back, if I find more. Do you want breakfast?”
“Meri?” asked Chase.
She nodded. “Yes, please. I’d like a small stack with a side of bacon.”
Betty turned toward Chase. “And you, handsome?”
Chase looked up at the waitress. “I’ll have the same.”
“Great. I’ll be back soon with your breakfast.” Betty walked to the booth behind them and took their order before returning to the kitchen.
Meri opened each of the little pods and poured the contents into her coffee, then stirred and sipped the creamy richness. “Mmm. That’s good.”
Chase smiled. “I like seeing you enjoy something. This dreamy look comes over your face before you close your eyes and smile.”
Meri laughed. With her elbows on the table, she held her coffee cup.
I could say so many things about who I am and what makes me happy, but I’m keeping this professional and only talking safe subjects.
“This is only my second cup today, and that’s unusual for me.
I tend to drink coffee all day, though I switch to decaf around noon.
Otherwise, I don’t sleep well at night.”
He nodded. “I have to tell you, you’re very talented. I understand you studied at the Savannah College of Art and Design.”
“Yes, I went to SCAD. It’s the best school in the country, some say the world, for creative endeavors. But how did you know that?”
He lifted a brow. “Meri, I run full background checks on everyone who works for me or want to work for me. It’s standard operating procedure.”
“Oh, of course. I didn’t even think about that.”
“Based on the painting you showed me this morning, I’d say you were at the top of your class.”
Her face heated until tiny spikes centered in her cheeks. “That’s kind of you to say.”
He placed a hand over hers where it rested on the table. “Nothing kind about the truth.”
She didn’t move her hand. His palm was warm and yet it wasn’t soft. He had a workingman’s hands, though perhaps not as rough. She liked he wasn’t in the office all the time.
Betty returned with their breakfast, setting each order in front of them. Then she set a pitcher of syrup on the table. “That’s real maple syrup, in case you were wondering. The boss says do it right or not at all.”
Chase grinned up at her. “I think I like your boss already.”
Betty winked at him. “Just wait until you taste the food. You’ll be back, I guarantee it.”
Meri felt a tinge of jealousy flare at the waitress’s flirting.
That’s crazy. I’m not involved with him.
He can flirt with whoever he wants. “So…um…Chase. What do you do when you’re not working?
” After buttering her pancakes and pouring on the syrup, she took a bite and moaned.
“Oh, my gosh. Forgive me for interrupting, but these are heaven.”
Chase took a bite of his and nodded before swallowing and taking another bite. “I’m sorry, but you’re right. I haven’t had pancakes this good in ages, perfectly light and fluffy, soaks up just enough syrup. And where else would you find real maple syrup being served?”
Meri leaned forward and whispered. “No where. I want to keep this place a secret and at the same time shout their virtues to the sky so everyone will come and they’ll stay in business. Now, back to my question. What do you do in your downtime?”
“I own that little ranch in Montana. I raise some cows and some horses. I go there whenever I can to relax. Do you still ride?” His tongue slipped out and wet his lips. “Horses, I mean. Do you ride horses?”
Betty returned with a coffeepot and warmed their coffee. “I’ll just leave this for when you’re ready. I’ll also be your cashier.” She set their ticket on the table and then turned and headed to another table.
Meri turned her attention back to Chase. “I haven’t ridden in years. But like I said, I loved it when I was a kid. I haven’t had access to a horse in a long time.”
“I know we don’t know each other very well, but I’d like to change that. Would you have dinner with me? Tonight?”
Meri’s mouth opened, but nothing came out. She tried again. “I…I don’t know what to say.” She lost her appetite, her stomach doing too many flips to eat.
“Say, yes. I promise to be on my best behavior. This is an unusual situation for me, because I don’t normally do this…take new employees to dinner and I’ll completely understand if you want to say no.”
She narrowed her gaze but saw nothing but truth in his eyes.
But did she want to go there again? Would it be like the way it was with Jared?
Would she experience heartbreak once more?
No, she didn’t think so. Something about a man who could still grieve after three years didn’t strike her as a man who would cheat on her.
She knew how to protect her heart, but it didn’t have to come at the expense of being lonely…
did it? “I’d love to, but you have to give me a hint of what to wear.
” She waited for the regret to come, but it didn’t.
Nothing but excitement stormed through her body.
He thought for a minute. His gaze shifting up and then back to her. “I would say dressy casual. Slacks or a skirt would be appropriate. Nothing too formal, but jeans are definitely out.”
“Okay. I live over in LoDo.”
“I know from the paperwork you emailed me when we contacted you and from your background check. I’ll pick you up at seven, if that’s okay with you.”
“That’ll be perfect. I’ll be ready, but I need to go now, though. I enjoyed having breakfast with you.” She slid out of the booth, grabbed her bag, and stood before putting the strap across her body. “And I look forward to tonight.”
He stood, took out his wallet and put a fifty inside the check cover.
She put out her hand. “Thank you. I’ll let you keep the painting if you want it. The one I left in your office.”
He shook her hand. Then he smiled. “You’re welcome. And I’d love to keep the painting.” He escorted her out of the café.
“It’s yours. I make notes about colors and placements when I do the actual miniature of the mural.”
When they reached his office building, they went to the elevators. She pressed the down button.
He pressed the up button.
When her elevator arrived, Meri left him and went to the underground garage, where she’d paid ten dollars to park for two hours. She was almost late and hurried to her car before someone could ticket it, though, if they ticketed her, she could probably get Chase to take care of it for her.
Stop it. I am not getting him to fix anything. When I start working here, I’ll ask for a parking space. When I get into the creative spirit, I can forget the time and could work some nights and don’t fancy walking blocks in the dark to my car.
Chase watched her go to the underground parking.
He’d have to make sure she had a parking pass.
He didn’t want her to have to walk to the building.
Heck, he’d have her park in one of his spaces.
He rarely used more than one or two, and he had five, just for situations like this when he wanted someone else to use one.
That was the best idea. His parking was on the first underground level next to the elevator, and a pass was required to get to that level. She’d be safest there.
Happy with his decision, he turned and walked to the entrance to his building.
He needed to make some changes in current assignments.
He wouldn’t be handling any clients himself for the next two months, though he rarely took on clients himself anymore, anyway.
He spent most of his time digging into Paige’s murder.
Someone else would take those he had. Everyone on his team could manage any client of the company.
He made sure to hire only fully trained men and women.
Most were ex-military, but he had former CIA and FBI agents, too.
Despite them not being frequently occupied, the building had over fifty offices on the five floors he used for his employees. He also had two conference rooms and a break room on each floor.
The nineteenth floor was his office and a couple of conference rooms. The twentieth floor was his home.
He ensured that every person who worked for him had access to an office and an administrative assistant when they needed one.
They needed somewhere to meet with clients and to come to when they were without a client, and to do research.
Most of his high-profile clientele wanted to meet at their homes.
They didn’t want anyone other than family to know they were hiring a bodyguard, which was smart on their part.
They didn’t need it made known to everyone that they might be frightened for their lives.
However, within the Denver metro area alone, there were a multitude of individuals who solely desired his help in locating unfaithful spouses or dishonest business partners.
They came to him because he had an excellent reputation, the best, and knew if he took them as a client, he would get results.
He ran a hand through his hair. I better get going. I have to figure out where to take Meri tonight.