After I finished with Stormy, I walked over to Travis as he was looking over some papers on a clipboard, “Dinner?”
“Nah. One of the men’s wives brought a dish of beef stew earlier today.”
“Okay. I’ll see you in two days or so and make a few meals that you can reheat in the oven.”
“I’ll walk you to your car.” Today, Travis had on a pair of wrangler jeans that hugged that butt like they were sculpted and made just for him. He had on a light blue jean shirt with his sleeves rolled to his forearms which were his normal.
As soon as we made it to my car, I had stopped dressing the man down with my eyes, until I saw it.
Was that a tattoo?
My fingers itched to reach up and trace that design to wherever it leads. Get it a grip Matthews.
I hadn’t locked my doors, so Travis reached down and opened my door for me.
“Thank you.” But as I turned my head to look at him while I climbed into my car, he was holding a hundred-dollar bill.
“Seems you left this underneath the peach cobbler.” He had aknowing grin on his face.
“Travis. It isn’t right. I know how much you charge. On top of that, what you did for Stormy. I’ll…” Whatever I was about to say was quieted when he placed one thick muscular finger over my mouth.
“Darlin’ I’ll see you in a few days.” Then he placed the hundred-dollar bill in my hand that was holding onto the door frame.
That night in bed, dreams of a man with dark brown hair, hazel eyes, a body that was made from a now broken mold, and with tattoos, had filled a void I hadn’t known was even missing.
The next day at work, I wanted to go ride Stormy again, sadly I was on shift at Redman’s. Just as I sat back at my desk with my third coffee of the day a hush settled all around the office.
It was then that suddenly I heard someone just outside of my office. Since it was her office and then another one right off of the elevator that was near the reception desk, there wasn’t anything that I haven’t ever not heard. “Can you tell me where Ms. Corrine Matthew’s office is please?”
“Yes. Corrine’s office is the second door on the right.” I heard Margaret’s older voice tell the younger man.
Then I saw the younger deliveryman through the bay windows just before he knocked on my office door.
“Ms. Corrine Matthews?” The younger boy asked.
That was weird in itself. I have never seen anyone around my town with that emblem on their polo shirt. And I also knew everyone in my town. I didn’t know this man.
So I answered him warily, “Yes.”
“I have a delivery for you. If you will sign your name, please?” As he handed me a small clipboard, I grabbed a pen and signed my name.
After that was done, he handed me the long rectangular box that he held in his other hand.
The moment I grabbed the box I caught the floral fragrance that was being held inside. It was my favorite smell, lilies, as I removed the lid from the box, there lay nestled in white silk wrapping, were twelve pink lilies. Then nestled inside of the flowers was a light purple card, I pulled it free and stared at the neat scrawl that laid there.
‘Corrine, have dinner with me tomorrow night. Call me if you can make it. Travis.’ I stared dumbfounded at the cell phone number that was written at the bottom of the little card.
It was then that I rubbed my finger over the number and tried to fight the smile that wanted to rip from my face. Though I lost that battle and with a giddy smile, I punched in the number, just as my finger hovered over the call button I paused.
Was this a good idea? What did it mean? I had never had dinner with anyone, least of all a man.
Thinking this through, I sat my phone back down on my desk.
For the next half an hour, I entered figures into an expense account for a client. However, when I realized that I had typed out Travis instead of a figure, I said, “Heck with it.”
I grabbed my phone and hit the call button.
On the second ring, I heard that deep timbre, “Hello?”
