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Lucian laughed. She hadn’t heard him laugh often and when he did, she savored it. She felt herself smiling beside him.
“Come on, James, I guess we better take this to the dining room before our fragile friend here faints from hunger.”
Everyone replaced their barely touched coffees on the silver tray and exited the room. It struck Scout as blatantly wasteful, but also gave her a chance to ditch her apple core.
The men walked ahead of her and talked quickly of people and things she had no clue about. When they reached the dining room a man, also in familiar Patras livery but without the nametag, pulled out a chair for her.
Plates of steaming eggs, bacon, and toast were brought out. A brightly colored bowl of fruit was placed at the corner of her placemat. There were bright green cuts of fruit, slices of something peach tinged with red, and bright pink berries. It was very exotic.
The men discussed business as she focused on her meal. She realized she had a problem with eating past the feeling of fullness, but it would be a shame to waste such fine food.
“Well, you can sure put away a meal,” Jamie commented with a grin and Scout blushed, aborting the last of her toast. “I can’t imagine where you’re hiding it. Such a little thing, you are.”
“Don’t be rude, James,” Slade grumbled. She turned and found his sharp blue eyes analyzing her again.
Scout frowned uncomfortably. He looked at her like he knew her, but that was impossible. She would have remembered.
“Do you want some more, Evelyn?” Lucian embarrassed her by asking.
“No, thank you, I’ve had more than I should’ve.”
“I like a woman who isn’t afraid to enjoy a good meal,” Jamie commented.
Breakfast was cleared and briefcases were popped open. Papers slid across the table as their conversation flowed. It soon seemed all very chaotic to her. Papers traded hands and more coffee was served. A phone was brought in so that Slade could make a call, while Lucian spoke on his cell and Jamie sent a text to his secretary.
“I know I had it,” Jamie said. “Nancy handed it to me just as I was packing my briefcase.”
“Maybe it got mixed up with the leases,” Slade said as they all rummaged through pages.
“Here, Scout, do me a favor and look through this stack for a page that says Cambridge Development on the top.” Jamie slid her a stack of papers and continued to sort through the stack in front of him.
Her hands trembled as she gently slid the papers closer. With extreme care she flipped one page then another.
Sweat moistened the skin beneath her arms and she forced herself to breathe steadily.
“Here it is.” The page she was holding was torn from her hands. “She was staring right at it,” Slade said in a huff as he slid the paper to James.
“Thank you, Scout.” James smiled apologetically at her then turned to glare at Slade.
“What kind of name is Scout, anyway?” Slade asked as he continued to loom over her.
Lucian came back into the room. She didn’t recall him leaving. “Did you find it?”
With undue credit, Slade announced, “Scout found it.”
Lucian frowned at his friend then glanced at her. “Evelyn, you okay?”
She nodded and distracted herself with stacking the papers still in front of her in a neat pile. Jamie picked up the discussion they’d been having before, and everyone’s attention was eventually directed back to the business at hand. Everyone’s except Lucian’s.
He stood behind her chair, gently resting a large hand on her shoulder as they continued their business. She was very aware of him and he seemed to intentionally stick by her side. She wasn’t sure if the action was to comfort her or to make a statement to the other men.
An hour later their business had concluded, and Slade was the first to go. He took a great deal of her tension with him. Lucian and Jamie settled into their chairs and let go of a bit of their professionalism.
“Wow, it’s noon already,” Jamie said. “How about a drink?”
Lucian nodded at Lucy, who was idling at the edge of the room. She nodded back with understanding and left only to return moments later with a tray.
“That will be all, Lucy.”
The maid left and quietly slid the pocket doors closed. Jamie poured himself a drink and raised an eyebrow in her direction.
“No, thank you,” Scout said, appreciating the offer anyway.
Once they each had their drinks they eased back in their chairs and sighed. “Slade was in a mood today,” Jamie commented. “Do you think it’s Monique?”
“He’s always in a mood.” Lucian rolled back his sleeves and tossed his jacket onto an empty chair. She liked seeing him like this, rumpled and relaxed.
“So, Scout, how is it you managed to charm Lucian?”
Her mouth opened, but no words came out. She looked to Lucian and he grinned. He took a long sip of his drink then placed it on the table. Propping his arms behind his head he said, “Don’t worry, Evelyn. Jamie and I have been friends since we were in diapers. We have no secrets from each other.” He faced Jamie. “She works for me.”
