Page 13 of Driven to Love

He didn’t know how to be any clearer and not offend her.

Why couldn’t these women be more like Addison? She wouldn’t throw herself at him. Not that he wouldn’t like her to, but that wasn’t the point.

He swung two chairs over his shoulders and picked up the cooler to make his first trip to the truck. Sweat poured down his face, taking his shades down a notch. He shoved them up with his arm and looked at the pile of stuff. If he did some juggling, maybe he could make it in three trips this time.

He glanced over his shoulder. His parents were halfway to the truck. Jillian lingered, so close he could feel the heat rolling off her body. He needed some space.

Preferably space with air conditioning.

Chapter 5

Addison bit back a smile as she opened the door to the restaurant. She’d laughed like a loon when she ended her call from Mark, her former boss, this morning. He wanted to talk. In person. Ha. He couldn’t last one day in the office without her.

She smoothed her skirt and opened the door. The restaurant was known for privacy. Business deals, clandestine lovers, and local celebrities were rumored to dine here. Anyone who didn’t want to be disturbed.

Mark waved from the corner booth, the very one they had eaten at before. Addison was a little surprised he chose this place to woo her back to work. The chain restaurant down the block would have been just fine and a lot cheaper.

At the table, he rose. Ever the gentleman, he was dressed in a charcoal suit and a plum tie. His appearance screamed successful businessman in his late forties. Which he was.

“Thank you for coming.” He leaned in for a hug, then pulled back.

The awkward moment lingered as she slipped into the booth. He hadn’t hugged her in months. His actions put her back up.

She pushed back the response. Not the best way to go into a job negotiation. She pasted on a subtle smile, folded her arms in front of her, and waited. Mark Louis was a man who couldn’t be rushed. Years of being his right hand taught her patience. He would get to the point when he was good and ready.

Mark slipped on his reading glasses and picked up the menu.

She surveyed the man across from her. Flecks of gray peppered his sandy blond hair, and a few more wrinkles lined his eyes. They looked good on him.

He removed his glasses and met her gaze. “Addison…”

Mark paused when the server arrived. Without even looking at her, he ordered for them both.

Addison ground her teeth. She hated when he did that. It was a presumptuous move, but growing up, her mom taught her about the fragility of the male ego, so she let it slide. Besides, she wanted her job back, with a big, fat raise, of course.

“Where did you file the receipts for the Granger order last month?”

Her brows flattened. That could have been asked in an email. Heck, even a text.

Small talk. He is building up to the real question.

Right. Typical Mr. Louis. “The digital copies are in the shared drive in the ‘Invoice’ folder, under year, then month, and the file is labeled under wholesaler and date.”

“Yes. Yes. Thank you.” He nodded. Not that he really needed such trivial information.

He scanned the restaurant, looking at everything but her. “How’s your cat?”

Now she really knew he was nervous. The man didn’t have many tells, but small talk? Especially about her cat? He hated Lu. The one time he’d been to her house, Lu tried to take a chunk out of his leg. To be fair, Lu thought he was protecting her. He didn’t like anyone, but hated men in general. If a guy hugged her, Lu morphed into “Attack Cat.”

“He’s well.” She exhaled when the server brought the first course.

By the time the main meal was served, they had fallen into a comfortable dialogue, discussing his children, her mother, and the people at the office. There had been a few casual brushes of his hand to hers, but nothing that wasn’t work appropriate. What didn’t occur during the meal? One word about getting her job back. Addison tasted blood from biting her tongue for the last hour. Get to the point.

Finally, the server brought coffee and dessert. Addison cracked. “This was a lovely meal, but don’t you think we should talk about the reason you called me?”

Mark was a brilliant man—charming and charismatic, and besides being stubborn, he could be scatterbrained and unorganized. That’s why Addison ran the office. She kept him on task for the last nine years.

“Yes.” He set his cup down and leaned forward. He cleared his throat and looked Addison squarely in the eyes. “You know I didn’t want to let you go.”