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“What did you have?” she asks me, shuffling around.
“What are you doing?” I ask her. She giggles. She literally giggles like a high school girl chatting with her boyfriend on the line.
“Relaxing in the garden.” I smile remembering her that night, but she doesn’t know.
“A protein shake. I had a protein shake for breakfast.”
“You poor poor man,” she teases, “doesn’t Lucinda feed you breakfast?” She remembers my housekeeper’s name.
I hear myself chuckle out loud. “No. Not breakfast. She comes in the mornings, cleans, and occasionally leaves a meal.” She laughs at my honesty. “Sometimes she doesn’t feed me at all,” I admit. She laughs again.
“You must live a very fascinating lifestyle, Mr. Starks.” She’s breathy and beautiful sounding.
“It has some perks, I must admit.” I grin as I see Gerry eyeing me. He’s never seen me laughing or talking to a woman on the phone. “I’ve been spotted, by Gerry. He’s eyeing me suspiciously talking to you.”
“What color has he graced you with today?”She forgets nothing.
“Maroon.” I smile.
“I didn’t let on my reason for calling, so I don’t know what you want to tell him.” She tells me. “I know you have your own life in Jacksonville.” She’s turning all nervous again.
“Leave my color wheel to me.” She laughs.Good. “What are you doing today?” What does an innkeeper do during the week when she has no guests to tend to?
She laughs. “My scullery maid duties. What does a businessman such as yourself have on his agenda?” She doesn’t know what I do. She has no idea she’s talking to Jacksonville’s richest bachelor.
“Oh the usual, corporate world run of the mill things,” I tease. But I really do have a lot of business dealings this week. “Nothing that would be of interest to a scullery maid.” I hope I didn’t offend her. She laughs, making me laugh. She knows I’m teasing.
“Well, I’m sure your random scullery maid would be bored out of her mind; but you’re talking to a scullery maid with a master’s in business administration.”
“Really?” My shock is evident. She laughs.
“Yes, I didn’t know what to major in when I went into college. I followed in my daddy’s footsteps and got a degree in business administration with a focus in hospitality.”Fuck,I just found out something real about her.
I grin as I notice we have been chatting for almost thirty minutes. “Intelligence, beauty and she can cook.” Eric Johansson snagged up one hell of a bride. I hate him even more.
“You’re quite the charmer, aren’t you Mr. Starks?” she purrs into the phone. I’m melting.
“Am I now … charming Ms. Amelia of Amelia?” I see Andy rounding the corner heading towards my office.Shit. Gerry stops him. Andy hates to wait. He can see me on the phone. I hold my finger up to give me a minute. “Damn.”
“What?” Her voice is serious again.
“My attorney just arrived. He’s waiting outside my office,” I sigh.
“Well, you are at work.” She laughs softly. “You can’t spend all morning engaging in coquetry banter with me.”
“You’re much more interesting,” I tell her. It’s the truth, she has completely enthralled me, again. I laugh. “I could listen to you for hours. Even if it’s just jabberwocky.”
She laughs. “I think I could too.” She sighs quietly into the phone. Andy is tapping his watch at me. I roll my eyes and hit my privacy screen, just to piss him off.
“I really need to go, dear Amelia from Amelia.” I stand, fastening my coat.
“It was great speaking with you Mr. Starks. Thank you again.” I smile.
“Again, the pleasure has been all mine.”It really has.
She laughs. “Go dominate the corporate world. Bye.” I smile as I tell her bye. She disconnects our call. I grin, looking at my phone like a kid. I see Andy flapping his hands and pacing. Obviously questioning Gerry about who I’ve been so engrossed with.
I hide the privacy screen and open my door. Andy sails through, and Gerry looks at me. “Not laid my ass.” He snaps his head. Then grins as he turns to his work. I grin, shaking my head as I close my door to give Andy my attention.
