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“Why not?”
“Because…because, you’re now my boss.”
“It’s not a date, Cath, I just want to make sure you’re okay. A good leader makes sure his people are in fighting shape.”
“So are we fighting?” she asked, confused for a moment.
She really wanted to slip back down and go back to sleep.
“No. I’m just bringing soup.”
“I’ll be fine. I don’t want to be entertaining guests.”
“You won’t be entertaining me, you’ll be eating the soup from the deli. You still like vegetable and beef?”
“You know it’s my favorite.”
She cringed as soon as the words left her mouth. She was not trying to reinforce the relationship they had at one time. Cath held her breath waiting for his response.
He merely said, “I’ll be there within a half hour.”
Hanging up the phone, she gingerly got out of bed and went to use the bathroom. Then she brushed her hair, rinsed her mouth with mouthwash and tried to see if she looked better for having slept half the evening away.
She checked the living room to make sure it looked presentable and then continued into the kitchen to heat water for tea. Her fleece robe and fuzzy slippers kept her warm. She could hear the rain still falling outside. The thick robe was not the kind of attire she would have worn had Trace been coming over for any other reason. That alone should clearly emphasize to him that she no longer considered them a couple. Not that he would think so. But she didn’t want any wrong impressions from this visit.
Still, she checked that she had on some lip gloss before he arrived. No point in looking as bad as she felt.
When the doorbell rang a short time later, she tried to calm her nerves as she went to open the door. Raindrops glistened in his hair and on the shoulders of his jacket. Trace carried a large bag with the deli’s logo. The aroma of the hot soup immediately had her mouth watering.
She took in a deep breath. Suddenly she was ravenous. She held out her hand for the bag.
“Thank you,” she said.
He pushed past her and walked into the apartment as if he had every right to be there. He had visited several times when they dated so he knew his way around. Without hesitation he headed for the kitchen.
Cath followed him reluctantly. She paused in the doorway and watched as he swiftly poured the hot soup into a bowl from her cupboard and found a spoon. She gave up and went to sit at the table.
“Eat up,” he said a moment later, placing the bowl in front of her.
Cath took a taste. It was wonderful. And not too hot to eat right away.
Trace waited until she began to eat, then rummaged around in the bag and withdrew some hot rolls. He took a plate down and put them beside her, along with a handful of wrapped butter pats.
Cath looked at him. “Did you eat?”
He nodded. Leaning his shoulder against the archway he watched her.
She became flustered. Glancing at him, she frowned.
“Could you stop staring at me?”
He pushed away from the wall and came to sit beside her. Reaching out, he took one of the rolls, broke it open and buttered it.
Mitzie came in from the bedroom. She walked toward Trace, her tail high.
“Hey, girl,” he said, noticing the cat.
She showed no hesitation in coming over and rubbing herself against his ankles. He leaned over and scratched her back. The loud purr indicated her delight.
