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I fight the urge to bristle. A year of accent training, gone down the drain. And I had worked so hard to lose it... shit. Keeping my smile on, I tell him, “Virginia.” My standard answer. It’s not a lie. I don’t have to tell him which one.
“It’s a beautiful state.”
“Thanks, so back to the steakhouse. If you want me to, I’ll come up with something between firepit and traditional, or you can go straight traditional. Do you have a preference?”
I am grateful when he doesn’t mention the fact I sidestepped his Virginia conversation starter. Maybe he picked up on my vibe, because all he says is, “Something between. Perhaps we can surprise the old ladies a little.”
“Sounds good.” I close up my tablet and pop it into my bag. “Well, I think I have enough to go on for now—"
“Splendid. I need that coffee, and I have another meeting coming in shortly, so I’ll be going to the coffee shop down the street. I’ll walk you out.”
If he walks me out, then Savannah will see him, and I will get such shit for not letting her pretend to be my assistant. “No need to trouble yourself.”
“It’s no trouble at all.”
“Okay.” What else can I say? No, don’t go outside right now because my best friend will ogle you and rag on me for keeping you all to myself? That’s not gonna fly.
We walk out, and I realize I’m starving. Something about being nervous does it to me. “Any place you like around here for lunch?”
“There is a new vegan place that’s all the rage, or at least, my sister, Maya, likes it. It’s called Beans and Things. Very retro, very trendy.”
“Okay, but doyoulike it?”
He chuckles. “It is not for me. There is Rita’s, which is a fabulous taco shop, if you’re looking for something more substantial. It is also downtown, but on the industrial side, a few blocks over from here. Some say that is the bad side of town, but Somerset Harbor doesn’t really have a bad side. Just a slightly less wealthy side.”
“That sounds more like lunch to me.”
Beau opens the door for me, and I can only hope Savannah is busy on her phone.
She is not. She is looking right at us.
He says, “Thank you for agreeing to this meeting. My manners were subpar in Manhattan. It has been a trying time, you understand.”
“Of course. Thank you again for the lunch recommendation. Enjoy your coffee.” We shake hands, and that’s when I see it. In the reflection of his sunglasses, I notice my blouse has unbuttoned itself. Do I react or do I pretend I didn’t notice?Reacting is too embarrassing—pretend. “Have a nice day, Beau.”
“You, too, Elise.” Only he doesn’t release my hand right away. In fact, he lingers.Is he looking down my blouse?I can’t tell—the mirror on his sunglasses blocks the view of his eyes. He gives a smile and a curt nod before leaving for his walk to the café nearby.
What was that? Just the fuzzy-headedness of a man in deep need of coffee, or the lingering glance of a man appreciating my tits? Is that why he kept phasing out of our conversation?
I get into the rental and button my blouse. Savannah has such a giant grin on that I’m almost grinning, too. “What?”
“You come out of his office—thatman—and your shirt is unbuttoned—
“By one extra. It popped open during the meeting.”
“Right. By itself.”
“You have never had a shirt do that to you?”
That kills her grin. “Look at your tits, then look at mine, Elise. No. I’ve never had a shirt do that to me.”
She has a point. Her A-cups aren’t likely to come out and say hi, whereas my C-cups practically have their own burlesque peep show if I wear something too tight. I shake it off. “Whatever. The meeting went well, and I am starving. Tacos?”
“Seriously, nothing happened with him?”
“Just my presentation. And I think I nailed it.”
“Without nailing him, too? Good for you.”
