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Assuming she wouldn’t expect it, Jed brought a bouquet of daisies for her and brandished it with a grin when she opened the door to him. Dressed in a sweet, flowy blue dress and simple sandals, she looked like a model when she smiled and lifted the flowers to her nose.
“Thank you.” She nibbled on her lower lip, eyes on the flowers. “Let me put these in a vase before we go.”
She held the door for him, so Jed stepped inside to wait for her. Her house didn’t jive with her office vibe. He studied the puffy, comfortable-looking couch, buried in pastel-colored throw pillows. A big plant took up space in the corner of the living room; Jed knew nothing about green things, but it looked to be healthy and thriving.
He turned when he heard her soft footsteps approach him.
“Totally not what I expected,” he said as she crossed the room to set the vase of flowers on the mantle of what appeared to be a real fireplace on the far wall. A paperback book sat propped open on the arm of a cozy chair by the fireplace, but Jed was too far away to see what she was reading.
“What do you mean?”
She picked up a small handbag and led him to the door again.
“The office is a little sterile,” he said with a shrug.
Sloane pulled the door closed behind them and checked the lock before turning to him.
“It’s a business,” she argued. “I don’t want clients to think I’m frilly and infer that I don’t know how to run a business or do taxes.”
“Why would anyone think that? You’re like a rockstar there.”
It made sense, though, he decided as he followed her down the front sidewalk to his car. She ran a tight ship in the office, allowed no slouching or wasting time. Not even finger football in the break room. She dressed the part at the office. And she was successful, so he shouldn’t question her.
“Some men don’t respect women in business,” she answered. When he opened her door for her, she gave him a startled look before sliding into the passenger seat. “Actually, even a lot of women don’t respect a woman running her own business.”
“Your clients respect you,” he told her when he dropped into the driver’s seat.
“They do, but then I give them no other option.”
Jed stared at her for a moment and finally nodded.
“Are you disappointed?” she asked him.
He started the car and eased away from the curb.
“Why would I be disappointed?”
“I dunno. Maybe you wanted a dinner date with that Sloane Garrison.”
“I wanted a dinner date with every version of you,” he said simply. “I can’t wait to get to know all of you.”
She snorted. “That makes me sound unstable.”
He glanced at her with a smile.
“You told me you don’t date,” he reminded her. “Why not?”
“Obviously, I do.” She shrugged. “Just not a lot.” She looked his way when he stopped at the corner. Eyes locked, she continued, “I guess I haven’t met anyone to hold my interest.”
“And now?”
She laughed softly and looked away when he quirked an eyebrow at her.
“Maybe.”
“How about some music?” He tapped the accelerator.
“Sure.”
