“A penny-pinching miser?”he supplied helpfully.
She winced.
“We’re all a product of our experience,” he said, sounding somewhat fatalistic.
“But we get to choose what we do with that, how we use it, how it shapes us,” she replied.“Do we grow?Become more determined?Get angry?”
“And you chose to become determined.”
His statement cut through her defenses.Startled, she met his gaze.
He was regarding her, his green eyes deep, interested.
“How much research have you done on me?”Kelsey asked.“Do I have any secrets from you?”
He lifted a shoulder.“Only the ones you choose to keep.But those are the ones I’m especially interested in.”
She waited for him to go on.
“Your reaction gave you away,” he explained.“When you used the word determined, you frowned as if you were remembering something, then you brought your chin up a little bit.There’s nothing in your personnel record except for your work history, so you don’t have to worry that I know a lot about you.But you were in a fairly powerful position with Newman.You weren’t just his assistant, you were fulfilling the role of an advisor, more like a VP.The question is, what drives you?”
The man made her squirm.By nature she was a private person, so the fact that he so clearly saw things that others missed made her uncomfortable.Rather than answer him, she countered with, “Are you nosy with everyone who works for you?”
“No.But I don’t share an office with anyone but you.”
Fortunately, Marvin arrived, interrupting further conversation.“Decaf for the lady,” he said.He slid her drink in front of her.As always, he’d put a sugar cane swizzle stick on the saucer next to the cup.“And a regular.”He placed the second cappuccino in front of Nathan.
Marvin also put a plate of chicken tenders between them.
“What are they?”she asked suspiciously.
“We need protein.”Nathan shrugged.
“I wanted cake.”
“You get that, too,” he reassured her.
“Let the battle begin,” Marvin said.His grin was ridiculously broad as he lowered the gigantic slice toward the middle of the table.
She glared at the shop owner.He’d cut the piece significantly bigger than any she’d ever seen.Not only that, but he’d put a big fat dollop of fresh whipped cream on the side and garnished it with a mint leaf.Adding insult, he’d drizzled chocolate syrup everywhere.It would take her three days to finish something like that, and Marvin knew it.
“Can I get you anything else?”Marvin deposited a few napkins next to the plate then placed two forks on top of them.
“I’m fine,” Nathan replied.“And you, employee?”
Marvin chuckled.
She scowled at both of them.
The man continued laughing as he walked away.
“Chicken first,” Nathan said.
Though she scowled, she knew he was right.
Dutifully, she ate a few bites before eyeing the cake.
“After you.”Nathan nudged the slice toward her.“This will be fun.”
