“How about I grab us breakfast? You can finish up whatever you were working on.” Marissa nodded at my office door.
“I don’t mind going together.” I didn’t want her to get scared and rush a ticket to London.
“Yeah, but it might look like a date.” She looked down at her shoes. “I’m sure it’s not, but the people in this town like to talk.”
I tipped my head to the side. She was adamant about this no-dating thing. Was it because she didn’t want to date me, or was she worried about Hillsdale? Although I was learning the hard way to take her lead where Hillsdale was concerned.
“It’s the least I can do after waking you up like I did.” Her cheeks turned red.
“Deal.” I held out my hand to shake hers. I wanted to show it was a business deal.
She raised an eyebrow but fit her hand into mine. It might have gone on too long for a business handshake, but I wasn’t sorry. She stood up out of her office chair.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come with you?” I helped her arm through her jacket, and her hair brushed my arm. I caught the smell of apples. She looked up at me over her shoulder and smiled.
If she hadn’t already turned me down for a second date once, I might have asked her again right there. I had to admit I was drawn to her, and not only as a puzzle to figure out. She was beautiful. I shook the thought away. No mixing business with pleasure. Things were precarious enough as it was. Reaching into my back pocket, I grabbed my wallet and handed her some cash. “I’ll pay, though. This is a business expense for sure.”
She grinned and shrugged. “Okay, if you say so.”
My phone started ringing. I grabbed my phone from my pocket and saw the caller ID: Clyde Johnson.
Just in time . . .
“I need to take this.”
She nodded and headed for the door. “I’ll be back soon.” She went through the front door as I headed back to my office and closed the door.
“This is Scott Elliot.” I sat in my chair, wincing as it squeaked. I should get a new chair, but I wouldn’t be here long enough to need one.
“Morning Scott, this is Clyde. I was wondering what you thought of my offer.” His voice carried a no-nonsense tone. “I need to know if you are serious.”
“Yes, I couldn’t be more serious. I’ll make this work.” A weight lifted off my chest. It was good to have another plan in motion.
“Perfect. Have you contacted Carol?”
Do I tell him about my disastrous attempt?
Maybe he wouldn’t trust me if I did.
“Scott. Did you hear me?”
The man wasn’t patient. I cleared my throat. “Yes, I met with her. I didn’t talk about the offer. I want to befriend her first.” That wasn’t a lie but wasn’t the full truth of how disastrous it went.
“And are you . . . befriending her?” I could hear the skepticism in his voice.
“I have a plan in the works.”
He grunted through the phone. “Perfect. Keep me updated. And Scott, if we don’t have the paperwork signed by the tenth of December, the offer is off. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Great. How soon can you come in? I’d like to show you around the office and get a few things signed.”
I was going home for dinner on Sunday, but I should be able to do both. Besides, this took precedence over fixing anything at the Hillsdale Law. This was my second, second chance.
“I can come in Saturday afternoon if the office isn’t closed for the weekend.”
I heard a chuckle. “The office is never closed. Saturday, three in the afternoon.”
