"It will be a really sexy chauffeur outfit, you know, with fishnet tights. I saw one for sale as a Halloween costume," I continued as I started the car. It made an almost imperceptible purr. "Mmm," I moaned. "This is anicecar."
In New York City, I was reliant on trains, buses, and my own two feet for transportation. I had always envied the girls in their exquisite designer shoes who were helped in and out of town cars. Now it was my turn. Well, sort of. I was the driver. But still—no more stinky buses.
"Where to, O Great CFO?" I asked Garrett. "We're getting lunch, right? I'm starving."
"I suppose," he said. "I really need coffee."
"Any preferences? Any coffee shops with cute girls that you want to hit on?"
"No," he snarled.
"I'm teasing!"
"Just drive," he said.
I pressed on the gas. The car jerked forward and ran into a bush. I screamed.
"I thought you said you were a good driver!" Garrett yelled, throwing open the car door. We inspected the damage.
"You can just buff that out," I told him with more confidence than I felt. "I saw this product on an infomercial. It's made by the same people that sell that super-duper sticky tape that can hold a boat together."
"That tape is a scam," Garrett said, getting back into the car.
"Don't tell me that! It's like finding out Santa isn't real!"
"I thought you were a Halloween nut," Garrett said.
"I love all holidays equally, but some more equally than others."
* * *
I droveGarrett over to the coffee shop. He didn't make any more conversation. He was typing emails on his tablet the entire time. Now that I was in a confined space with him, I couldn't help but notice the sort of clean masculine scent that permeated the car. It was better than freshly baked bread. I just wanted to bury my face in Garrett's chest and inhale. I wiped my mouth. I was starting to get a little drooly.
He's a terrible person, Penny. Honestly, you would think by now you would have better decision-making skills.
"Just circle the block," Garrett said as I pulled up in front of the Grey Dove Bistro. It was the Harrogate franchise location of Chloe's Manhattan restaurant. He didn't wait for my answer as he climbed out of the car and slammed the door shut.
Fuck that. The way Chloe organized the Grey Dove Bistros was that there were some similar menu items but also some that were unique to each location. This one had the donut Danish. They were all over Instagram. There was no way I was passing that up. Besides, I was starving. A whole morning of doing nothing except search the internet for dirt on the Svenssons had made me work up an appetite.
I parallel parked the Tesla and only banged into the car behind me a little bit. Then I ran across the street to the café. It was in an old, historic building. There was art on the walls depicting corgis and dachshunds in Halloween costumes, smiling silly doggy smiles while sitting next to various fall baked goods.
Garrett was standing off to the side, waiting for his order. He scowled when he saw me.
"I'm starving," I told him when he stalked over to me.
"I have a lot of important things to do. I can't wait for you to order lunch."
"More important than lunch? Did you even eat today? Maybe your blood sugar's a little low, and that's why you're so grouchy." I almost felt his forehead, but one, he was so tall that his head was way up there, and two, I didn't want to press my luck.
"You don't want a sandwich, Garrett?" Hazel, the franchise owner, asked. I recognized her from Instagram. She had her poofy hair in a ponytail and was wearing an apron that had pumpkins and latte cups embroidered on it.
"I’m fine," Garrett said firmly.
"What would you like to order?" Hazel asked me. I was slightly, okay,insanelyjealous of her, though I absolutely loved her. Owner of a successful franchise. Artist extraordinaire. Hot rich boyfriend. Archer Svensson seemed like the fun Svensson brother, especially compared to Garrett the Grouch, looming in the corner.
"I'll take a country ham on sourdough, a pumpkin-spice latte, and three donut Danishes. I'm super excited about eating a donut Danish. I'll have a chocolate, a classic vanilla, and a pumpkin spice."
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Garrett grimace.
