“Can I get you something to drink?” their waiter asked.
She gestured to Eric, as she was the host, but he smiled and shook his head. “Ladies first.”
In that case, she was sticking to her guns. “I’d like a large skinny cappuccino, please.”
Eric’s brows rose, as if mildly surprised. “I’ll have a short black.”
“At this time of day?” she asked. “Doesn’t it affect your sleep?”
“I’ve learned to enjoy my caffeine whenever I can get it.”
Probably the legacy of all his trips to Europe that regularly saw him photographed and featured in women’s magazines.
She dragged her gaze from the window and looked at him. “Well, I’m sorry again for the change of plans.”
He shook his head. “Things happen. I understand.”
“Then shall we begin?”
His head tilted, a small smile playing about his mouth, as if he was amused.
Defensiveness rose, but she didn’t want to let him see that his mannerisms affected her, so she smoothed out her prospectus.
“I see you’ve come prepared.” He gestured to her documents.
She inclined her chin. “As I said last time, Dream Match is ready to scale up, and we are looking for more investors who are willing to believe with us and take this to the next level.”
Their coffees were served, the waiter asking if there was anything else they needed, which they declined.
Eric listened intently, asking several questions that showed he’d been paying attention, and she gradually relaxed. This was a business meeting, and he was being professional, and so was she. In fact, far from being under the microscope of lots of onlookers, after the first few moments of people’s interest,nobody else seemed to be paying them attention anymore, which suited her just fine.
She was able to clearly and coherently answer his questions, including the ones about the Christian elements he’d objected to before, and she hoped it made sense.
“Are there any other questions?” she asked.
A seaplane approached, and she joined him in watching it land. Then his attention returned to her. “You’ve explained everything beautifully.”
Oh. “Then you don’t have anything else you want to know?”
“Actually …”
Her stomach tensed as his gaze grew intent.
“Are you hungry?”
The abrupt subject change made her blink. “Um, I could eat something. But it’s getting late.” Already the sun was sinking, stretching dark blue shadows across the water. She straightened her documents. “And I know you’re a busy man, so I should let you get on with the rest of your day.”
“EJ, I cleared my schedule for this meeting.”
“You did?”
“Of course I did. I wasn’t sure how long it would go for, especially with so many of you.”
“Yes, I’m sorry about that—”
“Please, no apologies necessary. It’s been good to have the chance to get to talk directly to you. Especially as you are the main innovator of Dream Match.”
“I, er, yes.” Ugh. She really needed to work on the silly little expressions that leaked. That wasn’t exactly selling confidence and professionalism.
