“Are you at work?”
“Yes.”
He held the phone closer to his ear. “Will you have lunch with me?”
Silence stretched on the other end of the phone. He gritted his teeth and repeated in his mind,say yes.
“I... Yes, Calvin. I’ll have lunch with you.”
He blew out a pent-up breath, grateful to have progressed this far to win her back. “Thank you. I’ll pick you up—”
“No, I’ll meet you. Where do you want to go?”
“Wherever you want to.”
“Freddie’s. The sandwich shop on the corner of Main and Fourth.”
“I know the place. I’ll see you there at twelve-thirty.”
“Okay. Bye.”
His chest didn’t feel as tight as he disconnected the call and slid the phone back in his pocket. Now, he needed to order some flowers for her and have them delivered to her office at eleven-thirty. He vowed he would make up for this obstacle that had been thrown in his pathway and get back on track with winning her love.
He moved away from the wall and heard the elevator doors open. He quickened his step, but then someone slammed into him, tilting him off balance. He righted himself before he could fall to the floor, but then noticed the woman who’d bumped into him sprawled on the floor.
Inwardly, he groaned.Rona.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” he said, reaching a hand down to help her up.
“No, it’s my fault. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
She took hold of his hand. Just as he was able to pull her to her feet, one of her legs gave out, and she grasped his arms, trying not to fall again.
“I’ve got you.” He wrapped his arms around her, keeping her upright. “Can you walk on your foot?”
“I... I think I sprained my ankle.”
He glanced around the lobby for a bench. A few people were watching, but they didn’t make any move to come and help. There was an empty bench against the far wall.
“Will you be able to walk over to that bench?”
“I think so.”
Taking it slowly, he helped her, but she buckled on him again. This time, she cried out in pain.
“Yes, I sprained my ankle.”
“Were you heading to your office?” he asked her, looking down into her brown eyes.
She cringed in pain. “Yes. But, can you help me to my office? I’ll get an ice pack on my ankle, but I’d rather sit at my desk if you don’t mind.”
He really did mind, but only because he knew that she’d been stalking him for a few weeks before he married Rayne. Just as he opened his mouth to give her an excuse why he couldn’t, he recalled the conversation with his wife during their romantic dinner. Rona was the one whose feelings he hadn’t cared about. Perhaps now was the time to change that. She was injured. He would help her because he wanted to be the man Rayne saw in him.
“No, I don’t mind.” He smiled, even if it wasn’t fully. He picked her up in his arms. She gasped and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’ll take you to your office.”
As he passed the people in the lobby, they gave him smiles and nods of approval. At leasttheythought he had a kind heart.
* * * *
