seemed to sense her mood. Good dog. Then she listened to her voice mail and heard her first words in a week from Keith.
When she heard his invitation, warmth flooded her heart. He wanted to be with her. He hadn’t forgotten her birthday. For some reason he’d stayed away, but now he was back and chose to spend her special time with her.
She decided to go to his place—add a small element of surprise to their reunion.
As she left her condo, a niggling thought took root. What if this would turn out to be less than she hoped for? Another disappointment.
She made herself a solemn vow. If tonight turned out to be less than she wanted, she’d call it quits with Keith. Forever.
* * *
He’d just seen to Brute when his doorbell rang. Brenda already? His heartbeat sped up. He flung open the door to find Taylor carrying a cooler and several tote bags. What—
“Hi. I was in the neighborhood, so figured I’d drop over and treat you to dinner. There’s some stuff I want to talk over, and I’m tired of eating out.”
Keith stared at her in complete shock. What the hell— Never mind that he didn’t expect her, had never told her where he lived or invited her to his home. In his line of work, he made it a point to keep his personal information guarded. Evidently Taylor had no problem getting around that. Something to put on his to-do list to fix.
Much as he’d once enjoyed having beautiful women show up at his place with food, his gut tightened. He wanted Brenda, not Taylor. Her timing could unleash a disaster. What if Brenda decided to come over and didn’t call first? What if she saw Taylor here and assumed the worst?
He had to think fast and get Taylor out, which he hoped he could manage without losing her as a client. “I actually have some plans—” he started to say when the doorbell rang again. Brute jumped up, knocking Taylor down in his rush to the door. Then the dog evidently realized Taylor was carrying something of interest in her bags.
“Brenda. I’m glad you’re here.” Keith spoke calmly but chaos appeared to break out immediately behind him.
“What’s going on here? Why is Brute going crazy? Who’s screaming?”
Keith shook his head. “A client came over, unannounced. She has food in her bag. Must be meat because Brute just attacked her.”
Brenda ran past Keith, who quickly caught up. Together they managed to separate Brute and the shredded remains of a large roast.
The woman, amazingly not looking much the worse for wear, said, “Thanks for the rescue. Keith, you should have warned me about the dog.”
“I didn’t know you were coming, let alone with meat. Looks like one of his favorites.” He managed to corral Brute and coax him and the roast out of the room.
“I’m Taylor. We’re about to have dinner. Well, we were. Lucky I brought a lot.” A wary expression on her face, she extended her hand.
“Brenda.” Mustering all her strength of character, she shook the proffered hand. Why the heck did I come? This is the woman from Bistro Bacchanalia. Obviously they’re tight. This is way more than business. When Brenda had heard Keith’s message, she’d convinced herself she could reasonably hope that something had changed. Now she could see nothing had. Keith was a lost cause. She should have cut her losses before. She would do so now. Chin up, she turned to leave when Keith came back to the room and cleared his throat.
“Taylor. I invited Brenda. I told you I had other plans.”
The imperious redhead crossed her arms in front of her chest and tapped her foot. “More important than what’s happening between us? More important than what my firm and I have to offer you? I need to know you’re available twenty-four seven. On call. Or we’ll hire someone else.”
“Those aren’t the terms we discussed,” Keith said. “Now doesn’t work for me. We need to make an appointment.”
“I’m sure your date will understand if you see her another time. I’m here. I
When she heard his invitation, warmth flooded her heart. He wanted to be with her. He hadn’t forgotten her birthday. For some reason he’d stayed away, but now he was back and chose to spend her special time with her.
She decided to go to his place—add a small element of surprise to their reunion.
As she left her condo, a niggling thought took root. What if this would turn out to be less than she hoped for? Another disappointment.
She made herself a solemn vow. If tonight turned out to be less than she wanted, she’d call it quits with Keith. Forever.
* * *
He’d just seen to Brute when his doorbell rang. Brenda already? His heartbeat sped up. He flung open the door to find Taylor carrying a cooler and several tote bags. What—
“Hi. I was in the neighborhood, so figured I’d drop over and treat you to dinner. There’s some stuff I want to talk over, and I’m tired of eating out.”
Keith stared at her in complete shock. What the hell— Never mind that he didn’t expect her, had never told her where he lived or invited her to his home. In his line of work, he made it a point to keep his personal information guarded. Evidently Taylor had no problem getting around that. Something to put on his to-do list to fix.
Much as he’d once enjoyed having beautiful women show up at his place with food, his gut tightened. He wanted Brenda, not Taylor. Her timing could unleash a disaster. What if Brenda decided to come over and didn’t call first? What if she saw Taylor here and assumed the worst?
He had to think fast and get Taylor out, which he hoped he could manage without losing her as a client. “I actually have some plans—” he started to say when the doorbell rang again. Brute jumped up, knocking Taylor down in his rush to the door. Then the dog evidently realized Taylor was carrying something of interest in her bags.
“Brenda. I’m glad you’re here.” Keith spoke calmly but chaos appeared to break out immediately behind him.
“What’s going on here? Why is Brute going crazy? Who’s screaming?”
Keith shook his head. “A client came over, unannounced. She has food in her bag. Must be meat because Brute just attacked her.”
Brenda ran past Keith, who quickly caught up. Together they managed to separate Brute and the shredded remains of a large roast.
The woman, amazingly not looking much the worse for wear, said, “Thanks for the rescue. Keith, you should have warned me about the dog.”
“I didn’t know you were coming, let alone with meat. Looks like one of his favorites.” He managed to corral Brute and coax him and the roast out of the room.
“I’m Taylor. We’re about to have dinner. Well, we were. Lucky I brought a lot.” A wary expression on her face, she extended her hand.
“Brenda.” Mustering all her strength of character, she shook the proffered hand. Why the heck did I come? This is the woman from Bistro Bacchanalia. Obviously they’re tight. This is way more than business. When Brenda had heard Keith’s message, she’d convinced herself she could reasonably hope that something had changed. Now she could see nothing had. Keith was a lost cause. She should have cut her losses before. She would do so now. Chin up, she turned to leave when Keith came back to the room and cleared his throat.
“Taylor. I invited Brenda. I told you I had other plans.”
The imperious redhead crossed her arms in front of her chest and tapped her foot. “More important than what’s happening between us? More important than what my firm and I have to offer you? I need to know you’re available twenty-four seven. On call. Or we’ll hire someone else.”
“Those aren’t the terms we discussed,” Keith said. “Now doesn’t work for me. We need to make an appointment.”
“I’m sure your date will understand if you see her another time. I’m here. I
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