“Thank you,” I said. “For the check, I mean. It helped out a lot. Might still need some of it to help pay for storm damage repairs.”
“I was happy to help out,” he said.
“You obviously aren't hurting for money.”
He smirked, glancing at me out of the corner of his eye. He didn't say anything. Didn't have to. He held himself with a quiet confidence. He didn't seem to need to show off his wealth. He looked almost embarrassed to have it brought up.
“So how's your business going?” he asked me. “I hope the storm didn't hurt you too bad.”
“Nothing major.” I shrugged. “Insurance should cover most of it. Everything's been fine otherwise.”
“If there's anything I can do to help,” he offered.
I studied him for a moment. Part of me, the prideful part, didn't want to take any more help from him. The more practical part wanted me to milk him for whatever I could get out of him. If he was willing to throw his money around, there was no reason I couldn't take advantage of that.
But I felt guilty at the idea of taking advantage. So instead I said, “The mom and pop grocer's on the corner, they got hit the hardest. I don't think they've got enough insurance to cover it. If you could do anything...”
He looked down the street at the grocer's. A huge tree had smashed in their roof, and once the roof had collapsed, the store had been flooded. The building was in horrible shape, and they'd lost a lot of their inventory when the grocery shelves were flooded, ruining most of the food.
Rick nodded. “I'll see what I can do.”
“Thank you.”
He smiled at me, and for a moment, I thought there was something in that smile. I caught his eye roaming when he thought I wasn't looking. I was a big girl, but I still had curves in all the right places, and I saw him eyeing my curves with an appreciative gleam in his eyes. My face started to grow warm and I hid my blush behind my coffee cup.
He finished his coffee and walked over to the wastebasket on the corner to toss it in. “Thanks for the coffee,” he said. “We should do this again sometime.”
“Cleaning up after a storm?”
He chuckled and shook his head. “Coffee. If you're free, that is.”
I eyed him appraisingly. “I'm sure I could squeeze in some time,” I said. “As long as you're buying.”
He smirked and nodded. “Of course.”
“Stop by the bar sometime,” I said.
“Actually,” he said, “I was hoping for something a bit more...private.”
I arched an eyebrow, studying the look on his face. I couldn't tell if he was serious or not, but everything about him so far had seemed sincere. “All right. Give me a call sometime.”
I gave him my phone number and he programmed it into his phone, promising to call. Then he headed back to his men, who started hooting at him and teasing him for being a flirt.
I walked away, ignoring the burning in my cheeks. I resisted the urge to glance over my shoulder to see if he was still looking at me. But there was an itch between my shoulder blades that told me his eyes were still on me the entire time.
* * *
CHAPTER 5:
Rick called me the very next day, while I was going over insurance forms for the damage to the bar. I set aside the paperwork and answered the call, trying not to let the butterflies take over my stomach. “Hey,” I said.
“Hello, Chantelle. I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time.”
I looked over the messy pile of forms spread out all across my desk. “No, not a bad time at all. How's things?”
“Doing quite well,” he said. “I was hoping you might be free this afternoon, perhaps? I took quite a liking to the coffee from that shop on your street.”
“That sounds great,” I said. “And they offer a discount to the other shops on the street.”
He laughed, and I realized how foolish I sounded. This man was rich enough that saving 10% on a cup of coffee really didn't matter to him.
We picked a time to meet at the coffee shop. I hung up the phone and stared at my insurance forms, unable to focus on them.
I had a date. A date with a rich navy SEAL. I couldn't quite get that thought straight in my head.
I set aside the paperwork and grabbed my keys. I had to head home and change into something more presentable. I usually came to work in jeans and a t-shirt, since tending bar didn't exactly require me to look fancy. But for a date, even if it was just a coffee date, I needed to make myself look a bit nicer.
An hour later, I walked into the coffee shop wearing black slacks and a deep violet blouse. Rick was already there waiting for me. We ordered our drinks, then sat down at a private table in the corner. We chatted for a little bit about the storm and how things were going with the recovery efforts. I carefully avoided bringing up my insurance situation, since I didn't want to feel like I was trying to get something out of Rick.
Eventually, the conversation moved on to more personal topics.
“So, tell me,” Rick asked, “what's it like running a bar? Is it all drunken buffoons and people starting bar fights?”
I laughed and shook my head. “No, trouble like that tends to be few and far between. Most people keep to themselves, or come in in small groups, just there to have a good time. Sometimes I get guys who are a little too aggressive trying to pick up some of the single women at the bar, and I have to toss them out. But usually, it's quiet.”
“What made you get into the business?” he asked. He watched me as he sipped his coffee, and I felt my cheeks warming up at the look in his eyes.
“Originally, I got a job there when I was in school,” I said. “It seemed like a good way to pay my tuition. But I found I had a knack for it. I switched majors to business in my junior year so I could learn how to run a place of my own. Then, a few years ago, the owner decided to retire. I took out a loan so I could make him an offer, and now the place is mine.”
“That's great,” he said. “It takes a lot of gusto to run your own business. Especially one like that.”
“What about you?” I asked. “I mean, I read up on you a bit. You decided not to run the family business.”
He shrugged and leaned back in his chair. “I guess I didn't think it was a good use of my time. Even when my dad retires and I become primary shareholder, I can just appoint someone to run the day-to-day affairs for me. I have better things to do with my personal time.”
“Like helping out people in need,” I said, thinking of his volunteer work after the storm.
“Exactly.”
We made small talk for a bit longer, until it was time for me to go open the bar. Rick walked me to my car, and when we got there, he took my hand in his. He looked into my eyes, and I saw the spark of desire there. But I hesitated. I couldn't see myself having a place in this man's life. Could I?
“I'd enjoy seeing you again,” he said.
“I...I'd like that.” I blushed and lowered my eyes.
He reached up and touched his fingers under my chin, tilting my face up towards him. I held my breath. He leaned in and pressed his lips against mine. I slipped my hands around his neck, savoring the taste of his kiss. His stubble scratched my chin, delightfully masculine. He put an arm around my waist, holding me. His arms were strong. Safe.
I was breathless as we parted. I leaned back against my car, trying not to giggle like a little schoolgirl.
“Dinner, sometime soon?” Rick asked, caressing my cheek. “That is, if you ever have a night when you're not bartending.”
“I take Mondays off,” I said. “One of my workers runs the bar that night.”
“Monday night, then,” he said. “I'll pick you up at 6:00?”
“Sounds wonderful.”
He headed off, and I got into my car and drove back to the bar. For the rest of the night, I found myself thinking about his kiss, and looking forward to the dinner date next week.
* * *
CHAPTER 6:
Rick picked me up for dinner Monday night and took me to a little steakhouse downtown. I was surprised, but not at all disappointed, that it was a small, middle-class establishment. I knew quite well that Rick could afford a lot better. It made me wonder if he was trying to pretend like he was a normal, everyday guy, or if he was worried that I'd have thought he was showing off if he took me to a five-star restaurant with meals that were $200 a plate.
I didn't want to ask, though, so I decided to be more subtle. “You come here often?”