The Wolves Catch Their Attorney(8)

Even the entry didn’t look like a store. The entire area was fenced with bamboo and lattices, with plants growing from it, over it, around it, and on it, so the actual entry looked more like walking into someone’s private garden than into a store. Entire sections of the property weren’t even roofed, but the plants were out in the fresh air. Well, he guessed that was where plants normally grew, but what did they do when it snowed? It was only when he looked more closely he saw many of the plants were in pots. Well there was his answer. Likely they were brought inside before it got too cold out of doors.

Promptly at eight he saw Sierra’s candy-apple-red car pull into the parking lot and in seconds she was walking toward him, her body outlined in a formfitting, hip-length brown jacket over a golden shirt, and a brown skirt matching the jacket covered her to her sandaled feet.

He wondered whether her bruises were still obvious so she was hiding them, or whether her arm was still sore, or whether these were the kind of clothes she usually wore. Any way he tried to understand it, the clothes looked good on her and brown and gold suited her with her dark brown hair and amber eyes.

And only a few paces behind her was Cam, who must have been waiting in his car, or had arrived almost simultaneously with her. Cam was wearing beige cargo pants and a deep-blue T-shirt that hugged his muscular chest, shoulders, and arms. It was good they’d all arrived. It was time to get this party moving.

He would have liked to tuck her hand through his arm, but didn’t know her well enough to touch her, plus there was the possibility her arm was still sore, so he contented himself with giving her a tiny half bow as he said hi.

She smiled at him and her eyes were bright and sparkling, so he hoped that meant she was happy.

“Do you want to walk around looking at the plants first, or would you prefer to order your food first and then look at the displays while we wait for our meal?” he asked.

“I’m a proponent of multitasking. Let’s order and then wander around the store while we wait for the meal,” she said.

“I’m glad you chose that option. I’m hungry,” said Cam.

They all laughed as they made their way along winding paths through what seemed like a forest of plants into the restaurant.

The server seated them and Fergus explained what they wanted. Just as he’d expected, Sierra read through the menu in two minutes and made her choice. Since for him it was all about spending time with these two people, he was happy enough with the second item on the menu and chose that. Cam was just as quick, picking the vegetarian option.

“We plan to walk around outside while we wait,” said Fergus.

“Yes, Sir, many of our guests do that. The meals you’ve chosen should be ready in twenty minutes.”

“Excellent. We’ll be back in nineteen,” said Cam.

“You really are hungry,” teased Sierra.

“I’m just a growing boy,” replied Cam, batting big brown eyes at her in an exaggerated way.

Fergus laughed and Sierra shook her head at them.

They walked slowly along the narrow winding paths, stopping to admire the flowers that appealed to them, discussing colors, shrubs, trees as they went.

“It’s amazing we can see so well. These little lights down at ankle level only seem as bright as candles,” said Cam.

Fergus looked up. “There are much bigger lights on the sides of the building though. See how they reflect off the roofed areas,” he explained.

“There are more lights hidden between the plants, too. There are a lot more light sources than anyone would notice at first glance,” pointed out Sierra.

Fergus glanced at his watch and led them around another path heading back toward the restaurant.

Sierra stopped before a row of plants in the most amazing colors—bright pink, red, orange, even blue, and purple. “Gerbera daisies. Ambrielle had some of these. I’d never seen anything like them until then. They’re amazing,” Sierra said, gently touching one yellow petal.

“Chrysanthemums have a lot of colors, too, but perhaps the daisies are brighter, stronger colors,” said Cam.

Arguing happily about various flowers and their colors, they made their way back to the restaurant, sitting down exactly nineteen minutes after they’d left.

Their server came over with a grin on his face. “Nineteen minutes precisely, Sir. Your meal will be served immediately.”

Fergus had prepared some conversation-starter ideas, but they weren’t needed. The three of them segued from topic to topic all evening, talking, debating, agreeing, disagreeing, but each of them stating their ideas freely and being listened to seriously. Fergus was amazed at how well the evening went. There were no deathly silences. No moments when he might have thought something inappropriate or somewhat unkind was said. He couldn’t have orchestrated it better as a scene if he’d wanted to. Yet he felt sure everyone was relaxed and being themselves. Of course, he and Cam had worked together very closely for six months now and knew each other well, trusted each other completely. And Sierra more or less talked for a living, but at no time did she push her own views any more than either of them did. She stated her opinions and they talked, that was all.