Chapter 7 Carrie 007

Truth was, I could use a glass to loosen my nerves a bit, and I knew the lawyers at the firm often had a glass of wine with their business lunches. And this could be considered a business lunch, after all. “Sure, why not? Let’s do it.”

Minutes later, we were toasting to casual encounters.

“So, did you grow up in Sweden then?” I asked.

“Not really. I was born there. My mom is Swedish, and I actually lived there for a few years as a baby. My dad was working for the US embassy in Stockholm. That’s where they met and fell in love. A couple of years after I was born we moved here to New York.”

We continued our casual talk, swapping stories of our very different childhoods, but staying away from anything too personal or anything about our first meeting. The place was busy for lunch, but finally the food arrived, bringing a pause to our conversation. As I was picking at my chicken salad, I studied his set face. His teeth were even and white, but something about them suggested they were all natural. He had a ruggedness and vital power around him that titillated me as his gaze traveled over my face and searched my eyes.

“Thank you so much for joining me for lunch,” he said as he poured more wine into our glasses. “I was hoping to get a chance to see you again.”

I extended my hand to stop him from filling my glass to the brim. “Gavin, I’m really enjoying this, but I have to get back to work soon. You still haven’t told me how you ended up at my job today.” It was time to get to the things I really wanted to know.

“Trust me, I’m not stalking you, but I did go through a couple of hoops to make sure I would get a chance to meet you again.” He was wearing that cocky smile of his again.

“Oh really?” I said, raising my eyebrows. “How did you find out where I work?”

His grin widened. “That’s kind of what I do for a living. Part of my job is gathering information about people.”

“So you’re some sort of a detective?” I asked curiously. He certainly didn’t look like the typical detective, but since I had never actually met a real-life detective before, maybe this was what they looked like. I could see the amusement in his eyes.

“Not exactly,” he chuckled, the sound going straight through me. “I’m more of a consultant, I would say. My clients hire me to attend to their needs. Making sure they get what they desire without drawing attention to themselves. That requires gathering information of various sorts.”

“I see.” I nodded, not much wiser on the exact nature of his profession. “So tell me, what sort of information did you gather to find out where I work?”

“It wasn’t that difficult, actually. I felt bad about leaving without saying goodbye, so I went back to Huggins Bar and Grill, but by the time I returned, you and your friends were already gone. Luckily the waiter remembered you all. In fact, he said he had dated one of your friends briefly and that you all worked for a divorce lawyer. Since my friend, Howard Weiss, is going through a divorce I called him up and suggested that he made an appointment with your boss. He owed me a favor, so I collected.”

“Wow, everybody owes you favors, it seems.” I cracked a smile. “So you’re the reason Mimi might represent the biggest client of her life?”

“I guess you could say that,” Gavin replied. “Howard seemed quite impressed, by the way. I think he might like your boss.”

“That would be great for Mimi, but I still don’t understand why you went through all that trouble just to ask me out for lunch. Is getting dates really that difficult for you?” I teased.

“You’re funny,” he chuckled. “Truth is, you intrigued me last time, and I wanted to find out more about you. See if you really are different from the typical New York single girl.”

“Then tell me, what’s your verdict?” I asked. My heart was pounding and I was torn over whether or not I wanted to hear his answer. “Am I still intriguing to you?”

“Absolutely,” he said without hesitation. “Very intriguing.” He gently took hold of my hand across the table, and his touch made the heat rise to my cheeks as my pulse pounded. “In fact, I would be honored if you would go out with me for dinner tonight. There are still so many things about you I’m dying to know.”

It killed me that I had to say this. “Gavin, I’m flattered, and as much as I really want to get to know you better as well, I…I can’t. Between my job and my studies, I just don’t have time to date right now.” I could sense his disappointment as he settled back in his seat, withdrawing his hand. The animation briefly left his face. “I’m really sorry,” I continued. And, boy, was I. He didn’t look like he’d just be a good roll in the hay. He looked like the kind of guy who could make me see stars and fireworks, and all those other clichés that meant amazing sex.

His brows drew together in an agonized expression, but then he offered me a smile. “Let me at least take you to lunch again another day. You gotta eat, right?”

That smile of his was so irresistible. “Maybe next week,” I said reluctantly. I knew it wasn’t a good idea, but how could I say no to that smile?

“How about Monday?” he suggested. “I have a meeting just down the street from you and can pick you up about the same time as today.”

I nodded as I rose to my feet. “Okay, but promise me to lay off the stalking now.”

He chuckled. “You have my word, Carrie.”

To my relief, he kept our conversation casual as we walked back to the office. I’d been worried that things would be awkward after I’d turned him down for a date, but he seemed to take it in stride. He wanted to know what my favorite parts of New York were. Did I like museums? Art galleries? He seemed disappointed when I said I never had the time to really go.

Before I knew it, we were back and it was time for me to head upstairs. We stood in front of the doors for a moment, a tension growing between us in the silence. I wasn’t sure how we were supposed to end this. Did we shake hands? Hug? Just say our good-byes?

Finally, I had to do something or I’d be late. “Thanks for lunch,” I said.

“You’re very welcome.” His voice was soft.

“And I guess I’ll see you again on Monday.”

He nodded.