room. I imagine myself somewhere in France, or maybe, Montreal, at an outdoor bistro with the hustle and bustle of people rushing by… holding Harrison’s hand across the little metal table.
Suddenly, a sharp jab in my rib pulls me back to reality. Surprised, I open my eyes to see three sets of eyes staring at me. The waitress repeats herself, “Ma’am, do you know what you would like to order?”
“Oh, yeah, sorry. I would like the daily fish in parchment paper with a side salad no dressing.” I smile at the server and hand her back my menu. I look at Simone, and she is giving me a look of disgust. “What?”
“How boring! Fish in parchment paper and a salad? Where is your sense of adventure? You had better break out of that shell this weekend, or so help me, I’ll have to twist the fun right out of you!”
“Wow, I didn’t realize I was so boring.” I say this as I rub my sore, scraped-up palms together. “I find my life anything but boring lately, and frankly, I think I would take dull over this kind of excitement.”
“You know what I mean, Dani. I am not referring to you being stalked, I mean living life. You were so held back by your ex, and now here you are, cowering in my house, hiding from who knows what kind of threat. This weekend you are going to enjoy yourself, that I promise!”
I tilt my head and look at her. “I am having fun right this moment listening to the music and enjoying the two of you jabbering on.”
She sighs, “Oh Dani, I just don’t get you.” The server arrives with our polenta and sausage, which then commands Simone’s full attention, thus she forgets all about lecturing me --for the time being.
The remainder of the meal is enjoyable. I have fun watching the various cozy couples sitting in the corners of the little bistro. The conversation is light and airy, just what I needed. When it came time to pay, Simone and I reached for our wallets, but Garrin put a stop to it. “No, I am under strict orders to use my expense account, so dinner is on Harrison Towers.”
“Oh geeze, I would have ordered a bottle of their best champagne or something, if I knew money bags was footing the bill. Is it too late to get something to go?” Simone says, while laughing. I give her a stern look, and she retreats into her seat.
I feel funny about this, but I am old enough to know that if a man wants to pay, whether he is present or not, it is futile to argue. Besides, it is a thrill for Simone. I shrug, “Well I will have to thank Mr. Towers tomorrow, when I see him at the new office space.” Simone quickly whips her head in my direction to throw me a frown.
I return her frown, “What was that for?”
“Surely, you aren’t really going through with decorating for that scoundrel? After all he has put you through?” Shaking her head at me, and apparently not caring what she says in front of Garrin.
“We need to talk still, there is a lot I haven’t had a chance to tell you about. So, until we do get to talk, would you please refrain from judging me or Harrison?”
Now she is looking at me with her mouth gaping open.
“I know from your perspective it must look really bad. Just wait.”
She gives me a look that tells me she is skeptical.
Our waitress returns with the receipt, and we all get up to leave. I reach over to grab my handbag off the floor, and I suddenly have an eerie sense that someone was watching us. I quickly scan the room and don’t see anyone suspicious, or even anyone looking at us, for that matter. My nerves are getting the better of me, I decide.
Chapter 15
Back at Simone’s, Garrin seems to be more at ease. I laugh to myself; obviously, Simone’s attention has helped him relax. He excuses himself to take a call, and I hear him in the mudroom, speaking in French. I turn to look at Simone as Garrin’s voice raises and he exits the house, through the mudroom door. She
Suddenly, a sharp jab in my rib pulls me back to reality. Surprised, I open my eyes to see three sets of eyes staring at me. The waitress repeats herself, “Ma’am, do you know what you would like to order?”
“Oh, yeah, sorry. I would like the daily fish in parchment paper with a side salad no dressing.” I smile at the server and hand her back my menu. I look at Simone, and she is giving me a look of disgust. “What?”
“How boring! Fish in parchment paper and a salad? Where is your sense of adventure? You had better break out of that shell this weekend, or so help me, I’ll have to twist the fun right out of you!”
“Wow, I didn’t realize I was so boring.” I say this as I rub my sore, scraped-up palms together. “I find my life anything but boring lately, and frankly, I think I would take dull over this kind of excitement.”
“You know what I mean, Dani. I am not referring to you being stalked, I mean living life. You were so held back by your ex, and now here you are, cowering in my house, hiding from who knows what kind of threat. This weekend you are going to enjoy yourself, that I promise!”
I tilt my head and look at her. “I am having fun right this moment listening to the music and enjoying the two of you jabbering on.”
She sighs, “Oh Dani, I just don’t get you.” The server arrives with our polenta and sausage, which then commands Simone’s full attention, thus she forgets all about lecturing me --for the time being.
The remainder of the meal is enjoyable. I have fun watching the various cozy couples sitting in the corners of the little bistro. The conversation is light and airy, just what I needed. When it came time to pay, Simone and I reached for our wallets, but Garrin put a stop to it. “No, I am under strict orders to use my expense account, so dinner is on Harrison Towers.”
“Oh geeze, I would have ordered a bottle of their best champagne or something, if I knew money bags was footing the bill. Is it too late to get something to go?” Simone says, while laughing. I give her a stern look, and she retreats into her seat.
I feel funny about this, but I am old enough to know that if a man wants to pay, whether he is present or not, it is futile to argue. Besides, it is a thrill for Simone. I shrug, “Well I will have to thank Mr. Towers tomorrow, when I see him at the new office space.” Simone quickly whips her head in my direction to throw me a frown.
I return her frown, “What was that for?”
“Surely, you aren’t really going through with decorating for that scoundrel? After all he has put you through?” Shaking her head at me, and apparently not caring what she says in front of Garrin.
“We need to talk still, there is a lot I haven’t had a chance to tell you about. So, until we do get to talk, would you please refrain from judging me or Harrison?”
Now she is looking at me with her mouth gaping open.
“I know from your perspective it must look really bad. Just wait.”
She gives me a look that tells me she is skeptical.
Our waitress returns with the receipt, and we all get up to leave. I reach over to grab my handbag off the floor, and I suddenly have an eerie sense that someone was watching us. I quickly scan the room and don’t see anyone suspicious, or even anyone looking at us, for that matter. My nerves are getting the better of me, I decide.
Chapter 15
Back at Simone’s, Garrin seems to be more at ease. I laugh to myself; obviously, Simone’s attention has helped him relax. He excuses himself to take a call, and I hear him in the mudroom, speaking in French. I turn to look at Simone as Garrin’s voice raises and he exits the house, through the mudroom door. She
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