“I didn’t think so; of course a busy woman like yourself couldn’t possibly stop to eat lunch. I bet your assistant grabs you a usual salad assortment from somewhereveryspecific.”
Isabel seemed comically offended by my assumption but still gave me her hand. “That isnottrue. I like variety just as much as anyone.”
I tugged her closer with a grin to the point where she’d nearly stumbled, like she hadn’t expected or been prepared for the playful gesture.
“Ever been to Grainy Tavern?”
“I have not…” she shook her head and turned back to the coffee shop, now halfway up the block. “I really thought I’d just buy you that coffee and be on my way.”
Why does she keep doing that?
I narrowed my eyes at her. “I don’t believe you’d come all this way to do just that.” I challenged, surprising myself, it was definitely something I rarely did with women.
“I’m not coming from very far.”
At this point, the vagueness came at no surprise. But I decided to try my luck and toyed with her anyway.
“Now I know your business dealings are on the lower west side.” I winked, stopping us in front of the restaurant and motioning toward it.
She released a breath and turned to me, staring me down with a ‘well played’ smirk. “Fine, I’ll have lunch with you. But I’m not answering any questions about my business dealings.” She held up a finger. “Or falling for any more traps.”
I nodded once in agreement to her terms and held back a laugh. “It’s only fair.”
Isabel offered the same swift nod before breezing past me and into the restaurant without another hint of hesitation.
The hostess seated us at a table for two by the window and handed us two lunch menus.
“Are you going to suggest something here for me as well?” Isabel asked after taking a moment to scan over the menu. A menu I barely glanced at. Heck nothing seemed to exist when she was sitting inches from me and there was so much about her I wanted to know. Like where he hell she came from, how she knew Donovan, because I swore I knew each and every one of his clients and heavens knew this was no personal friend of his.
I grinned and tried to look lost in my own menu. “That depends if you’ll start mumbling cravings again.” When she didn’t respond, I glanced up finding rosier cheeks and a small smile.
“Smoked salmon bowl.” Isabel set her menu down.
“Great choice.”
“It has capers, so I’m sold.”
“Salty foods. Impressive.” I glanced at her.
“Most women are into salty foods,” she said with a matter of fact.
“But they don’t show it.”
“That’s silly. What? Do they order a bowl of kale and just for color, some cherry tomatoes?”
I laughed. She’d met half the woman I’d been on dates with. Which, while an average male my age might consider too few, I considered too many.
“So how do you know Donovan Hayes...and or Elaine?” I asked, setting both our menus down to signal the waitress we were ready to order.
“I don’t.”
I frowned. “I’m terribly sorry, are you not the gorgeous woman I had the pleasure of speaking with for seven whole minutes the other night?”
She shrugged and looked away, taking a sip of her water. “I crashed.”
I laughed out loud. “A Donovan Hayes party? That wouldn’t be possible.”
“Okay I’m lying. I was insisted—invited,” she corrected, shaking her head. “But it was very last minute.”
