Quinn Family Romance Collection
Page 81
“Hi, Mae. How are you today?”
“If I was any better, I’d be exalted already,” she said.
He chuckled. “Well, lucky for me, you’re still on this planet.”
“Lucky, lucky you. Do you ever stop and thank the good Lord that you get the blessing of talking to me most days of the week?”
He grinned. “Yes, ma’am, I do.” His eyes trailed over her T-shirt, and he read it out loud. “People in sleeping bags … are the soft tacos of the bear world.” Chuckling, he said, “Does that mean you have an aversion to tacos?”
“No, sir. I like tacos. I just don’t want to be a taco.”
He grinned. “Good to know.”
All of Mae’s nerves settled, replaced with a deep longing to track him down, throw herself against his well-formed chest, kiss him good and long, and tell him she’d loved him for almost two years now. Then maybe they could go for tacos. But thinking about his well-formed chest … Could she touch it at their first meeting, or would that be an inappropriate action for a good Christian girl? She’d never really dated, so she had no idea. Hmm. It might be worth it. She might not get exalted as quickly, but she could repent later.
“Mae. Mae?”
“What? What just happened? Is it hot in here?” She fanned her face.
Slade laughed. “I’m not sure what your weather is like in Sausalito, so I have no idea. It’s steamy hot in Boston.”
Steamy hot? Oh, my. She wanted him to say those words again. Even better, maybe he could say them after they kissed the first time. Focus, Mae. “Dang man reminding me of the sad state of my life.”
“What’s that?”
“Never being where you are.”
Slade’s cheek twitched as if he was holding back laughter. “Can we get back to that state in a moment? I need some help from my best account rep.”
“Of course you do. It’s the only reason you ever call me.” Of course he’d never call her for any reason but work. He was the perfect male model who dated the perfect female models. He lived in a different world than she did. At least she had these short conversations most days of the week, and she could dream of him.
“Must I remind you that you called me?” He winked, and Mae had to fan herself again.
“Stop flirting with me and tell me what the problem is.”
Slade smiled, probably thinking he’d never flirt with the likes of her, but he was too classy to say that. He began listing for her which branches were having issues she needed to resolve. She was the liaison between his lending companies and the local mortgage companies. Mae typed away into her computer as he spoke.
“You know you could email me most of this?” Mae said, though she immediately regretted it.
“Don’t say that. Then I would miss out on my daily dose of Mae humor.”
“I’m actually funnier with my fingertips.”
He blinked at her. “Hmm. Maybe I’ll try email tomorrow.”
“Please don’t. I like seeing your handsome face.” Her neck was burning, and she prayed that he wouldn’t call her out or fire her for inappropriate talking in the workplace. But she worked remotely and he was the owner, so hopefully her blatant flirtations were okay.
“You’re the one that suggested email.”
“Forgive me. My brain vacates its lovely home when I stare into those deep brown eyes.”
“Ah, Mae.” He gifted her with his earth-moving smile. “You’re good for the self-esteem. Hey, I’ve gotta run. I’m actually flying into San Francisco in a few hours. Do you want to get together for lunch or dinner tomorrow? I’ll come across the bay to Sausalito.”
Mae froze. Her stomach was swirling like it was full of butterflies, and her mouth and throat were so dry she couldn’t even swallow. Slade Steele was coming to San Francisco, and he wanted to go to lunch or dinner with her?
Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness!
What should she do? Her brain whirled—play it cool, get a drink of water, find a firefighter to drench her with his hose, or call her sassy best friend Kit and have her come answer him? That would take too long, though, and he was staring at her, awaiting her answer. Mae tried to squeak out a yes, but nothing came out.
“Maybe not the best idea?” Slade asked, his dark eyes filling with concern.
If Mae missed this opportunity, Kit would sentence her to a year of walking lunges or some other exercise torture. Kit forced her to attend her boot camp class each morning, and it never got easier for Mae.
Slade waited, one perfect eyebrow arched up. “It’s all right, Mae—”
“I’ll go to dinner with you!” she yelled. “Yes!” Hallelujah. Praise every saintly ancestor she didn’t even know and her beloved family watching from up above. She’d finally found her tongue and answered affirmatively, if a bit too eagerly.
* * *
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