“The coffee’s good,” she told him.
He took a sip from his cup. “How did you sleep?” he asked over the rim of his mug. “It’s a new place and I know sometimes it can take getting used to.”
“I slept well,” she replied and placed her cup down on the bar. “How long have you owned this place?” she purposely changed the subject, but he didn’t question her.
After his morning run and a shower, Maverick headed downstairs to the coffeehouse and made enough scrambled eggs for two, fried the hash browns to a golden brown, and brewed a fresh pot of coffee. Just as he finished slathering the butter and strawberry jam on the toast, his new employee had ventured downstairs from her apartment and entered the Heart and Soul through the front door.
The light from the moon shone through the window where the curtains were slightly parted bathing the room in a soft glow. Her gaze took in her surroundings and realized she was in her new apartment, her new home. Leaning over to retrieve her phone from the nightstand, the screen lit up with a touch and the time read 3:00 am. She placed the phone down and settled back on her pillow. She had another dream, starring her in another life. The man in her dreams always told her everything would be all right but it hadn’t been. Everything went sideways in a way neither of them had expected.
She turned in his arms as he gathered her close for a kiss. Lord almighty, he knew how to kiss. She could feel it down to her toes and her stomach flip-flopped in response as a slow burn of desire curled through her, warming her from the inside out. She pressed closer loving the way he held her, enjoying the smooth demand of his mouth but tonight he didn’t pursue more. He released her, and it took a moment more before she could breathe normally again.
Rowan tossed and turned in her sleep, but the dreams invaded her slumber without a care of how she would fare in the morning. She used to try to force them away, but now she welcomed them with hopes of learning more about the couple she was connected to in ways that would boggle the mind. It had taken her years to accept and embrace it even when others thought she’d lost all perspective on what was real and what was imagined.
He glanced at the resume again and noticed there were only two references but he hadn’t bothered to call either one of them. He placed the paper down and pursed his lips. At least he could say he didn’t hired her for just her looks. He hadn’t known what she looked liked when he spoke to her on the phone and yet he knew she wouldn’t be unattractive.
He strode over to his desk that had papers strewn upon in it. He wanted to read Rowan’s resume again. He hadn’t meant to hire someone sight unseen but when he chatted with her over the phone, he liked the sound of her voice–a bit airy, a tad raspy and just enough sass to make it all interesting.
She peered closely at the photo on her laptop. She had scanned it; not wanting to take a chance the original would be lost or damaged. The couple was smiling as if they were having a wonderful night with promises of a great year to follow. However, the couple and the sign were irrelevant. It was where the photo had been taken that proved important.
Rowan is at her car and she glances up at Maverick’s apartment. She believes she saw the curtains flutter as if he might be watching her.
Her stomach fluttered as if some kind of winged insects had taken up residence there. A seconds later, he disappeared behind his door.
