Overhead, the lights blinked a few times; then after the third time they remained on. “Finally,” Addie said, the relief in her voice audible.
Trent stood and reached down to help Addie to her feet. “I apologize if I made such terrible company.” He infused some humor into his voice, but judging by her straight face, she’d missed it.
“No, not at all.” She slipped her hand into his and allowed him to help her up. “Stuck in here with no power—”
His mouth curved into a smile. “I was kidding, Addie.” Before then he’d used her full name but recalled that her family called her Addie for short. Using the nickname now gave the situation a touch more intimacy. He took a step closer. “I’m glad the power is on again, too, although I enjoyed our conversation.” He contemplated kissing her. To fulfill Marty’s timetable he needed to push things forward. And he’d been known to kiss women he’d known even less time than Addie. Hell, he’d made love to women he’d known less time than her. Even so, he held back. Not because his mouth didn’t ache to taste her, but because she was different from women he spent time with. If he kissed her now, who knew how she might respond?
The elevator stopped and chimed just before the door behind him opened. “Looks like we made it,” Addie said, her voice soft and clear as she held out his suit jacket, which she’d picked up from the floor.
Releasing her other hand, he accepted the jacket and then grabbed his brief case from the floor. “After you.”
In silence they exited the elevator and crossed the main lobby to the glass doors. Outside only a handful of vehicles passed by as most people had already left the city prepared to put the workweek behind them.
“Looks like leaving the city should be easy tonight,” Addie remarked as they stood outside.
“Let me walk you to your car.” Although the storm had passed, the night sky remained darker than normal for the time of day.
Addie took a step away from him. “I’ll be fine. I’m just in the gara
ge around the corner.”
“Me, too.” He moved forward so that once again they stood less than an arm’s length apart.
It took only a matter of minutes for them to get from Trent’s building to the garage and the third level. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Addie stopped next to a white Toyota but made no attempt to get in. “If it’s easier for you I can meet you in Newport.” She finally opened her trunk and deposited her bag inside.
Not on your life. A car ride together to and from Newport would provide him with the perfect opportunity to further Marty’s plan. “I’m looking forward to the company.” He pulled open her car door.
Addie stepped into her car. “Okay. See you tomorrow,” she said before she closed the car door.
Trent watched until the taillights disappeared around the corner; then he took the stairs to the lower gated level where he’d parked.
Chapter 6
No, that doesn’t look right either. She looked ready for Easter dinner. Addie pulled the dress over her head and tossed it on the bed. Already a small pile of outfits covered the mossy green bedspread. Not many options remained in her closet. She’d already pushed aside her typical business clothes. He’d told her to dress casually. But casual for her meant cut offs and a tank top. She couldn’t meet with a client dressed like that no matter what he said.
“What happened in here?” Chloe asked. She’d stopped by before breakfast to use her laptop for a paper because her apartment had not regained power yet.
Addie pushed aside the dress she’d worn to a cousin’s graduation. “I’m meeting with a client today, and nothing seems right.”
Chloe pushed the clothes closer to the center of the bed and sat. “Must be some client. I’ve never seen you worry this much about dressing for your clients.”
Without responding, she grabbed a lilac colored skirt from a hanger. If she paired it with a white tank top and wore her white silk blouse over it she might be casual enough while still maintaining the look of a professional. Pulling the tank top from its hanger she held it and the skirt up against her body and turned. “What do you think if I wear this and add my white blouse? You know the one I usually just knot in the front?”
Chloe leaned down and scooped up a top from the floor. “It’ll look fine. So who’s this client anyway? Must be someone important for you to get this crazy about how you look.”
She’d never overthought how she looked for a client. As long as she appeared professional, a blue skirt was just as good as the gray one next to it. But today no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t lump Trent in with her usual clients and not just because of his bank account and good looks. When she was near him, a million butterflies took flight in her stomach and she found it hard to sit still. She once again felt like she did when she’d been a freshman in high school and Ben Smith, a senior, tutored her in science. Every time she met Ben at the library for a study session, she turned into a bumbling mass of nerves that could put no more than two words together. She’d been both relieved and disappointed when the school year ended and Ben graduated. Since then no guy had made her feel like that again. At least not until now.
After she slipped on her clothes, Addie pulled open the window blind and took a quick glimpse outside. “Was that car out there when you got here?” she asked, her gaze on the small black sedan parked across the street.
“The black Honda?” Chloe asked, as she slipped hangers into Addie’s discarded clothes. “Yup. I figured they were visiting that nosy neighbor of yours across the way. Why?”
Addie turned her back on the window. Her cousin was probably right. Just because she’d only seen the car around this week didn’t mean it wasn’t a friend of Beverly’s. “Just curious.” Despite her dismissive answer, she couldn’t shake her unease. Not once had she seen anyone go into or come out of Beverly’s house that week except Beverly herself.
“How’s the paper coming along? You haven’t done much work since you’ve been here.”
“Once you leave I’ll finish it. So you never answered me. Who’s this client you’re meeting this afternoon?”
Outside a car door closed and a moment later her doorbell rang. Without answering her cousin, Addie crossed the room and went downstairs. Before she reached the door she took a slow measured breath. He’s just a client, nothing more, nothing less.