“Absolutely. Have fun and remember every juicy detail.” Vickie laughed wickedly as she ended the call.
Brat.
Gia slipped the phone into her purse and went to the door. She smiled when she saw that Roger did know casual. He was wearing a T-shirt that fit snuggly, showing off his muscular body with a pair of khaki shorts. If it wasn’t for the fact they’d be traveling in a Maserati, it might actually feel like they were . . . compatible. Roger was way out of her class. She didn’t know how rich he really was. Was he like Henderson rich? Either way, he was way out of her league, not that it really mattered, since she was working for him. I think.
“Good, you listened. I was worried you’d be wearing a dress or something.”
“It may be hard to believe, but I am capable of following simple instructions,” she said bitterly.
“That’s not how I meant it, and I think you know that,” Roger said with sincerity.
She nodded. Gia knew she was having some trust issues since what had happened at work. It was like she was waiting for another disappointment and building a wall around herself in preparation. That wasn’t fair to Roger or to her.
“Sorry. It’s been a long day.”
“Then I think dinner is exactly what you need.”
“Me too.”
“You might want to grab a sweater. Although it’s a nice night, it gets cool after dark.”
She was up for about anything tonight. Gia just wanted to go out, relax, laugh, and enjoy. One thing Roger wasn’t, was boring.
Grabbing her sweater, she followed him to his car. This time it wasn’t the limo or his fancy Maserati. It was a Jeep with the top off. Now we’re talking.
The restaurant was farther than she’d anticipated, but the ride was enjoyable. Roger took the scenic route, which reminded her so much of home. Funny how she loved living in the big city, but it never really felt like . . . home.
“You’re very quiet,” Roger said as they pulled up in front of the restaurant.
“I was enjoying the . . . fresh air.”
“I don’t know how you do it. The city isn’t for me.”
She turned to him and said, “Really? I would’ve thought that—”
“And you’d have been wrong. Put me near the ocean and I’m happy.”
It was the first real thing Roger had said about who he was. “I’m not from the city either. I grew up in a very small town. One where you couldn’t do anything without someone calling your parents and ratting you out.”
Roger laughed as they got out of the Jeep. “I can’t picture you raising hell as a child.”
“Maybe that’s why I’m a rule follower now. I got it all out of my system as a teenager.”
“Oh, sounds like the topic for dinner.” Roger winked.
“Only if you tell me your dirty little secrets in return.”
She noticed his jaw flinch, but his tone seemed relaxed. “You might find I’m quite boring.”
Oh, I doubt that.
They ordered lobster, and between dipping it in the melted butter and enjoying every sweet morsel, she shared some of her less colorful memories.
“I guess I judged you incorrectly, Miss Gravel. You were practically a juvenile delinquent. I wouldn’t doubt if you actually got a B in behavior.”
Gia snorted. “Okay, so I wasn’t as bad as I make it seem. But I wasn’t an angel either.”
Roger laughed. “Not being home before the street lights turned on is far from being a felon.”