She left with a wave, and I glanced around. The coffee shop was quieter than when we arrived, most people leaving due to the rain. The man was still in the back, but his laptop was closed, and he was staring out the window. He looked relaxed and at ease, but somehow that made me even more uptight.
I texted Damien.
Me: Hi.
He replied quickly.
Damien: Raven—okay?
Me: Will you be coming soon?
Damien: What’s wrong?
Me: Probably nothing, but there is a man here, and something is making me nervous. He isn’t even looking at me, butI feel as if he is.
For a moment, there was no reply. I saw the man look at his phone, chuckle, then pick up his laptop, stand, and walk toward me. He stopped at my table and smiled.
“Check your messages,” he requested.
I looked at my screen.
Damien: That’s Leo. He’s with me, so you are safe. I’ll be there soon.
I glanced up and met Leo’s eyes. They were kind and warm.
“May I sit?”
“Sure.”
“What gave me away?”
“Nothing. I just am so tense, I think I noticed things that weren’t there.”
“And you made me.”
“Sorry.”
“No, it’s all good.” He held out his hand. “I’m Leo. I work with Damien at Elite. We run the company together.”
I gaped at him. “He sent his partner to babysit me?”
He chuckled. “He had meetings this afternoon, and I was free. It was nice to get out of the office for a while. And I wasn’t babysitting. I hire babysitters for my kids. I was watching over you as a favor.”
“That explains why Damien was so laid-back about me coming to a coffee shop.”
He steepled his fingers under his chin and studied me. “He was concerned. We are all aware of the situation, Raven. Andy is a man on the edge. None of us wants you around should he decide to cross that line. Damien would do the same for me. Any of us who work with him would.”
“He said he would be here shortly. I’m sure—”
He held up his hand. “Don’t insult me by finishing that remark. I am not leaving until the man himself shows up. It’s a great opportunity to get to know the woman who has driven my normally calm friend into a tizzy.” He grinned. “It’s kind of fun to watch, although I wish the circumstances were different.”
“You know him well?”
He nodded. “We’ve been coworkers a long time.”
“Do you have any dirt on him?”
He looked shocked. “I would never betray—”