Page 17 of Beyond Perfect

“Nine o’clock okay?”

“Nine it is.”

* * *

Jackson was already seated in the conference room when Maisy arrived. She looked cute as hell in a lightweight blue sweatsuit and sneakers. She probably thought she wouldn’t be appealing in it, but she was. “Good morning,” he said, a bit huskily.

“Good morning.”

“I brought coffee.”

She held up a white pastry bag. “I brought donuts.”

“Yum. I’ll have one now, if you don’t mind. I skipped breakfast.”

He chose a gooey jelly donut. She chose a bear claw. They chowed down happily. When they finished, he reached over and touched her mouth. “You have a bit of frosting here.” He swept it away with his thumb. And felt the contact all the way to his groin.

“Um…” she said, then, “Annie and I already booked La Trattoria’s private room. She and I sent out thesave the datecards earlier, too.”

“That’s a lot to have done.”

“It is. Now, Annie and Diego want a quiet dinner with the wedding party, no antics like what can happen at a bachelor party or a shower.”

“Um, what usually happens at those things?”

“What do you mean? The usual things.”

He was embarrassed and looked away for a minute. Then back to her. “I’ve never been to either.”

“Seriously?”

“Maisy, I didn’t grow up or spend my twenties like most people.”

“I don’t know much about your background.”

“Not many people do.” Only Joe Romano.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“I hate talking about it.”

“Then we won’t.”

“So why did Annie pick La Trattoria?”

“It’s the best place in town. And I was…um, there not too long ago. I checked out the room and it’s nice.”

“Were you on a date?”

“What does it matter?”

“So you were.”

“Yes. Can we get back to the planning now.” She sounded exasperated.

“Sure.”

“Open menu or planned?”

---