Page 19 of Big Trouble
6
Lo
Ihad a whole blissful Jack Cairney free day in front of me. In reality. However, he inhabited my thoughts with alarming regularity.
I had other patients to work with.
I had more reports to finish to satisfy Mr. O’Connell.
I had a lunch break coming up.
I’d just finished with my last morning client and was looking forward to a full hour’s break before the next one.
Usually, I sat in the cafeteria or ate at my desk, depending on what Ciara decided she wanted to do. I didn’t often enjoy going out for lunch because, inevitably, we ran into someone Ciara knew and I ended up sitting there eating while she and her old pal chatted. It was easier for me to eat alone and read or catch up on work. Especially the reports.
Today, however, Ciara appeared at my desk at 12:01 and insisted we go out.
“We’re going to the cafe. Come on.” Ciara went so far as to come over and grab my arm.
“Look, I’ve already opened my yogurt.” I waved the low-calorie, low-taste container at her.
Without warning, Ciara swiped it from my grasp and dropped it into the trash. “Whoops. Now you don’t have any food.”
“What the hell are you doing?”
“I’ll buy you lunch at the cafe.”
My eyes narrowed. Ciara was acting really odd. Stealing my food and then offering to buy lunch? She had to be up to something.
“Seriously, Lo, get your ass into gear. We’ve got less than an hour now.”
This was another reason I preferred to eat in. The hustle of getting to the cafe, ordering, eating, getting back. It was a rush. And to do it all in less than an hour was always a struggle. I didn’t need another reason for Mr. O’Connell to be on my back.
Ciara stood there, hands on hips, tapping her foot.
When it became obvious she wasn’t going to take no for an answer, I locked my computer, grabbed my purse and followed her out of the building.
“I’ll drive,” she offered.
The cafe was only a few blocks away and we could easily walk if we had more time. Still, I went along with Ciara because it was far easier than arguing with her. Luckily, there was a space just across the street and Ciara swerved into it at the last minute, narrowly beating a guy in a truck. She offered up her hand in apology and smiled. When Ciara smiled, most men would forgive her anything.
We stepped into the cafe and my gaze immediately fell on Jack sitting at one of the tables.
I looked between him and Ciara and back again.
“You set me up,” I hissed.
He glanced up and inclined his chin.
The minute we locked eyes, Ciara started to back out of the cafe.
“What are you doing? You can’t leave me!” I protested.
She put a hand on my shoulder. “You’ll be fine. Jack will get you back in time for your afternoon clients. He promised.” With a reassuring pat, she disappeared.
As I looked up to the heavens, I wondered what else he’d promised. At this moment, it felt pretty much like hell. I looked to the floor in the hopes it would open up and swallow me whole.
While every fiber of my body screamed that I should walk away, I found myself heading towards the table he occupied.
