Page 36 of Daily Grind
Not bad, indeed.
Somehow, they’d both made it to work on time and had managed not to spend the entire day texting back and forth like love-smitten kids.
Another meeting reminder popped up. Zero minutes. Rob rolled his eyes and picked up his headset.
Smitten. That—was close to the truth. And potentially dangerous. He had a history of falling in love too easily and giving too much. Last time, that hadn’t just broken his heart—it had nearly sunk CirroBot.
He clicked on the meeting link and let the software connect him. Already chatter in the background.
He’d made damn sure no one could ever take his company again. Now it was only his heart and soul he had to worry about.
Brian didn’tneedto be saved—he needed to be loved. That? Rob could do with ease.
“Hello all,” he said into the mic, “Are we ready to get started?”
The sooner this meeting was completed, the closer to Sunday he’d be.
Chapter Seven
Odd for Briannot to be in the coffee shop first thing Sunday morning. Stranger still to be standing out in front of his apartment waiting for Rob.
Usually he did the picking up, but Rob had insisted on driving. “I need to get to know the area. It sticks better if I’m behind the wheel.”
Couldn’t fault that. Pretty much the way he’d learned how to get anywhere in the North or South Hills.
He didn’t expect Rob to pull up in a sleek silver Mercedes, though. He hadn’t gotten a good look at the car the other night. Holy shit. Brian eyed the car. Newer model, too. He hurried to the passenger door, camera bag in hand.
“This is sweet.” Leather seats. A dash that looked like something out of NASA. He closed the door and belted himself in. “I’m guessing this thing has GPS, so we won’t need my phone.”
His cheeks were flush, but Rob laughed. “Indeed it does, though I know the way.”
Rob continued up Darlington, but rather than turn right onto Shady Avenue to head down to the Parkway, like Brian had expected, he made a left, then a right to put them on Forbes. “Youdoknow the way.”
Rob grinned. “Well, I cheated a bit. Looked it up on a map before I left. Besides, I wanted to scope out a Turkish restaurant Todd Douglas said was at the corner of Forbes and Braddock.”
“Oh God, that place is heavenly. Fazil dragged us there a few times.”
“Perhaps lunch, after?”
“Please.” Brian peered up through the sunroof of the car—all the bells and whistles. The weather had cleared up. Still the cool of spring, but rather than the gray of the past few days, the blue sky now sported white fluffy clouds above the budding green of the trees in Frick Park. “Looks like you won’t need the rain gear after all.”
“I brought it just in case.” Rob flashed a grin. “Insurance against downpours.”
He chuckled at that. “Like carrying an umbrella.”
“Exactly.” Rob paused. “Which probably explains why I always get rained on. I hate hauling those loathsome things.”
“And here I thought you just liked to bewet.”
Rob snorted and gestured to the cup holders. “Drink your coffee, Bri.”
“You got me coffee?” He lifted the cup and saw the Grounds N’at logo. “You brought me myown shop’scoffee?”
Rob arched his damned red eyebrows. “Pretty sure you’d have words if I’d brought you some other shop’s brew.”
He would have. Brian sipped, tasted the drink, and leveled a stare at Rob. “This is an Americano.”
A grin was his reply.
