Her hand covers the money, hovering over it, hesitant to touch it, as if it’s an illusion, and her startled eyes follow me as I walk to the door. As I reach it, I glance back. I smile as I see she’s picked up the money and is holding it to her chest delicately. Smiling again, I calmly say, “Maia, can you remind Hope that she’s meeting me for dinner tonight? I know she’s busy and I don’t want her to get consumed in her work and forget.”
Maia nods and a slow, timid smile spreads over her pretty young face. “I sure will, Mr. DeLucca.” She looks at the money in her hand before she carefully folds it and slips it into the pocket of her jeans. “Tha— thank you… this is very nice.”
Smiling back at her, I reply, “It’s truly my pleasure. Enjoy the rest of the day and remind Hope, okay?”
She nods and I head back into the oppressive heat of the outside but can’t stop the smile on my face as I reach my Escalade. Davey is waiting at the curb and opens my door at my approach. He nods and says, “It appears your visit with Miss Hope went well.”
Nodding as I settle into my seat, I see, and hear, him open the front door and slide in. The leather creaks as he situates himself comfortably. Once he’s ready he looks back at me while he waits for instructions.
Meeting his gaze in the rearview mirror, I smile. “Miss Delayne will be meeting me for dinner tonight. She insists on driving herself, but I’ll want you here before nightfall to keep an eye on her and to make sure she arrives to dinner safely.”
Nodding in acknowledgment, he puts the SUV into drive. “No problem, boss. I’ll be back here around four. Where would you like to go now? Did you grab a bite to eat?”
Shaking my head, I tell him to take me to my favorite restaurant for lunch and open my phone to check in on my business.