and firm my resolve. He wants to talk, fine. I can take it. I can handle anything. My badass businesswoman mentally fist-bumps me. “Fine. Sure. Where?”
“You pick.”
I grind my teeth. The man is infuriating. He demands dinner and then makes me pick the place?
The first place that comes to mind is Cam’s brother Porter’s restaurant. “Bryant Brews. My brother-in-law’s family owns it. They have a great menu.” Plus, if Porter is there, I’ll have a friendly face and someone who can help get me out of a bind if needed.
“Fine. See you at seven,” he practically purrs into the phone before hanging up.
I hear nothing but dead air as I pull the phone away from my ear and stare at the thing as though it might possibly have the answers to the weirdest conversation of my life.
Shaking my head, I place the phone back on the receiver, lean my elbows on my desk and rest my chin in my hand.
“What the heck did I just commit to? Dinner. With Milo. I’m such an idiot.” I groan.
While I’m sitting there staring blankly out my window at the view from my Pueblo office, my cell phone buzzes on my desk.
It’s my sister calling. For the millionth time.
“Two birds, one stone. My therapist would be thrilled.” I sigh and answer the phone. “Hey, sis.”
“Hey, sis? Don’t ‘hey, sis’ me, lady! You’ve had me worried out of my mind and you know that worry is not a good look on me!”
The chuckle slips out of my mouth.
“Oh, sure, laugh at the poor sister who’s been fretting, thinking her sister hates her for pulling a fast one. Taabe, I’m sorry. I’m so so so sorry.”
“Are you? Really?” I know Suda Kaye too well.
“Um, should I be?” she corrects with a note of humor in her tone.
I sigh into the line and run my fingers through my long wavy hair. “What you did wasn’t cool but why you did it was. Just next time you try to invade my love life, give me a heads-up? I don’t like surprises, Kaye. You know that.”
“I know. And for that I am sorry. I just... I don’t know. I thought he’d see you all sexy and shaking your hips and his heart would explode and he’d scoop you up and make you his woman!”
“You read too many romance novels.” I sigh and play with my computer mouse.
“Girl, I’m living in one! Camden is my knight in sexy slacks and cowboy boots. Of course I want that for my big sis.” Her voice lowers. “Evie, I want you to be happy.”
“Me, too. I’m working on that. I promise.”
“Really?”
“I’m meeting Milo for dinner in less than an hour.”
The line is so quiet I worry we may have been disconnected until a loud clapping sound can be heard along with a high-pitched girlie squeal. “Woo-hoo! My prayers have been answered. I’m gonna ring Toko and tell him to call off the elders and their prayers. This. Is. Awesome!” Her words come through the line in a rush of energy and excitement.
“Don’t get too excited. We’re meeting to discuss his business proposal.”
“I’m sorry. What was that? You’re going to discuss him giving you the business?” She chuckles wildly.
“Suda Kaye!”
Another series of raucous laughs can be heard until my sister finally gets herself together. “Man, this is great. Just great. What are you going to wear?”
I look down at my work attire. A slim pencil skirt that hugs my curves and falls to just above the knee, the sexy peep-toe shoes and a royal-blue silk blouse. I repeat all of this to my sister.
“Boring! Stop by the shop and I’ll have a dress ready.”
“No! This is business, not a date. Now, stay out of it.” I knew I shouldn’t have told her, but in all honesty, I didn’t have much by the way of excitement in my life to discuss with her.
“You ruin all my fun!” I can practically hear her pout through the phone.
“Business dinner, remember.”
“Okay, well, call me the second you get into the car.”
“I don’t talk while driving. It’s dangerous,” I remind her. Ever since I had a car accident when I was a teenager, Mom hitting her head against the window and needing stitches, I don’t take any risks behind the wheel.
She sighs audibly. “Then talk to me through the speakers. Just call.”
“You’re not going to let this go until I agree to call, are you?”
“You’ve known me twenty-eight years. Have I ever let something like this go?”
I close my