The Weekend Proposition - Ella Jade Page 0,2

building. I’ll get out of your way.” She moved toward the door but he wasn’t ready for her to leave.

“What’s your name?”

“Coda.” She lifted her hair off her neck and secured it with the band she had around her wrist. “I better get started. Sorry about being in here. I’ll come back and clean the kitchen when you’re done.”

“Nice meeting you, Coda.”

“You too, Mr. Cannon.” He couldn’t help but linger on her full, pink lips when she gave him a small smile. “Don’t work too late.”

When she turned to leave, he spied the tiny heart tattoo at the nape of her neck. He leaned against the counter and watched as she left the room. How had he managed to miss her? He wondered when she had started working there. He’d be paying a visit to human resources tomorrow morning to find out exactly who Coda from Brooklyn was.

AS CODA FILLED THE glasses with soda, she looked over the schedule pinned to the board in the kitchen of the diner. There weren’t any extra shifts to be had that weekend. Between the days she worked at the restaurant and the nights she spent cleaning the ad agency, she barely brought in enough to cover expenses. When she graduated college last spring, she’d hoped to have had a full-time job by now. But with the economy being what it was, jobs were scarce. Her bills and loans quickly added up, and she had a hard time making payments. Ever since her mom was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis and couldn’t work as often as she used to, things had gone from bad to worse.

“Hey, Coda,” Lauren, the hostess said. “There’s a really hot guy out there asking for you. He insisted on sitting at one of your tables. He looks like he stepped out of the pages of GQ or something.”

“Yeah, right.” She snickered. “If only.”

“I’m serious. His friggin’ watch cost more than my car.” She motioned for Coda to look through the window that overlooked the counter. “Right there. See?”

“What the hell is he doing here?” she mumbled.

Lauren took the tray of drinks from Coda. “I’ll deliver these.”

“Thanks.”

“Who’s the guy?”

“Spencer Cannon. I work over at his place at night. I don’t know why he’s looking for me.”

“Go find out.”

“I intend to.”

She walked out of the kitchen and over to where Cannon stood. He stuck out like a sore thumb in the small, greasy diner. His well-tailored, black suit hung perfectly from his body. He removed his jacket and draped it on the back of his chair while he waited for her. His gray tie accentuated his ice-blue eyes. Despite the windy autumn day, not a particle of his thick, dark hair seemed out of place. Lauren’s assessment of him was spot on. He did look like a sophisticated cover model.

“Mr. Cannon,” she said as she approached his table. “What brings you here?”

“Ms. Vercelli.” He pulled out a chair for her. “Please, join me.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?” He tapped the table with his long fingers.

“I’m working.” She looked around as her lunch customers took in Cannon. Men like him didn’t frequent dives like this. He’d be the talk of the diner for weeks.

He glanced over at Tony, the owner, and waved. “I asked your boss for a few minutes of your time, so please, have a seat.”

She debated whether to do as he asked. What could he possibly want from her? If she screwed something up while cleaning his office building she seriously doubted the head guy would deal with that.

“Please.”

“For a few minutes.” She sat down because he had piqued her curiosity and she couldn’t afford to lose the cleaning gig for aggravating the owner of the building.

“Thank you.” He took a seat and stared at her for a few moments.

His intense gaze unnerved her. He made her feel like he was shopping, looking for flaws in the merchandise he was about to purchase.

“I’m guessing you’re not here for the grilled cheese. What brings you to Brooklyn?”

“I’ve never had grilled cheese before but maybe I’ll try it, Dakota.” Obviously he had checked her file to use her given name.

“Everyone calls me Coda, Mr. Cannon.”

“Why don’t you call me Spencer?”

“Okay, Spencer, what can I do for you?”

“A ‘to the point’ kind of girl. I like that.” The right side of his lips rose slightly, creating a sexy, crooked smile. “I’m a businessman and I need something.”

From me?

“I think you may benefit from my offer.” He continued to stare directly into her eyes causing her