Page 6

“Eh, not really. We grew up in a small community and everyone knew us. How ’bout you? Named after Audrey Hepburn?”

“Guilty as charged.”

Toni nods with a small smile on her face.

“I look nothing like her.”

“No, you’re more beautiful than she is. Your name fits you.”

I hate blushing because I don’t blush so much as blotch. From the burning on my face, I know I am blotching from forehead to neck. “How do you figure that?”

“You’re classically beautiful. A bit reserved. Not standoffish, not into meaningless chitchat.”

“Hmm,” I say, not wanting to admit how on the nose she is. About the chitchat. Not that first part. “How could you possibly know anything about me when we spoke for the first time thirty minutes ago?”

“I’ve noticed you,” Toni says.

My stomach flutters in a way it hasn’t in years. “Hmm,” I hum again, and sip my coffee. This is news to me. Very pleasant news. My gaze keeps wandering to that arm draped over the back of the booth and now it’s wandering down her firm forearm and to her hands. Strong hands. Fingers that make me wan?—

“What kind of consultant are you?” Toni asks.

I meet Toni’s eyes and she’s grinning, her eyebrows lifted. Busted. I clear my throat.

“Operational. I help businesses reorganize and update their policies and processes to be more efficient and cost effective.”

Toni closes her eyes and snores loudly.

I laugh. “Exactly. Sometimes I feel the same way. But my work is project based and I’m starting a new project on Monday. Actually, it’s my first project as a consultant.”

“Really? What made you decide to go that route?”

I grimace, not sure why I opened this conversational door. But Toni’s expression is open and guileless. She’s curious, but I can tell if I drew a line, she wouldn’t press me. Somehow, this makes me want to tell her everything.

“I was passed over for a promotion, a big one.” Toni lifts her eyebrows, intrigued. “It was politics. I’d blown the whistle on an inter-office affair the year before. Not getting the role was payback, apparently.”

Toni leans forward. “You could sue them for that, couldn’t you?”

I shrug. “They promoted a woman who was qualified, just not as good as I am. It would be a hard case to prove. Besides, I’m really excited about this next chapter.”

“Big changes personally and professionally, huh?”

I chuckle. “Yeah. Might as well blow up my life all at once. So,” I say, wanting to stop talking about me. “Did you do your Christmas shopping today?”

Toni scoffs. “God no. I avoid retail at all costs, and retail on Black Friday? Seventh circle of hell for me.”

I laugh. “I hate shopping, except going to the grocery store.”

“Ugh. I hate all forms of shopping. Which is why I never have anything worth eating in the apartment.”

“What do you do for a living?”

For all my admiration of Toni I’d never asked anyone about her. As soon as I showed any curiosity about a woman, Shae’s antenna would have been up.

“I’m a dirtbag.”

“Obviously.”

Toni smiles, but as I stare at her without smiling, she furrows her brows. The waitress arrives and asks for our order. I order a short stack of buttermilk pancakes and Toni orders eggs, bacon, and pancakes.