I was just about to ask my assistant to buy me a sandwich and a coffee when someone knocked at my open door. It was one of the girls who worked at Walter’s. Marcy sometimes did the deliveries. I’d ordered a few times, which was why Marcy knew her way around the office. She was holding a takeout bag.

“Marcy, what are you doing here?” Had I placed an order and forgotten about it?

“A certain gentleman you’ve been hanging out with sent these.”

“Ohhhhh. Thank you.”

I tried not to smile too broadly as Marcy placed the bag on my desk.

“He’d been sitting at your usual table, then came up to the counter all sexy and cute, asking if we could deliver your favorites.”

“Sexy and cute?” I repeated.

“Yep. He’s been making everyone’s mornings. We don’t get too many guys looking like him around here. They all hang out on the other side of the town.”

I chuckled, agreeing with her one hundred percent. Carter looked like the stars who graced the Beverly Hills area. I gave her a tip, and the second she left, I opened the bag. My stomach rumbled louder as the smell of freshly made pancakes wafted out of the bag. I took a bite, and then a sip of coffee. It was my favorite indeed.

I shot him a text.

Val: Thanks for breakfast. Great timing.

I didn’t know what else to write, so I sent it like that, not expecting an answer. But I received one in a matter of seconds.

Carter: Saw you barreling down the street and directly into your office. Thought you might need reinforcements before you knocked someone over.

The man had great instincts. I’d almost knocked an elderly woman over this morning. My sensory perception wasn’t great this early in the day.

Carter: I missed our usual morning chat.

Val: I’m sorry. I overslept and didn’t have time.

Carter: Are you sure that’s the only reason?

I bit into the pancake, frowning at my phone.

Val: Sure. What else could it be?

Carter: Me.

Then a second message popped up.

Carter: Avoiding me.

Val: Do I have a reason to avoid you?

Carter: You tell me :-)

Val: Nope, not at all.

Truthfully, I had missed breakfast because of him, just not in the way he thought. I’d overslept because I’d fallen asleep very late. I’d tossed and turned, first thinking about him, then dreaming about him. And those were some hot as hell dreams. Our encounter on the boat had served as the catalyst, and my imagination had filled in the rest.

Carter: When do you have time for dinner?

Val: I checked my calendar and it’s hectic. I’ll be locked up here with my team most evenings. I have time on Wednesday only.

Carter: April has a recital that evening.

Val: Lunch?