Page 68 of Man Seeking Woman

Calling Jerry, I met him in the parking garage. “Where to today?” he asked.

“I've got a few stops actually.” Pressing the buckle into the holder, I picked up my head to find Jerry holding another envelope. “Don't even try it, I'm not taking it.”

“Take it, Mr. Burke wants you to have it, he says it's a gift not debt.”

“I don't care what he says, I don't want it.”

I wasn't going to take a thing from him until I was carrying his baby. That was what the job was technically; so why the hell would I take anything yet? I was already living in his home, that was enough for me.

“You know it would make him happy if you took it.”

“Don't care.” Adjusting in the seat, I laid my purse on my lap and kept my eyes out the window. “We can go whenever you're ready.”

Jerry let out a light sigh, and I heard the car click into drive before it started to move. “You're a tough one, Ella.”

“Oh yeah, does he normally bring home easy ones?” Looking at Jerry in his rear-view mirror, I arched a brow.

Chuckling dryly, Jerry shook his head. “I'm not getting roped into that one. Nice try though.”

Smirking, I turned my attention back to the window. “I need to go to a pet store, anyone, doesn't matter. I just need to get Mr. Pink a few things.”

“Mr. Pink?”

“You too? Why does the name raise questions? He's a cat, a pet, there are plenty of pets out there with weird names. And I don't think Mr. Pink is even that weird.”

“I didn't say anything,” he said, shaking his head.

“You didn't have to, it was how you said it. When are you men going to realize that it's what you don't say that women actually hear?”

Jerry laughed as he watched the traffic, waiting to turn. “You and my wife would get along really well.”

“You have a wife?” I asked, keeping my eyes on the passing buildings. “How is that possible? I assumed you signed your life away to be August's chauffeur.”

“Hardly,” he said, “I signed my life away to be your chauffeur.” I could hear the smile in his voice and feel his eyes on me. Twisting to look at him, Jerry had a big smile on his face. “I'm kidding, I work the day shift, there's another guy who works nights. The weekends we're on call, so only if he really needs us.”

“How nice of August to give his employees personal time.”

“Mr. Burke actually is a really great boss.” The car rolled to a stop and Jerry nodded his head. “First stop, Pet Central.”

After picking up cat food, a few toys, a litter box and litter, I had Jerry bring me to a small deli in Queens that Kay had shown me awhile back. They sold the best grinders in the world. Ordering two sandwiches, I made one more stop for coffee.

“Can you bring me to August's office?” I asked, after having everything I needed to hopefully bring a smile to his face. I didn't want August to spend all day stewing over last night.

“Absolutely.”

Lunch was always a good peace offering; well, lunch and coffee. Getting to the brewery, I walked inside and it had such a different feel than the first time I had been there.

People opened doors for me, the secretary didn't ask me if I had an appointment. Everyone I passed knew me by name, referring to me as Ms. Day as if we had spoken on several occasions and could consider each other acquaintances.

Diane had me sit in the seat by August's office door so he could finish a phone call. She kept looking at me and smiling and it made me uncomfortable. Not because she was smiling, but because her smile was unnaturally wide.

Have you seen that smile? All the teeth on the upper row are visible, the lips are pulled back so far they almost hit her ears, add in a some bright red lipstick and the Joker could be a close relative.

“You can go in now,” Diane said, her smile somehow even wider.

How is that possible?

Opening the door, I poked my head in. “Hey,” I said, sticking my arm in and swinging the bag of sandwiches. “You hungry?”

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