Page 28 of Sackett
“I can live with that.What else?”
He wondered if her straightforward attitude was typical for her, or out of character.“Nothing so urgent.Let’s go get coffee and we can discuss when and how we go home later.”
“Just those two things?”
“Those are the only things off hand.But I’ll be sure to come to you with anything that comes up, instead of trying to work around you or manipulate you into doing what I need.”He pulled into the parking lot.
“Thank you.That’s all I’m asking.”She turned and looked at the store.“Now.Coffee!”She opened her door, so Sackett did the same, meeting her at the front of the car before going inside together.
24
Selenawrappeduphermeeting with the client, shook his hand and assured him she would see him at the courthouse before their hearing the following day.She watched him leave before she took a deep breath and picked up her notebook filled with notes and put it away, then continued gathering her things.As she packed her things she wondered where Sackett had gotten to while she’d been busy.She was saved from having to go looking for him when he opened the door to the conference room she’d borrowed from a previous class mate for this meeting, and poked his head in.
“Is it safe?”
She looked up and found him watching her with a teasing smile.
“It is.I’m done, at least for now.I’ve got a few things I’ll need to go over and do later, but I’m done until tonight.”
“Okay, good.”He stepped inside and let the door close behind him.“What’s next?”
“I’m getting hungry.I thought we could find something to eat.”
“Sounds good to me.Do you have some place in mind?”
“I don’t.I thought I’d ask what you want to eat tonight before we decide where to go.”She closed her briefcase and looked up, waiting for him to answer.
“I’m not picky about what kind of food, as long as there’s meat.”He paused “I don’t mean that I only eat meat, but without it, I’ll be hungry again in an hour or two.”
“I can work with that,” Selena said with a laugh, thinking about some of her favorite places when she’d been in school here and where he might like as she pulled her bag off the table and started for the door.Only to be stopped by Sackett stepping in front of her and holding out one hand.She stopped and scowled at him, not sure what he wanted.
“Let me carry your bag.”His soft, kind tone battled with the words that sounded more like a demand than a request.
Selena stared at him for a moment.“I can get it.”
“I have no doubt you can, but it’s added weight on your healing feet and it’s no big deal to let me take it for you.”He kept his hand out, patiently waiting.
She considered it for the space of several seconds, then agreeing that he wasn’t wrong, though she wasn’t ready to admit that he was right, but she handed over her bag.
“Thank you,” Sackett said.He adjusted his grip on the bag, then turned, stepped out of the way, and opened the door for her.
“Thank you.”
“Thislooksreallygood.What do you recommend?”Sackett looked over his menu at her.
Selena let her eyes skim the menu to see what she recognized and what was new since her last visit.
“I have never had a bad burger here.And the pizza is better than average.”There were several new sandwiches she hadn’t tried, so she didn’t mention those.
“What about the beer?”he said.“I’m assuming you drink beer, or you wouldn’t have brought us to a brewery.”
She nodded.“I do.I have tried several and they are mostly good.But how you like any beer depends so much on a person’s individual likes and preferences.What kind of beer of you typically lean toward?”
“What I drink depends on what I’m eating and what’s available, but I tend to gravitate toward darker or stronger flavors like stouts or porters.”
“I don’t have much experience with those, but that’s because I don’t care for things that dark.I lean a bit lighter than that and go for ambers and reds.”She scanned the tap menu.“But the waiter will have some great advice if you ask him.”
As if her words had summoned her, a young woman who looked to be around twenty-four or twenty-five stepped up beside their table.
