The Coffee Shop by Lauren Hunter Read Free Book Online Page B

time.”
    He wanted to kiss her, but he wasn’t sure if he should. And then he did, quickly before he could think about it. “Me too,” he managed to say, and he drew back, looking down at her mouth.
    She didn’t say anything, and he wondered if he had just made a serious mistake.
    Then she spoke. “Hmm, pepperoni.” Opening the door, she gave him a gentle shove out into the hallway. “Good night, Mr. Sloane.”
    He caught the playful tone of her words. “Good night, Miss Maddock.”

Chapter Five
    Annie stepped from the limousine. “Thank you, Lawrence.”
    Pleased that she remembered his name, he tipped his hat. “Miss Maddock.”
    “Miss Maddock.”
    Annie looked to see the doorman smiling at her, the door held open for her convenience. “Thank you?”
    “Harold, ma’am.”
    “Thank you, Harold.”
    “Mr. Sloane has informed me you were given directions to his suite.”
    “Yes, he did.” She grinned. “If I get lost I can always call for help.” She pulled out her cell phone and shrugged.
    Harold laughed, and smiling, he too, tipped his hat.
    “My, such polite gentlemen, I must say I am not used to such treatment. You keep this up and it just might turn my head.”
    “I doubt that, Miss.”
    His reply made her smile, and she hoped others in the building were as kind and respectful to him as she had just been. For such a nice man, she hated the thought of him being ignored or abused. And riding the elevator up to the penthouse suite, she took the key from the keypad and stepped out into the hallway just outside Derrick’s door.
    Bringing her hand up to knock, the door swung open before her. “Oh!”
    “Sorry. Did I startle you?”
    “Just a bit.” She laughed that she had jumped. “How did you know I was here?”
    “Oh, Harold called up to let me know you were on the way.”
    “Harold?”
    “I asked him to. I hope you don’t mind?”
    “No. No, not at all.” She laughed again. “For a second I thought you were psychic.”
    “Oh, and here I thought I was doing such a good job at hiding that fact.”
    She stepped past him into the suite. Before her were fourteen-foot ceilings and hardwood flooring, everything around her black and white and glass. “Wow!”
    Derrick laughed. “Yeah, that’s pretty much the reaction it gets from most people.”
    “Most people? Are you actually telling me there are people this doesn’t impress?”
    “Well, those of the same income bracket, I guess.” But then he remembered she had a healthy bank account herself, but had chosen to live simply. “Or I should say those that have similar suites.” Derrick cringed. “How about I start again? Can I get you a drink?”
    “Sure.” She slipped her purse off her shoulder, his key still clutched within her grasp. “Oh. Your key, sir.”
    “Oh. That’s okay. You can keep that.” He was staring at her, his finger up, his mouth open, but not saying anything.
    “Um, okay. Was there something you wished to add to that?”
    He laughed uncomfortably. “Sorry, I…” But then he cleared his throat, pressing his hand to his stomach. “You may want to come to dinner again, and it would save me having to give it back to you.”
    She grinned. Nice attempt at a save, Mr. Sloane .
    He motioned toward the living area. “As for that drink, would you care for some wine?” He tapped his forehead. “Oh, that’s right, you don’t drink wine, do you? Can I make you a cocktail?”
    “Do you have the ingredients to make a virgin chi chi?” His face scrunched up, and she could see he wanted to say something, but was finding it difficult. “Or perhaps not?”
    “No. No, that’s fine. Sure I can do that.”
    “I suppose that sounds…”
    “What?”
    “Oh, nothing.” She regretted asking.
    “Come on through into the kitchen.”
    She followed him, and he motioned to a set of four chairs lined up before a raised counter.
    “Let me guess, Derrick’s place.”
    “What?”
    “Oh, sorry, the chairs like that, it