Unexpected Gifts

“After all our meetings, you switching to decaf just seems wrong.”

He was teasing, and Eli knew it, so she smiled. “I’m turning over a new leaf. Actually, a few new leaves.” Whether she wanted to or not.

“How does Arthur feel about these changes?”

“Arthur’s out of the picture.” It was the first time she’d said the words out loud in conversation. It made the fact he was gone seem more real. More permanent.

“We broke up,” she added, more for herself than for Zac.

“Oh.” Zac paused. “Sorry.”

“Our relationship had progressed as far as it could. It was time to make a clean break.”

Zac seemed puzzled, and Eli waited for him to ask her more questions, but after a moment, he nodded. They waited in silence for their coffees.

She wondered what he was thinking.

But he didn’t give her a clue. After their drinks were in hand, he simply said, “Why don’t we take the coffees next door to my office and I can show you the schedule we’ve put together for Ariel.”

“Great.”

ZAC AND ELI CONTINUED in silence as they walked to Keller’s Market. Other than the first day, they’d never met in his office. He always insisted they meet over a lunch or coffees. It seemed more relaxed, more personal. And that was just what he’d wanted to be with Eli Cartwright.

The news that she’d broken up with her boyfriend meant he was free to get even more up close and personal.

He’d love to ask her out right away, but he knew he should wait and give her some time to recover from the breakup.

How much time did it require?

Hours?

Days?

Not weeks. No, weeks was too long. Some other guy was bound to ask Eli on a date as soon as the news got out that she was available. Zac wasn’t going to lose out to some quick-on-the-draw stranger.

Since he knew he had to wait, this once, keeping things all business was probably for the best. That was why he suggested taking their coffees to his office.

“Zac?” Eli said.

He noticed they were standing in his office doorway. “Sorry. Thinking about things I have to do.” Mainly asking out Eli. “Have a seat.”

He had a copy of Ariel’s schedule in his briefcase, but handed her the one on his desk instead. “Here you go.”

She reached for it, and for the briefest second, their fingers touched. Zac didn’t think of himself as a sentimental sort of man, which is why his awareness of that smallest of touches surprised him. Of course, it shouldn’t have. Yet, everything about Eli Cartwright touched him.

“It looks—”

Eli was cut off as Cessy burst into his office. “Z-man, help. I need a ride to—” Cessy stopped short as she caught sight of Eli. “Sorry, Ms. Cartwright. I’m not used to Zac having people in his office this early on a Saturday morning. I’m much better behaved on weekdays. Uh, the principal didn’t send you in to talk to Zac about my inability to be quiet in class, did he?”

Eli laughed. “No. I’m not here about you.”

Zac knew he should reprimand his irrepressible sister, but she stood there grinning and practically radiating happiness. He couldn’t muster up even a small tsk of disapproval.

She ran a hand over her brow. “Phew. I’d rather the principal talk to Mom and Dad any day of the week. They’re pushovers. Zac, he’s tough.”

He laughed. “Yeah, that’s why you’re coming to me for a ride somewhere, because of my world-renowned toughness?”

“Zac, I say you’re tough in front of people so they won’t catch on to what a marshmallow you are.” She fished in her pocket and pulled out a small thing to twist her wildly curly hair into a ponytail.

“So, where are we riding to?” he asked.

“I was sort of hoping you’d drive me over to Grove City’s outlets after I finish my morning shift. They’re having a preholiday sale, and I’d really like to go do some early Christmas shopping.”

“Mom and Dad said you could go?”

She shook her head. “I’m going to ask after I have everything set up. It makes it harder for them to say no if I have all my bases covered.”