Chapter 3

We worked until the office staff was leaving, and Owens escorted us out. He locked the front door behind him. “It was nice to meet you, Mr. Croswell, Ms. Blevins. Will I see you in the morning?”

“We’ll be here at nine,” I said.

“Great. I’m looking forward to it. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a dinner date,” he said. He hurried off to his car.

Sarah and I got in the Mercedes and watched Owens drive away.

“What do you think so far?” I asked.

“Am I being hyper-sensitive? That guy is a total creep! Just having him look at me made me feel dirty,” she said.

“I saw him. He wasn’t even trying to be subtle.”

“You don’t look at me that way. I don’t feel like a specimen under a microscope with you.”

“I’m subtle.”

“Oh, you’re bad!” she laughed. “You had me fooled. I thought you were a gentleman.”

“I am. I just meant, ... well, ... I look at you, but I don’t drool over you like he did.”

Sarah stared at me, a combination of shock and amusement on her pretty face. “But you’ve checked me out? Is that what you’re saying?”

“Well, uh, yeah, I guess. I’m a man. You’re a very attractive woman. So yes, I’ve looked. Don’t sue me.”

“I won’t.”

“Look, Sarah, I feel really awkward. I’m digging myself into a hole here. What I’m trying to say is, I see how you work as well as how you look. Is that so bad?”

She was silent for a moment. “No. I guess not. I’m just not used to getting compliments. At least, not on anything but my work.”

“That surprises me. I’ll bet your husband tells you how nice you look all the time.”

“No, that’s not what he focuses on.”

I started the car. “I guess I should get you back to your office so you can get home.”

“Do you want to discuss what we did today, and what we want to accomplish tomorrow?” she asked. “I already told my family I’d be late. Tim will make dinner while the kids do their homework, and he’ll come up with something fun to do with them until it’s time for bed. We share pretty much all the childcare and household responsibilities. He’s Mr. Mom when I do work like this.”

“Should we stop for dinner and a drink?” I asked.

“Not a bad idea. Just one drink, though. I do have to drive home at some point.”

“I’ll have to drive you back to get your car, too, so yes, just one,” I agreed. “Mind if I put the top down? Your hair won’t blow too much.”

She looked up. “It’s metal, isn’t it?”

“I guess so.” I pressed the button that began the transformation.

“Oh, my father would love this thing! He’s such a car nut!” she said, in the most animated voice I had heard all day.

“This is the ‘play’ part of that all-work-and-no-play thing I mentioned.” I eased the sleek roadster into traffic, and soon we were on the highway.