“Sounds pretty exciting.” I said meaning it.
“It can be.”
“Now it isn’t so much because you’re in the office more?” I had a feeling he missed the action.
He studied me for what seemed like forever and I was starting to feel like maybe I had touched on a sensitive area.”
“That’s it exactly.” He said as if saying it out loud made it better. His shoulders relaxed a little.
“I understand. I really do.”
“I believe you do.” He held my gaze.
“I do. You can’t talk to anyone about it because you have to provide the leadership. You can’t let them see you crack even if what you are feeling is the most basic human emotion. You’ve always got to be the person of strength and knowledge. They look to you and you have to provide them with what they need.” I realized I was running on and cut my words short. I looked sheepishly at him. “Sorry, I tend to run on sometimes.”
“No.” His voice was hoarse. “That’s it exactly.”
I gave him a small smile.
“You can always talk to me.” I shrugged one shoulder. “I mean if you want…need…to.” I attacked my fries again. When I looked at him again, he was smiling.
“What?” I asked.
His smile widened. “I like watching the range of emotions that can cross your face in such a short amount of time.”
I felt my cheeks heat up immediately. I was sure they were bright red.
“It’s okay.” He reassured me.
Toni appeared then staying me from further embarrassment. “Would you like a box for that?” She looked at the remains of my burger.
“No, thank you. I’m staying in a hotel I don’t have any place to keep it, but it was delicious.”
She smiled and nodded and removed all the plates. She came back with more coffee and then pie.
“Oh no, I couldn’t.” I protested. Mac was shaking his head no at me without Toni seeing him. I frowned at him. Toni put her hands on her hips.
“Don’t tell me you ain’t going to eat this homemade apple pie that I was up at four thirty this morning baking.”
I wasn’t sure what to say. Mac started nodding at me.
“Oh, well in that case, I’m sure I can, I mean I’d love some apple pie.”
“That’s better.” Toni nodded and set the plate down. “You want a scoop of ice cream?”
“God no!” I let it slip out before I thought about it. I hated ice cream anywhere near my pie. I held my breath and waited for Toni’s indignation to resurface.
“Okay then. Enjoy.” She turned and walked away.
I let out a long breath and gave Mac a curious look.
“Sorry, I should have warned you.” He said picking up his fork and attacking the pie.
“Yeah, that would have been nice.” I said following suit.
We both laughed. We sat drinking coffee and talking until Toni started putting chairs up on top of the tables.
“I guess we’d better go.” I said taking the hint.
“Yeah, she’ll spray and clean us too, if we don’t go.”
I knew he was joking but I also didn’t doubt she’d do it either.
As we walked outside the night was still warm and I really hated the thought of the evening coming to an end. To be honest, I was enjoying Mac’s company way more than I thought possible. It has been years since I had dated anyone and these days, I was too busy to even consider it. But, Mac? Well he was different.
Mac opened the car do for me and we were nearly at the hotel when he broke into my thoughts.
“Penny for your thoughts,” he said.
“Oh, I am so sorry. That was rude.”
“No, it’s not. I’m sure you have a lot on your mind.”
“No, the idea was to spend time with you and have a conversation that didn’t have to deal with work and here I’ve been drifting off in thought.” I admonished myself.
“You can’t just turn it on and off. No matter how much we might try work follows us home.” He was right about that.
“Well, I’m afraid I don’t have much practice at turning it off.”
He kept his eyes on the road and I could see he was considering my words. We pulled in front of the hotel and he sat for a minute causing the valet to pause on his way to the car.
“I had a nice time at dinner, thank you.” He said.
I felt terrible about drifting away and I doubted he had a very nice time at all. I felt the need to make it up to him. “Would you like to come up for coffee?”
He considered me for a long moment, and I thought he might say no. I was okay with that because I asked him on impulse and I honestly didn’t know what I would do if he agreed.
“I really don’t want this night to end.” He admitted.
“Me either.” I said staring down at my lap. “Come up. I promise to be fully engaged and have the most riveting conversations.
“Okay, since you put it like that.” He turned off the car and got out. He looked at the valet. “Treat this car carefully as if your life depended on it. Which it does.”
I laughed to myself as I waited for him to open the door for me.
Chapter Fifteen
Kay
Mac sat in the chair in the corner while I made coffee in the small pot provided in the room.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer room service?” I asked.
“No this will be fine, and I can do that for you.”
“I’ve got it.” I laughed. Once I got everything figured out and the coffee was brewing, I joined him in the living room.
“This is a nice room.” He said looking around.
“It’s one of my favorite hotel chains. “I don’t come to DC often or at least I haven’t in the past, but we do have facility in three locations. My office is in Gates Point
