A Match for Celia

“There’s no reason for us to eat alone, is there?”

She hesitated, and looked up to find him watching her with an intentness that belied his light tone. Since she couldn’t think of any good reason why they shouldn’t have breakfast together—none she could have explained, anyway—she smiled and shook her head. “No.”

Reed looked pleased with her answer.

Reed seemed to go out of his way to be entertaining during their leisurely breakfast, and he succeeded. Celia found herself forgetting her reservations and chatting with him as easily as an old friend.

They had almost finished their meal before she realized how closely they were being watched.

The staff was being discreet—sort of. They weren’t exactly staring at Celia and Reed. But they were watching, and Celia wondered if this shift had been told that she and Reed had been together for dinner last evening. Were they speculating whether she and Reed had spent the entire night together?

The only restaurant employee who didn’t seem overly curious was their waiter, a good-looking young African-American with an engaging smile. The service he gave them was nothing more than briskly professional—which was a great relief since Celia was so painfully aware of the more open curiosity from the others.

This was getting ridiculous. She was not the personal property of Damien Alexander, despite what his staff might think. Or was she being completely paranoid?

She looked across the table. “I need to get away from this place today, Reed. Are you interested?”

“Tired of being the center of attention?”

She widened her eyes. “You’ve noticed it, too? That everyone seems to be watching us? I thought—I hoped I was imagining it.”

He shook his head. “You aren’t imagining it.”

“I don’t know why they’re doing this. It’s not as though I’m all that interesting.”

“They’re guarding the boss’s interests,” Reed explained with a faint smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

She frowned. “That’s stupid. Damien and I aren’t—we haven’t even—we’re only friends,” she concluded awkwardly, wondering how many times she had to repeat it. And whether Reed believed her any more than anyone else seemed to.

Reed studied her for what felt like a long time. And then his smile deepened, becoming just a shade more genuine. “Where would you like to go?”

“Anywhere,” she said in quick relief. “How far are we from San Antonio?”

“It would take about three, maybe three-and-a-half hours by car, I think. Why?”

“I’ve never been there, have you?”

He shook his head in the negative, though he wasn’t looking at her, but at the nearly empty cup of coffee in front of him.

“I’ve heard it’s a nice place to visit. Lots of things to do. And the Alamo’s there,” she added enticingly. “That should be right up your alley.”

“You’d think so, wouldn’t you?”

“Or we could do something else,” she said, uncertain of his reaction to her initial suggestion. “We could drive into Mexico or maybe up the coast to Corpus Cristi or—”

“San Antonio sounds good,” Reed said, lifting his gaze to hers. “We should probably leave soon if we’re going to have enough time.”

Something in his eyes still bothered her. She cocked her head and looked at him closely. “Reed, are you sure you want to? I’d understand if you have other plans. Really.”

“I don’t have other plans. I’d like to spend the day with you,” Reed said, and there was no doubting the sincerity of his voice.

She relaxed. “Good. I’ll go get my purse.”

“Meet you in fifteen minutes.”

She glanced up to find two waiters watching them. She shivered. “Make it ten.”

He followed her gaze, then turned back to her with an understanding nod. “Ten,” he agreed.