It was obvious that Derrick had money. His car, his clothing, just the way he acted, all pointed to someone who was wealthy. So why would he choose to eat here?
Stephan would never step foot in a place like this, he’d be too worried about dirtying his Armani suit or getting food poisoning. Since she’d left him, Jacey had discovered that places like this one often had the best sort of people and food.
“And what is my sort of place?” he asked, his lips tilting up in amusement. He was gorgeous. His body was lean but muscular; a few days growth covered his face, adding to his appeal as those dark brown eyes stared at her.
Her whole body tingled.
Calm down. He might be the sexiest man she’d ever seen. But he was also a stranger. A rich, self-assured stranger. She needed to be more cautious. She couldn’t trust him.
She couldn’t trust anyone.
“I don’t know, maybe a gentleman’s club with lots of dark leather sofas and men smoking cigars and sipping expensive whiskey.”
He barked out a laugh. “Hate to tell you, love, but I don’t smoke cigars nor have I ever been to a gentleman’s club.”
“Derrick!”
Jacey glanced up in surprise as a waitress, a huge smile on her face, approached them. Derrick smiled up at the plump woman who looked to be in her late forties.
“Alice, how are you?”
“I’m good thanks. How’s Holly?”
“She’s great. Settling in to her new house,” Derrick replied.
Who was Holly? His wife?
“Well, tell her I said hi next time you see her.” The waitress turned to look at Jacey.
“Alice this is my friend, Jacey.”
“Pleased to meet you, Jacey. Can I get you your usual, Derrick?”
“That would be great. Jacey, what would you like?”
“I’ll just have coffee, thanks,” she replied.
She felt slightly ashamed of herself for judging Derrick based on his appearance.
Derrick stared at her for a long moment. “Bring us two slices of pie, please, Alice.”
Jacey glared at him. “I said I wanted coffee.”
He shrugged. “If you can’t eat it, then you can take it home.”
Jacey took a deep breath, searching for calm. She hated being controlled. Been there. Done that. Never going back.
“So, who’s Holly?” Drat, she hadn’t meant to ask that.
Derrick’s face lightened as he smiled. “Holly is my sister-in-law, although we’re closer than that. More like brother and sister. She also works for me. She just got married a few months ago. Good guy, even if he does live miles away, by Waco.”
“You miss her.”
He nodded. “She drives in three times a week then works from home the rest of the time.”
Alice brought over the coffee and then quickly returned with two huge slices of apple pie. The scent of cinnamon and pastry made Jacey’s mouth water and almost before she knew what she was doing, she had scooped some up on a fork and into her mouth and was closing her eyes in pleasure as the pie hit her taste buds.
“Good, right?” Derrick said.