were any indication, Chelsea was going to have to find a way to supplement her unemployed roommate’s portion of the rent as well. Again.
God, why is life so hard?
As quickly as she started to pity herself, she shook it off in typical Chelsea fashion. She’d already started formulating how she was going to beg the landlord for an extension on their rent this month when a group of men walked in. They were making their way to the greeters station, smiles on all of their faces. They stood in a circle, talking and shaking hands. Chelsea slid her aching feet into her shoes and walked to the middle of the greeters station. They were so into their conversation that no one even noticed her. She raised her voice slightly so that they could hear her.
“Do you all have a reservation?”
Bunch of happy suits. Must be a celebration. I just might be lucky enough to make rent this month after all.
The group must have finally noticed her with that and they quieted down. They all seemed to defer to the guy who was standing closest to the station with his back to her. While she waited for him to respond, she did a quick size up of the group. Party of eight. By the time she got done counting their party, her eyes made their way back to the guy.
Come on buddy, let’s get this show on the road. A girl has rent to p …
The thought trailed off when she saw the face that was watching her with understandable surprise on his face. It was impossible. Well maybe not so much impossible since he was standing right there looking at her almost as confused as she felt.
It was Ryder.
She was sure that the smile on her face conveyed just how happy she was to see him again. Her heart was practically pounding out of her chest in excitement. She hadn’t forgotten about him at all but New York City was a big place to say the least. When she ran off on him over eight hours ago, she never expected to see him again. Apparently this day had totally different expectations than she did.
Okay now it’s official. This day is not allowed to end. Ever.
***
Okay, not expected.
Ryder didn’t say anything for at least a few seconds. He blinked his eyes to make sure that they weren’t playing tricks on him like some weird movie scene. Nope. It was her again. She’d left him sitting in his car hours ago and he’d have gone inside after her if he didn’t have to close up a big deal today. He had no choice but to let her run off. The timing just wasn’t there earlier. He’d planned on maybe going back another day when he had more time and waiting for her to show up. He was the type to make his own luck but today was a mixed bag. If the timing earlier was bad, this was horrible.
The worst part about it was the look on her face when she recognized him. That sucked more than he could imagine. Sure, he wanted to smile and talk with her. Finish the promising little meeting that they’d had before but he and his father were entertaining a client. Among many things, his father was a good man but one of his pet peeves was mixing business with pleasure. No way, no how. It was never to happen at Chatham Holdings.
Yes, they were out with clients but that was to close a deal. That was not an issue. Flirting with a pretty girl he’d met earlier in the day simply because he liked her was different. Unless, of course, he could get a way for her to increase the bottom line of the company while taking their dinner order, any other conversation was not going to be acceptable to his dad right now.
Whether he liked it or not, he had to treat her like she was only another waitress to him right now. Hopefully she’d see his predicament and understand. His father leaned forward and put a hand on his shoulder while speaking softly in his ear.