Read Online Dark and Stormy: Sacred Hearts Coven by Felicia Starr - Free Book Online

lunch. He didn't realize he was going to have to wrestle his co-workers to get at their food. There was even more of a frenzy than there was that morning over bagels and chocolate.
    A loud, sharp noise got his and everyone else’s attention. He turned to find the little firecracker Alita whistling with her two fingers in her mouth.
    “Everyone needs to take it easy. Jackie and I have the orders and we will sort and hand out ever yone’s food.” Alita turned to Reddick. “Let’s get yours and Regina’s so you can get to your”—she used her fingers to create quotation marks—“meeting.”
    Reddick scrunched his forehead together. “What is that all about?” He repeated her finger motion.
    “Oh, nothing. So you both ordered two meals? Is that right?” she interrogated.
    “Yes… Is that okay with you?” He wondered what she was getting at.
    “Completely. Here are two balsamic chicken salads, a pasta primavera, and grilled chicken with sautéed broccoli.” She handed him two stacks of to-go containers.
    “ Oh, don't forget your dressings,” Alita reminded him as he walked out of the conference room.
    He put two of the meals in the refrigerator for later. He was glad they decided to eat upstairs because the go ssiping had begun before the food containers even opened. He never could be bothered with that kind of stuff. He was glad that while working with Regina as his counterpoint, she didn’t waste her time getting caught up with that nonsense.
    That is one of the many things that separated them from the rest of the staff. They both always had their eye on the prize. Work was for making money and that was what they both did best.
    When Reddick walked into the conference room, Regina had already set up both laptops, a stack of blank paper, two pens, two highlighters, and the two folders with the staff contributions. She even set up two place settings with napkins, utensils, and cups.
    He put down the two hot tins on the table, one at each place setting. It was a small, round wooden t able, so she set up their lunch necessities close together so there was room on the other side of the table for the computers. Regina wanted to make sure they could see and work on the laptops while they ate.
    “I hope you don't mind. I made the executive decision to bring up the hot food now. I figured the sa lads would keep better. Besides, I hate reheated chicken.” Just as he was about to sit down, he remembered. “I forgot the drinks.”
    “Have no fear. I grabbed them when I first went down. I didn't want anyone snatching up my diet coke. I grabbed you a power drink from the fridge.” She slid them out from behind the opened computer screen. Maybe he didn't see them.
    “I know about the reheated chicken. It get's the strangest taste after it goes into the microwave, or should I say when it comes out. Cold chicken is just fine for me, as long as it’s cooked through.”
    They started to dive into the large lunches. Reddick examined every bite of chicken before he put it in his mouth.
    “What are you doing?” she asked him.
    “I don't know. You got me all bugged out about the chicken being cooked through. I normally don't do this.” He started to laugh. “You haven’t even touched your pa sta.”
    “I’ve been too busy watching you. It’s very distracting.” Not wanting to admit to herself she was e njoying the view, she poked at a piece of pasta and a slice of zucchini.
    “In all seriousness, we need to hurry up and eat so we can get this project done. No offense, but I don't want to waste a lot of time on this. I’m all for finding ways to e xpand our business, but business is what I want to do, not marketing.” Reddick shoveled a large piece of chicken and some broccoli into his mouth.
    Regina was very glad that his lips stayed closed while he ate. It was a huge pet peeve of hers. Paul was famous for talking with a mouth full of food. She wasn't raised that way and found it downright rude. Adults