Read Online Fate Intended (The Coulter Men Series Book 3) by Elizabeth Seckman - Free Book Online
Authors: Elizabeth Seckman
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anticipation and hope that she thought she might burst into a happy dance right where she sat and scare the absolute hell out of him. She adopted a look of calm, hands pressed together, bottom firmly glued to her chair.
“The first time I came into your building you were on the elevator talking to Mr. Little. He was telling you one of his many WWII stories…which, I must point out, was so full of holes if it was a ship it would sink like a rock.” Trip’s head shook as his hands went palm up. “I mean the guy was storming the beaches of Normandy and being held captive in the Pacific. I wondered if you knew he was full of crap. Then you looked up at me and gave me a grin and the tiniest wink. I thought, she knows he’s full of it, but is kind enough to play along.”
“It was quite a story.” Jane shrugged. “An elderly man’s fantasy. An attempt to be….” Jane thought a moment, “Relevant?”
“I figured.” Trip smiled at her. “It’s sweet that you even take the time to listen to him. You’re good people, Jane. As my Grams would say, ‘Beautiful inside and out.’”
Sprouting a blush as red and warm as fire, she didn’t know what to say. She had never been told she was beautiful by a man, except her father.
Fortunately for her, the waiter arrived and she quickly turned her attention to ordering dinner. Concentrating on the menu was difficult. She could see Trip watching her over the top of his menu. Flipping the gold hoop in her ear, she couldn’t make a decision, so she closed the menu and looked to the waiter for help. “What would you suggest?”
“We have the best Asian salad with blackened chicken. The chef makes a peanut sauce that is amazing.”
“Is it very spicy?” Jane asked scrunching her nose.
“Just a hint.”
“Just a hint…hmm…okay.” She handed him the menu. “I will take your words on it.”
He took the menu. “Trust me. You’ll love it.” The waiter leaned closer and whispered, “I’m honestly jealous I won’t be joining you for dinner.”
Jane smiled up at him, then looked across the table at a scowling Trip. The waiter cleared his throat. Jane noticed he had sweat on his brow. She didn’t think it was present a moment ago.
“And, uh, how about you, sir?”
“I’ll have what the lady is having. Add a bottle of Chenin Blanc?”
“Excellent choice. You know your wine, sir.” The waiter gave a slight bow, grabbed the menus and scooted.
As the waiter backed away, Trip mumbled, “Suck up freaking flirt.”
“Pardon?” Jane asked.
“Nothing,” Trip said as he sat up straighter in his seat. “Just thinking out loud.”
“Oh. I don’t do that.” Jane thought of her wild imaginings and what people would say if they knew what she was thinking. Her laugh was soft, almost inaudible as she said, “Thankfully, or I’d always be in trouble.”
Trip’s brow shot up, but he never asked what thoughts were too bad to share because the hasty waiter returned, the bottle of wine open and breathing. He poured them each a glass, then exited with a small nod of his head.
Jane took a sip of hers and enjoyed the much needed relaxation it brought her. Leaning her body forward, she decided to reach for the moon. “So,” she asked absentmindedly tracing her finger across the base of her wine glass, “if you thought such good things, when you first saw me…why did you never speak to me?”
“I figured you were too young…and there was….”
Olivia. Crap. Jane didn’t want him thinking of her, not now. She quickly interrupted his sentence, “Forget I asked. Stupid question.” She needed a follow-up question. Fast. “So, your muscles? Work related or were you bored while you were away?” Hearing the question as it rolled off her lips made her cringe a little.
“A little of both. A certain degree of physical fitness goes with the job. I did it more than I needed, probably, as you said, out of boredom.” Trip straightened the utensils on his napkin
“The first time I came into your building you were on the elevator talking to Mr. Little. He was telling you one of his many WWII stories…which, I must point out, was so full of holes if it was a ship it would sink like a rock.” Trip’s head shook as his hands went palm up. “I mean the guy was storming the beaches of Normandy and being held captive in the Pacific. I wondered if you knew he was full of crap. Then you looked up at me and gave me a grin and the tiniest wink. I thought, she knows he’s full of it, but is kind enough to play along.”
“It was quite a story.” Jane shrugged. “An elderly man’s fantasy. An attempt to be….” Jane thought a moment, “Relevant?”
“I figured.” Trip smiled at her. “It’s sweet that you even take the time to listen to him. You’re good people, Jane. As my Grams would say, ‘Beautiful inside and out.’”
Sprouting a blush as red and warm as fire, she didn’t know what to say. She had never been told she was beautiful by a man, except her father.
Fortunately for her, the waiter arrived and she quickly turned her attention to ordering dinner. Concentrating on the menu was difficult. She could see Trip watching her over the top of his menu. Flipping the gold hoop in her ear, she couldn’t make a decision, so she closed the menu and looked to the waiter for help. “What would you suggest?”
“We have the best Asian salad with blackened chicken. The chef makes a peanut sauce that is amazing.”
“Is it very spicy?” Jane asked scrunching her nose.
“Just a hint.”
“Just a hint…hmm…okay.” She handed him the menu. “I will take your words on it.”
He took the menu. “Trust me. You’ll love it.” The waiter leaned closer and whispered, “I’m honestly jealous I won’t be joining you for dinner.”
Jane smiled up at him, then looked across the table at a scowling Trip. The waiter cleared his throat. Jane noticed he had sweat on his brow. She didn’t think it was present a moment ago.
“And, uh, how about you, sir?”
“I’ll have what the lady is having. Add a bottle of Chenin Blanc?”
“Excellent choice. You know your wine, sir.” The waiter gave a slight bow, grabbed the menus and scooted.
As the waiter backed away, Trip mumbled, “Suck up freaking flirt.”
“Pardon?” Jane asked.
“Nothing,” Trip said as he sat up straighter in his seat. “Just thinking out loud.”
“Oh. I don’t do that.” Jane thought of her wild imaginings and what people would say if they knew what she was thinking. Her laugh was soft, almost inaudible as she said, “Thankfully, or I’d always be in trouble.”
Trip’s brow shot up, but he never asked what thoughts were too bad to share because the hasty waiter returned, the bottle of wine open and breathing. He poured them each a glass, then exited with a small nod of his head.
Jane took a sip of hers and enjoyed the much needed relaxation it brought her. Leaning her body forward, she decided to reach for the moon. “So,” she asked absentmindedly tracing her finger across the base of her wine glass, “if you thought such good things, when you first saw me…why did you never speak to me?”
“I figured you were too young…and there was….”
Olivia. Crap. Jane didn’t want him thinking of her, not now. She quickly interrupted his sentence, “Forget I asked. Stupid question.” She needed a follow-up question. Fast. “So, your muscles? Work related or were you bored while you were away?” Hearing the question as it rolled off her lips made her cringe a little.
“A little of both. A certain degree of physical fitness goes with the job. I did it more than I needed, probably, as you said, out of boredom.” Trip straightened the utensils on his napkin
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