reminded her of a little boy who was excited about getting a treat. Damn him! It wasn’t going to work. He could be human and endearing all he wanted, this was one dinner...then she walked away
Chapter 14
––––––––
T he wine was delicious and as badly as she hated to admit Derek was right, so were the warm muffins they started their meal with. Derek had the lobster bisque and crab cakes and Chloe had the Cajun haddock. The food was as good as the view and the blackberry and raspberry crisp they brought at the end of their meal was delicious as well. The conversation had been somewhat stilted at first, mostly due to Chloe’s hesitancy to answer any of Derek’s questions about who she was and what she liked to do...but eventually they’d settled onto common ground.
Chloe had recently started working with a group in Rhode Island a weekend or two a month who went around the city and covered graffiti and revitalized parks. When she mentioned it Derek said, “It’s not Hannah’s Hearts that you do work for is it?” he asked.
Suspicious once again, Chloe said, “Yes, you know of it?”
“I do. My firm made several donations to them last year. I remember seeing them on my tax return.” Chloe smirked without realizing it and Derek said, “Do you think giving money is less honorable than actually doing the grunt work?”
She smiled and said, “Not less honorable...easier though, for sure. Of course the grunt work is not for everyone. There has to be an even balance I suppose between those who write the checks and those who wield the hammers and paint brushes.”
Derek’s lips twisted to the side as he said, “That almost sounds like a challenge.”
“Not at all,” Chloe said, glancing at his smooth hands, “Some people are cut out for some things...and others are cut out for...writing checks.”
She wasn’t sure what she was doing...was she just trying to see if he had a sense of humor? Did she want to know how he would handle a little bit of prodding?
She really wasn’t sure, but she couldn’t stop herself as she said, “I’m sure you have much more...socially appropriate charity events you’re obligated to attend on the weekends.”
“Socially appropriate?” he said with a raised eyebrow. “You wouldn’t be insinuating that I’m a snob, would you?”
“Oh of course not,” she said. “I just somehow have a hard time picturing you painting a see saw.”
Derek smiled and Chloe felt almost disappointed when it reached his eyes. She’d expected him to take offense. She’d been goading him, trying to get him to react. Instead, he seemed to rise to the challenge. “I think maybe I’ll have to prove you wrong there,” he said. He let it go then and after signing for the bill he said, “Would you be up for taking a walk on the beach?”
Chloe glanced out the window. There was a soft breeze blowing but it didn’t look too cold. She decided that she would agree to it, as long as they stayed in full view of the restaurant...and witnesses. “Sure, I’m always up for the beach,” she said.
Derek was catching on fast, as they left the restaurant, he refrained from touching her. Once they were outside he leaned down and took off his shoes and socks and rolled up his pants. Chloe took hers off as well. Carrying them in their hands they made their way down the three steps to the sand below and Derek headed towards the water.
When they were along the edge of it, just out of reach of the tide he began walking with Chloe at his side. They’d gone about five steps when he said, “Did you grow up near the water?”
Once again, she was taken back to her childhood. Nothing but scenes of torture and abuse littered her mind when she went there. The long nights when she was too young to leave the house...too small to get away...too afraid to fight back. The nights when her adoptive mother and sister would turn a blind eye to the cries that came from her room when her drunken adoptive
Chapter 14
––––––––
T he wine was delicious and as badly as she hated to admit Derek was right, so were the warm muffins they started their meal with. Derek had the lobster bisque and crab cakes and Chloe had the Cajun haddock. The food was as good as the view and the blackberry and raspberry crisp they brought at the end of their meal was delicious as well. The conversation had been somewhat stilted at first, mostly due to Chloe’s hesitancy to answer any of Derek’s questions about who she was and what she liked to do...but eventually they’d settled onto common ground.
Chloe had recently started working with a group in Rhode Island a weekend or two a month who went around the city and covered graffiti and revitalized parks. When she mentioned it Derek said, “It’s not Hannah’s Hearts that you do work for is it?” he asked.
Suspicious once again, Chloe said, “Yes, you know of it?”
“I do. My firm made several donations to them last year. I remember seeing them on my tax return.” Chloe smirked without realizing it and Derek said, “Do you think giving money is less honorable than actually doing the grunt work?”
She smiled and said, “Not less honorable...easier though, for sure. Of course the grunt work is not for everyone. There has to be an even balance I suppose between those who write the checks and those who wield the hammers and paint brushes.”
Derek’s lips twisted to the side as he said, “That almost sounds like a challenge.”
“Not at all,” Chloe said, glancing at his smooth hands, “Some people are cut out for some things...and others are cut out for...writing checks.”
She wasn’t sure what she was doing...was she just trying to see if he had a sense of humor? Did she want to know how he would handle a little bit of prodding?
She really wasn’t sure, but she couldn’t stop herself as she said, “I’m sure you have much more...socially appropriate charity events you’re obligated to attend on the weekends.”
“Socially appropriate?” he said with a raised eyebrow. “You wouldn’t be insinuating that I’m a snob, would you?”
“Oh of course not,” she said. “I just somehow have a hard time picturing you painting a see saw.”
Derek smiled and Chloe felt almost disappointed when it reached his eyes. She’d expected him to take offense. She’d been goading him, trying to get him to react. Instead, he seemed to rise to the challenge. “I think maybe I’ll have to prove you wrong there,” he said. He let it go then and after signing for the bill he said, “Would you be up for taking a walk on the beach?”
Chloe glanced out the window. There was a soft breeze blowing but it didn’t look too cold. She decided that she would agree to it, as long as they stayed in full view of the restaurant...and witnesses. “Sure, I’m always up for the beach,” she said.
Derek was catching on fast, as they left the restaurant, he refrained from touching her. Once they were outside he leaned down and took off his shoes and socks and rolled up his pants. Chloe took hers off as well. Carrying them in their hands they made their way down the three steps to the sand below and Derek headed towards the water.
When they were along the edge of it, just out of reach of the tide he began walking with Chloe at his side. They’d gone about five steps when he said, “Did you grow up near the water?”
Once again, she was taken back to her childhood. Nothing but scenes of torture and abuse littered her mind when she went there. The long nights when she was too young to leave the house...too small to get away...too afraid to fight back. The nights when her adoptive mother and sister would turn a blind eye to the cries that came from her room when her drunken adoptive
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