Page 12 of The Law of Attraction
His eyes narrowed at her. “You should have worn jeans.”
“I was trying to make a good impression.”
“On who?”
“I haven’t got any idea,” she admitted. “Definitely not you.”
His gaze traveled from her short-sleeved white blouse to her sensible black dress loafers. He frowned slightly, as if he didn’t like what he saw. “Did you bring any long-sleeved shirts? They’re required at the plant. And boots, preferably steel-toed.”
“Hey, you think that’s something you might have mentioned before we were at the airport?” she shot back. He’d done this dozens of times before and knew it was her first time, yet hadn’t thought to offer her even the most basic advice ahead of time.
He glanced away. “I didn’t think of it.”
“Clearly.”
“Did you? Bring clothes to wear to the plant?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact. I asked Gavin about it.”
“Good.” Adam was still frowning. Actually, it was more like a scowl. He kept glancing around him too, and shifting position like he couldn’t stay still. She’d never known him to look this obviously uncomfortable before.
The toddler next to them threw her toy car, and when it bounced off Adam’s thigh he flinched like he’d been struck with a brick instead of a tiny piece of plastic.
“I’m so sorry,” the child’s mother said as she leaned over to retrieve the toy.
The smile Adam offered her in response was as taut as a bowstring. “Don’t worry about it.”
“What’s wrong with you?” Olivia asked him. “You’re acting weird.”
“I don’t like crowds.”
“This is nothing. You should try going to Comic-Con. One hundred thirty thousand people squeezed into a city block for four days.”
His scowl deepened. “That sounds like my worst nightmare.”
“It’s an adventure, that’s for sure.”
The toddler let out a high-pitched wail and threw herself to the floor. Apparently her parents had confiscated the offending toy. As her cries grew in volume and intensity, Adam’s expression grew more pained.
“We’re so sorry,” the toddler’s father said as he attempted to quiet the screaming child. “She’s way past her nap time.”
“It’s fine,” Olivia told him. “We’re all pretty cranky.”
“I’m going to get some food,” Adam said, pushing himself to his feet.
“Bring me back something,” Olivia called after him, and he raised his hand in acknowledgement. “Since you didn’t ask,” she muttered at his retreating back.
When Adam returned ten minutes later with a fast food bag and a soft drink, the toddler had fallen asleep in her dad’s lap, and Olivia had managed to knit two more rows of Penny’s shawl.
“What’d you bring me?” she asked as Adam sat back down in front of her.
“Here.” He reached into the bag and withdrew a much smaller bag that he handed to her.
She set down her knitting and stared at the smiling cartoon robot on the outside of the bag. “A kid’s meal? You got me a kid’s meal?”
“You’re tiny,” he said with a shrug as he unwrapped a juicy double-cheeseburger. “I thought a regular-sized meal would be too much.”
“Thanks,” she gritted out.
