Page 8 of Her Elusive Cowboy Billionaire

“Say, yes.I promise to be on my best behavior.This is an unusual situation for me, because I don’t normally do this…take new employees to dinner and I’ll completely understand if you want to say no.”

She narrowed her gaze but saw nothing but truth in his eyes.But did she want to go there again?Would it be like the way it was with Jared?Would she experience heartbreak once more?No, she didn’t think so.Something about a man who could still grieve after three years didn’t strike her as a man who would cheat on her.She knew how to protect her heart, but it didn’t have to come at the expense of being lonely…did it?“I’d love to, but you have to give me a hint of what to wear.”She waited for the regret to come, but it didn’t.Nothing but excitement stormed through her body.

He thought for a minute.His gaze shifting up and then back to her.“I would say dressy casual.Slacks or a skirt would be appropriate.Nothing too formal, but jeans are definitely out.”

“Okay.I live over in LoDo.”

“I know from the paperwork you emailed me when we contacted you and from your background check.I’ll pick you up at seven, if that’s okay with you.”

“That’ll be perfect.I’ll be ready, but I need to go now, though.I enjoyed having breakfast with you.”She slid out of the booth, grabbed her bag, and stood before putting the strap across her body.“And I look forward to tonight.”

He stood, took out his wallet and put a fifty inside the check cover.

She put out her hand.“Thank you.I’ll let you keep the painting if you want it.The one I left in your office.”

He shook her hand.Then he smiled.“You’re welcome.And I’d love to keep the painting.”He escorted her out of the café.

“It’s yours.I make notes about colors and placements when I do the actual miniature of the mural.”

When they reached his office building, they went to the elevators.She pressed the down button.

He pressed the up button.

When her elevator arrived, Meri left him and went to the underground garage, where she’d paid ten dollars to park for two hours.She was almost late and hurried to her car before someone could ticket it, though, if they ticketed her, she could probably get Chase to take care of it for her.

Stop it.I am not getting him to fix anything.When I start working here, I’ll ask for a parking space.When I get into the creative spirit, I can forget the time and could work some nights and don’t fancy walking blocks in the dark to my car.

Chase watchedher go to the underground parking.He’d have to make sure she had a parking pass.He didn’t want her to have to walk to the building.Heck, he’d have her park in one of his spaces.He rarely used more than one or two, and he had five, just for situations like this when he wanted someone else to use one.That was the best idea.His parking was on the first underground level next to the elevator, and a pass was required to get to that level.She’d be safest there.

Happy with his decision, he turned and walked to the entrance to his building.He needed to make some changes in current assignments.He wouldn’t be handling any clients himself for the next two months, though he rarely took on clients himself anymore, anyway.He spent most of his time digging into Paige’s murder.Someone else would take those he had.Everyone on his team could manage any client of the company.He made sure to hire only fully trained men and women.Most were ex-military, but he had former CIA and FBI agents, too.

Despite them not being frequently occupied, the building had over fifty offices on the five floors he used for his employees.He also had two conference rooms and a break room on each floor.

The nineteenth floor was his office and a couple of conference rooms.The twentieth floor was his home.

He ensured that every person who worked for him had access to an office and an administrative assistant when they needed one.They needed somewhere to meet with clients and to come to when they were without a client, and to do research.Most of his high-profile clientele wanted to meet at their homes.They didn’t want anyone other than family to know they were hiring a bodyguard, which was smart on their part.They didn’t need it made known to everyone that they might be frightened for their lives.

However, within the Denver metro area alone, there were a multitude of individuals who solely desired his help in locating unfaithful spouses or dishonest business partners.They came to him because he had an excellent reputation, the best, and knew if he took them as a client, he would get results.

He ran a hand through his hair.I better get going.I have to figure out where to take Meri tonight.