So Right With You Read Online Free PDF Page B

allowing her to relax.
    *~*
    Chloe could not remember when she had tasted food this flavorful. She had been so hungry. Now, she was completely satiated. Garrett had allowed her to eat without the pressure of conversation.
    “Do you have room for dessert and coffee?” he asked.
    “Are you serious? I’ll need to be rolled out of here. Thank you. That was one of the best meals I have ever had. It’s so nice here. I can see why you like the place.”
    “Yes. Ernie and I go way back. I use to work here as a dishwasher in high school and partway through college.” He signaled the waitress to bring the check and pulled out his credit card to give her.
    “Really?” she asked, surprised.
    “Yes. I needed money to pay for college. Ernie gave me my first job. After I started my own business, I helped him invest some of his money. He has done quite well and we’ve remained friends over the years.”
    “Hmmm. I thought…” She paused. “Never mind.” She looked at him thoughtfully. It made her smile to think of him as a teenager working here beside Ernie.
    “What?” He smiled knowingly. “You thought I came from money. That I was an Ivy-League brat. Ha, admit it!” He laughed.
    “Well. Yeah.”
    “Nope, I’m just a computer geek who got lucky.”
    “You may have just gotten lucky, but I also know you’ve worked for everything you have.” She looked directly into his eyes.
    “If you say so,” he said dismissively, signing the receipt. “Are you ready to go?”
    She set aside her napkin. “Sure.”
    *~*
    Back in the SUV, Chloe was looking out the window, observing the high-rises they were passing when she noticed Garrett had missed the turn leading back to the office.
    “The office is back that way.”
    “I know. We have a couple of stops to make first.”
    “What kind of stops?” she asked, suspicious.
    “You’ll find out when we get there.”
    After traveling for a few more minutes, he drove into a quaint part of town with brick buildings that had brightly painted doors and streets paved with brick instead of asphalt. Each building had colorful awnings and actual flowers growing in planters suspended from the windowsills. In front of some of the shops were bistro tables, adding to the country charm. The street offered a variety of boutiques, shops, and restaurants as an oasis for those looking to get away from the busier part of downtown Houston.
    Garrett exited the vehicle and came around to open her door.
    “What are we doing here?” she asked.
    “Don’t start to argue with me. I figured you might like to pick up a few items until we can collect the rest of your things. Unless you’re terribly fond of that dress.”
    “I don’t have a lot of money.” She looked at her surroundings. Unless looks were deceiving, the stores were expensive. “Couldn’t we go to the mall?”
    “Come on. We’re already here. If you don’t like it, we’ll go to the mall. You can pay me back later. Besides, Monique’s is very reasonable.”
    Chloe looked at him doubtfully.
    “I could loan you some of my things, but I’d doubt they’d fit,” he said jokingly.
    She did need a few things to tide her over. The movers were not available until Thursday. That was two days away. She didn’t want to go back before then. She only wished she had packed before she had left.
    “Okay, but I’ll pay you back as soon as I get paid.”
    “Sure.”
    Chloe stood nearby while Garrett inserted quarters for the timed parking meter. When he felt he had inserted a sufficient number of coins, he led her to a shop with yellow awnings and a bright blue door. In cursive writing above the door was the name “Monique’s Boutique.”
    The inside of Monique’s was exquisite. It had a French Baroque motif with warm, peach-colored walls, carved scrolling on the dressing room doors, a large crystal chandelier in the center of the room, and a floral settee with accent chairs in coordinating stripes and paisleys to complete the look. The