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“To be honest, I’ve wanted to expand the menu for some time. But without money to hire a couple of full-time employees, not to mention all the food and supplies I’d need, I knew it was just a pipedream.” She lowered her gaze. “As you well know, I’ve barely been able to keep the doors open.”
    He reached across the table and grasped her hand. “You’ll never have to worry about that again, I promise you. I plan to make sure Coffee To Chai For becomes a thriving success. And without you having to work your fingers to the bone seven days a week.”
    Her expression grew defensive. “I don’t mind hard work. It builds character.”
    “Sweetheart, you have more character than anyone I know,” he teased, wondering if it’d been her parents who’d drummed that into her head. “Come on, admit it. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to sleep in once in awhile? To not have to worry about who’s going to make the coffee or do the baking?”
    She gave a reluctant nod. “I’d be lying if I said no. But let’s face it, that day is still a long way off.”
    “Turn up the volume!” someone shouted before Matt could respond. His gaze was drawn to the TV mounted above the bar. Looked like some sort of news conference was about to start. He was momentarily distracted when Carrie slipped her hand from his.
    “As reported this morning, Jacob Spalding Sr., CEO of Spalding Industries, the largest family-owned business in the United States, was admitted into Cedars-Sinai Hospital late Sunday evening with severe chest pains. His family released this short statement today: ‘Mr. Spalding is getting the best care possible and is expected to make a full recovery.’
    “The Spalding family made headlines early last fall when son and future CEO, Jacob Spalding Jr., who hasn’t been seen publicly in over six months, was arrested in connection with the murder of actress Amanda Ames. He was cleared of all charges after a DNA test proved him innocent. In local news...”
    Matt continued to stare at the TV even though he didn’t hear another word the anchorman said. Shock warred with concern for his father—concern won. He pulled his cell phone from his shirt pocket and pushed his chair back. “I just remembered something I need to tell Mary. I’ll be right back.”

 
    Chapter Four
     
    Carrie watched Matt leave with mixed feelings. Maybe taking him on as her partner wasn’t as smart a move as she’d thought. When the man wasn’t insulting her friends and acting the fool, he was running outside to make secretive calls. Really, what top-secret library news couldn’t be talked about in front of her? Nino’s didn’t have a “no cell phone” policy.
    Another problem was her growing attraction to him. Matt Jacobs was the first man to make her feel anything since the day she’d kicked her ex out of the house. Not that she’d intended to live celibate forever. It’s just sex without love wasn’t a choice she’d have made—until now. Damn his sexy hide, Matt had her thinking all sorts of naughty thoughts, which only fueled her annoyance.
    The restaurant door opened, and Matt walked back in. He returned to the table and greeted her with a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. Matt Jacobs, man of mystery. Oh, well, everyone had a few secrets, right? And really, unless whatever he was hiding interfered with her business, his personal life was certainly none of hers.
    She’d just had to remind herself of that daily.
    “Sorry about that. Mary’s doing inventory tonight, and I forgot to tell her where I’d left off.”
    He was lying through his teeth, no doubt about it. Carrie forced a smile. “No problem. And you’re just in time, here comes the food.”
    They ate in silence until the waiter arrived with dessert—Nino’s famous chocolate chip cannolis. Unbidden, a mental image of all the gorgeous skinny women in her life popped into her mind, and her confidence plummeted. She pushed the dessert plate