Not Quite Perfect (Not Quite Series Book 5) by Catherine Bybee Page B

I specialize in.”
    “Congratulations on your new position then.”
    He lifted up his glass of water and she followed his lead. “And to new friends.”
    Mary went ahead and lowered her glass and extended her hand. “Mary Kildare.”
    “Kent Duvall.” He held her hand a fraction too long.
    Instead of it upsetting her, she looked a little closer and saw the lift in his eyes. The one that said he liked what he saw.
    How had that happened? She hadn’t been so much as glanced toward in months, now she had a date with Glen before the week ran out and Mr. Duvall was giving her the eye.
    Carla arrived with two Reubens, giving them both something to do other than talk.
    “That is one thick sandwich.”
    It took both hands to pick it up, and still pickled cabbage managed to drip onto her plate. “Enjoy.”
    It was salty, fatty, and sinful, but oh so good. Mary enjoyed her first bite and watched Kent as he took his. He smiled as the flavors hit his tongue.
    “That’s amazing,” he said once he swallowed.
    Mary acknowledged with a hum and went in for bite number two.
    Kent quizzed her on other places close by to catch lunch and asked where happy hour took place when the mood struck.
    She offered lunch suggestions but explained that she didn’t do happy hour close by and he’d have to ask his office staff for that connection.
    By the time she’d made it through half of her sandwich, Carla had already dropped off a small box for the other half along with the bill. As often as she tried, getting through the whole meal proved impossible. Besides, lunch the next day or dinner that night was instant.
    Her phone buzzed in her purse as she finished boxing her lunch.
    It was Dakota with a text. I’m leaving the hospital by three.
    Do you need anything?
    Xanax for my mother. She’s already driving me crazy.
    Mary grinned. You’ll have to ask your husband for that prescription.
    The symbol of a heart and the letter U appeared, which Mary sent back before tossing her phone back in her purse. She set the money on the counter for her lunch, the same amount she always did, and twisted out of her chair.
    Kent seemed disappointed she was leaving. “It was a pleasure to meet you,” she told him.
    He wiped his face. “Maybe I’ll see you here again?”
    She felt the need to move quickly . . . like if she didn’t, this stranger, who wasn’t hard to look at and hadn’t given her one red flag during their brief conversation, was going to ask for her number . . . or something . . . if she didn’t run away. On any other day, or week, she might linger and see where things went, but since Glen had just asked her out, her insides twisted with the thought of juggling two men.
    “I am a regular,” she reminded him.
    His eyes did that connecting thing again. “I’ll look forward to it.”
    She was blushing. Felt the heat in her cheeks and tried her best to stop it. “Have a nice day.”
    “Good-bye, Mary.”
    She shuffled a little too quickly and felt his eyes follow her as she walked out of the deli.

Chapter Seven

    Glen sat in a meeting with all the senior brokers for Fairchild Charters. Because he’d called a meeting, the men wore suits and ties, where on most days they’d feel free working in more casual attire.
    “As you all know, our bookings are down from last year.”
    “Damn recession.” Chris was his number two when it came to sales. The man had been with the company for close to fifteen years and had lost most of the hair on his head to prove it. He’d been on the team longer than Glen had held the position of CFO.
    “Even our regulars are holding back on their flights this year,” Scott said.
    Glen leaned forward on his elbows. “Last year we offered the two-thousand-dollar recession coupon and our flights increased by eight percent over the holidays.”
    “Are you suggesting another coupon?”
    Glen shook his head. “I think we need new promotions.”
    The half a dozen men sitting at the table stared