LITMIR.BIZ

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in her belly. What could he possibly want? Tia wondered. Maybe he needs me to delay my lunch to finish some work. “What can I do for you?”

      “Where do you think you might go?”

      Oh! She relaxed. He wants me to pick up a meal for him. I can do that. “I haven’t decided. Do you want me to pick up something for you?”

      He chuckled nervously. “No, thank you. Actually, I’d like to come along with you. S’il vous plaît.”

      With me? What is this? Confused, she gazed at the man. “Um. Sure. I guess.”

      Chris brushed blond hair away from his eyes. “I don’t think you understand. I’m always alone. I live in the hotel here and eat here every day. It would be nice to share a meal with a friendly face and get away.”

      He surprised her. But she understood the feeling of being away from friends and family and bored with your own company. “I don’t know where I’m going for lunch, but you’re welcome to tag along.” She nibbled on her bottom lip. “Let me think for a minute. Have you been to any place outside of the RenCen?”

      “Sweet Lorraine’s, Tom’s Oyster Bar, and the Marriott restaurants.” He shrugged. “That’s it.”

      “We won’t go to any of those places.” Tia twisted from side to side in her chair as she considered several eateries for lunch.

      Chris shoved his hands into his pockets. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to get out and see a bit of the city.”

      “No, I don’t mind at all. It makes perfect sense. Oh!” Tia sat up straighter as a spark of an idea surged through her. She waved a finger in the air and said in a confident tone, “I know where we’ll go.”

      He eagerly took a step closer to her desk. “Where?”

      “Traffic Jam. Students around Wayne State call it TJ’s. They have a pretty diverse menu. I’m sure you’ll find something you’ll like. Plus, we’ll take the scenic route so that you can see some of Detroit.” Tia shrugged apologetically. “Some of it’s not so nice.”

      “Merveilleux! But what is TJ’s?”

      “It’s a restaurant on Wayne State University’s campus. After we eat, I’ll take you around the Fisher and the old General Motors buildings so that you can check it out. Plus, it’s a colorful area. It’s part of the cultural center. The Detroit Institute of Arts, the main public library, and the medical center all surround the campus. We’ll do a road trip.” Excited with this adventure, Tia reached for her telephone. “Let me put something on voice mail and call Ruby to let her know that we’re going to lunch. She can cover for me if Adam needs anything while we’re gone. And I’ll leave a message for Adam. I’ll meet you at the elevators in ten minutes.”

      “Merci beaucoup! I appreciate it.” Chris grinned and checked his watch. “See you in ten minutes.”

      “No problem. You’re welcome. This will be fun.”

      Chris slipped into the olive-green-vinyl-covered bench opposite Tia and glanced around the restaurant. “This is TJ’s?”

      Nodding, Tia glanced at the menu offerings. “Pretty much. This is the place. It’s a hangout for the local Wayne State students and a trendy locale for the surrounding businesses.”

      “Nice.” He picked up the paper menu and studied it. “How is their vegetarian lasagna?”

      “Oh! It’s heavenly!” Tia shut her eyes, envisioning the delicious mixture of spinach, three cheeses, and pasta noodles.

      A tall, lean man with silver facial jewelry approached their table. “Welcome to Traffic Jam. I’m Sunshine and I’ll be taking care of you today.” He placed a white beverage napkin in front of each of them. “Can I start you off with something to drink?” Sunshine pointed to a section of the menu listing beers and wines.

      Pursing his lips, Chris gave the question his complete attention while he studied the wine list. “You make your own wines here?”

      Smiling proudly, Sunshine nodded and pointed toward the Second Avenue entrance. “Yes. The brewery is across the street, beyond the parking lot.”

      “Très intéressant.”

      “We do some very flavorful wines and beers. Traffic Jam operates a bakery on site. After your meal, take a moment to check out some of the goodies we sell in the lobby.”

      “We will,” Chris promised.

      “Would you like to try one of our house wines?” asked Sunshine.

      “Yes.” He looked directly at Tia and held her gaze. The intensity of his look flustered her. “I already know exactly what I want.”

      Her heart skipped a beat. There goes that flirting note in Chris’s voice again.

      “I’d like the pinot noir.”

      “Excellent choice, sir.” Sunshine turned to Tia. “And for you, ma’am?”

      “Lemonade.”

      Sunshine scribbled their orders in a small spiral notebook. “I’ll get your beverages while you review our menu.”

      After Sunshine left, Chris said, “Tell me about yourself, Miss Tia Edwards.”

      She shrugged, hiding her surprise. Questions about her were the last thing she expected from him. “I’m an employee of Gautier.”

      “That I already know.” He crossed his arms, placed them on the table, and focused his pale blue eyes on her.

      Her heart thumped erratically in her chest. She found herself fidgeting nervously with her beverage napkin.

      “But there’s more to you than work. What about your family? Are you married? Do you have children?”

      “Goodness no! I’m single. No kids.”

      “Boyfriend?”

      A twinge of apprehension slithered down her spine, but she answered the question anyway. This was none of his business. “Yes. Darnell.”

      “Lucky man.” Chris’s eyebrows rose suggestively. “Really. Does he work for Gautier?”

      Tia shifted uncomfortably. These personal questions were unexpected and made her feel awkward. “No. He’s an insurance agent for Buckhouser Life.”

      “Sounds like fun.”

      Tia shrugged. “I don’t know. Darnell seems to enjoy it.”

      “Interesting.”

      She decided to turn the tables and ask a few questions of her own. “What about you? You came from France. Moving to Michigan had to be a major life change. Do you have a wife, children, or a special someone who’s waiting for you to come home?”

      He shook his head. “No wife. My friend and I split before I left home. She didn’t like the traveling part of this job.”

      “I’m sorry.” Instantly, Tia’s heart went into sympathy mode. Without thinking, she reached across the table and squeezed his hand reassuringly. A muscle leaped to life under her fingertips as he held on to her hand for a second longer than necessary.

      “Some things are meant to end. Patrice and I were one of them.”

      “Do you have children?”

      “No. Not yet. But I want a big family. I believe it’s my turn. Are you from the Detroit area?”

      Tia nodded. “Yes. Born and raised here.”

      “What about your family?” Chris asked.

      Sunshine returned with their drinks, placed the glasses in front of them, and then took their food orders. He added a small basket of bread before making a quiet retreat.

      “I come from a medium-sized

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