Page 11 of Chasing the Dream

Her eyebrows rose at the abrupt change of subject. “Not all of it. Why?”

“I noticed that you’re wearing a skirt, but the dress code is business casual.”

He’d kept his eyes on the road, but she saw his hands tighten on the steering wheel. “Are you saying that I’m overdressed?”

“No. You look…fine. It’s just that you don’t have to dress like that if you don’t want to.”

She eyed him curiously, wondering why it mattered what she wore. “I guess it’s just habit. I dressed like this at my previous job.”

“Oh. Well, as long as you’re comfortable…”

“I am. Thank you.”

“Did you eat breakfast this morning?”

“Why? Is that in the employee manual too?”

He glanced over at her. “I was just going to ask if you wanted to stop for coffee and bagels.”

“Oh. Sure, as long as that won’t make us late.”

“Technically, the office doesn’t open until eight.”

“I guess I need to review the manual, huh?”

He chuckled as he pulled into the parking lot of a bagel shop. “We’ll get it to go.”

“You’re the boss,” she mumbled, but she was pretty sure he heard it.

They went inside, and when it was their turn at the counter, an attractive young woman said, “Gabe, right?”

“You remembered.” He rewarded her with a big smile.

That’s supposed to be my smile.

“What can I get for you?”

The woman was obviously enamored with him, and she hadn’t spared Morgan a glance.

“I’ll take the usual, and she’ll have…”

“A cheddar cheese bagel and a large black coffee,” Morgan provided. “On a separate bill, please.”

“Just put it on mine,” he said pointedly.

When the clerk went off to prepare their order, Morgan pulled out her wallet and took out a five-dollar bill. “I want to pay my share.”

“I’ve got it.”

They glared at each other for a few beats, and then she stuffed the money back in her purse with a huff.

“Were you always this stubborn?” she asked, hands on her hips.

“Were you?”

The clerk returned with their items and glanced at Gabe’s left hand when he gave her the money.

Morgan had forgotten he was left-handed, but she suspected the woman was more interested in if he was wearing a ring.