“I’m in advertising,” Allie said. “I recently started my own agency, and I’m hoping to land a large account tomorrow. My presentation is close to being done, but it’s not quite there.”
“How exciting. Somehow I’m not surprised that we are both entrepreneurs.”
“With a creative side, too,” Allie added. “I’m not nearly as good as you, but I do a lot of freehand drawing in my line of work, as well as animation.”
“Wow, that’s another thing we have in common. Come on.” Charlotte waved her hand. “Let’s go downstairs and see what else we can learn about each other.”
* * *
WHEN THEY WERE seated in Charlotte’s inviting living room, sipping cold drinks, Charlotte asked, “How was your family brunch?”
Allie rolled her eyes. “Let’s just say I’m glad this weekend is almost over.”
Charlotte laughed. “That bad?”
“You don’t know the half of it. I’m honestly not into the whole wedding and marriage thing, but my mother lives for those occasions.” Does she ever.
“Did you tell her about me?” Charlotte asked.
Allie shook her head. “No. Though I did make sure I was seated next to her so I could casually ask about my adoption, but she kept changing the subject. I can’t help feeling she’s not telling me something.”
“Sounds like it,” Charlotte agreed. Her mouth twisted. “I didn’t have any better luck looking through my mother’s things.”
They talked for quite a while about everything they could think of—their childhoods, their hobbies, their likes and dislikes.
“Oh!” Allie jumped up from her seat when the mantel clock chimed. “It’s five o’clock. I didn’t know it was so late. I better get going.”
“I didn’t, either.” Charlotte got up and walked Allie out to the porch. “Call me tomorrow to let me know how your presentation went.”
Allie nodded. “I will. And I’ll see if I can figure out how we go about getting a DNA test done.”
“The sooner the better.”
Allie waved and got into her car. She watched Charlotte pull a dead leaf from a hanging flowering plant on her porch before going inside her house.
Allie turned on the engine and was about to pull out of her parking spot when she saw Jack crossing the street. He was in khaki shorts and a T-shirt. His hair was damp, as if he’d just showered. She lowered her window.
“Hey,” he said when he got close. He smelled delicious. Fresh and clean.
“Hey,” she replied in like fashion. “You live right there?”
His smile warmed her insides.
“Yep,” he said. “Did you have a good visit with Charlotte?”
“I did.” She smiled back. “I’m on my way home. Work to finish for tomorrow.”
He nodded. “You said you live in Providence? Do you work there, too?”
“I do.” She named the office building where her firm was located.
“That’s about two blocks from my office. We should meet for coffee or lunch tomorrow.”
Before Allie left for home, they made plans to meet for coffee at 2:00 p.m. at a café they both frequented. Allie was surprised she’d never run into him before. Although she probably wouldn’t have given him a second glance since she was off men.
Correction: she definitely would have given him more than a glance or two, but she would have reminded herself about her promise to not engage.
Yet here she was, making plans for a coffee date with Jack.
Go figure.
JACK WAS UP early the next morning after a late night of prep for his ten o’clock meeting. Fighting the morning traffic from Newport to Providence made his trip a few minutes longer than expected, but it gave him more time to anticipate coffee with Allie.
What was it about her that made him feel different than he did about Charlotte? Physically, they were so much alike. Until he heard they were born in different states, he would have sworn they were identical twins. Perhaps they were sisters with the same father, different mother. Or at least cousins. The central question remained: Why was he attracted to one and not the other?
And, man, was he hot for Allie. His body reacted just at the thought of her. He shifted in his seat as much as his seat belt allowed.
His cell phone played a piano riff from the center console, announcing an incoming call. He hit the button on his hands-free device. “Jack Fletcher.”
“Good morning, Jack,” the female caller said. “This is Monica Everly.”
He recognized the deep, gravelly voice of his potential client. “How are you, Ms. Everly?” The fiftysomething woman had started her successful organic and sustainable farm-animal food company a decade ago and was now looking to broaden her scope by introducing organic dog and cat food.
Jack was determined that he would be the one to make her expansion from farms into people’s homes successful.
“What can I do for you?” he asked.
“I’m afraid I’m going to have to postpone our meeting this morning. I’ve got a family emergency.”
“Emergency? I hope it’s nothing too serious.”
“We’ll know soon enough,” Ms. Everly said in her no-nonsense manner. “I’m on my way to the vet with our Daisy. She was up all night with a cough. I hope she didn’t pick up that nasty kennel cough from the groomer’s last weekend.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that. I hope she feels better soon.”
Jack had been introduced to Daisy, a sixty-pound rescue mutt with no manners, when he first met with her owner about moving the company forward into new markets. Ms. Everly claimed their current advertising agency wasn’t taking her future seriously. Daisy had her own space in Ms. Everly’s office, including a bed, water and food bowls and a basket of toys.
“After I know what’s going on with Daisy, we can reschedule your presentation.”
“That sounds like a plan,” Jack said. “I hope all goes well.”
Ms. Everly disconnected in silence.
Jack was beyond disappointed. The firm put all their efforts into securing this account, and they couldn’t afford a delay.
He was close to his office when the piano riff on his cell phone sounded again. He pushed the button to connect. “Jack Fletcher.”
“Jack, my boy, just checking in.” His grandfather sounded more robust than he had on Saturday morning. “Is your presentation up to snuff?”
Jack proceeded to tell him about the meeting being postponed because of the dog.
“The dog?” Granddad practically shouted into the phone. “Damn! We need that account now.”
Nothing Jack hadn’t heard before. His grandfather had been pressuring Jack constantly about luring the client to their firm. His grandfather repeatedly reminded Jack that the fate of the company rested on his shoulders, and Ms. Everly’s business was their best hope.
“Did