The diner is relatively quiet by the time I arrive at seven. It looks like the last of the dinner rush is clearing out as I walk through the door. I find Adam exactly where he’d said he’d be.
He stands up when I approach the table and I’m taken back by his manners. I wouldn’t have thought many thieves stood when an Omegawalked into the room. Well, I assumed that. I don’t know many criminals or burglars for that matter.
I get a good look at him and Adam is even more stunningly handsome when he’s not wearing an ill-fitting janitor’s uniform.
His hair is brushed back but that one curl is still touching his forehead. I want to push it back into place for him so badly. He’s wearing a tight black t-shirt, dark jeans, and black leather motorcycle boots. Dang, he’s sexy.
“It’s good to see you again, Abel,” he says and extends a hand out for me to shake.
It feels like electricity passing between our palms when we touch and that makes a blush color my cheeks. I’ve never reacted to a man like this before. Sure, I’ve only ever had a few boyfriends, but none of them ever revved my engine the way Adam did right then.
“I’ll decide if it’s good to see you again after you tell me what we came here to discuss,” I say wickedly.
Oh, geez. I actually flirted with him. What the heck is wrong with me?
“Haha. Okay, Dumpling. Challenge accepted,” Adam says and sits down at the booth. “Have you eaten yet?” he asks before I can respond to him calling me Dumpling.
“No, I haven’t had dinner yet.”
“Good. This place has the best butter pecan pancakes. I recommend getting them with a side of bacon and sausage,” he says and his eyes light up like a kid at Christmas.
“Oh my God, Adam. Meat is murder,” I say, completely seriously.
His shoulders fall and I have to stifle my laugh. “Really? Are you vegan?”
“I’m just messing with you. That sounds delicious.”
He laughs out loud and playfully swats me on the arm with his menu.
I can’t believe I’m flirting and bantering with the man I caught breaking into my boss’s office last night. I’ve never acted like this in my life.
The waitress comes and we order our breakfast for dinner. I really don’t want to ruin the mood but I need some information. Flirting with a gorgeous man is fun, but my career could be on the line here.
“So tell me what you know about Tom,” I say as directly as I can manage.
“Right to the point. Okay,” Adam says as he cracks his knuckles and stretches his arms.
“It’s not that I’m not enjoying our conversation, Adam. But I did come here so you could tell me about Tom.” Why did I say I’m enjoying his company?
It’s easy to forget the bad when I’m with Adam. That much is certain. Either feeling that way around someone could be life changing right, or it could be devastating.
Everything in me should be telling me that, with Adam, it would be devastating, but I feel the exact opposite. I want to trust him and it’s almost as if my body is telling me I can. His hand is on the table, and Adam is gently tapping his fingers as he looks at me. I want to move my hand the fraction of an inch it would take to touch his fingers with mine. I’m craving the slightest contact with him.
“Your boss is not a good man.” His smooth voice breaks me out of my thoughts.
“He’s not the nicest man I’ve ever met but his business seems to be on the up and up. I haven’t seen any signs of him doing anything illegal,” I say confidently, but I don’t feel that confidence inside.
“That’s because you weren’t looking.” He’s right, but I feel defensive. Before I can come up with a retort, the waitress brings our food.
“Can I get you the two anything else right now?” she asks as she places the plate of pancakes and breakfast meat in front of me. It smells like heaven.
“Another diet soda for me, please,” I say, looking at my mostly empty glass.
“I’m good, ma’am. Thank you,” Adam says cheerfully.
He has such impeccable manners for a criminal. It amazes me how polite he is in contrast with some of the rich and supposedly sophisticated people I know from work. They were allegedly raised well but they’re bossy and demanding. I rarely ever hear Tom say thank you for anything.
The waitress brings my soda back and we dig in. Adam was right about the butter pecan pancakes. Every bite is like a carnival ride for my taste buds. He laughs twice when I let out an audible groan of pleasure after taking a bite. The salty, fatty bacon and sausage offset the sweetness of the pancakes perfectly. I’m going to have to go out to dinner with Adam more often. But I can’t do that. Can I?
“Your boss is going to sell valuable information about his investments to the highest bidder. Those bidders aren’t other investment bankers, Abel. They are criminals. I need evidence of this or lots of decent people are going to lose their life savings. The authorities have tried to bring him down but Tom is too rich, powerful, and protected. He’s practically untouchable, but I’m determined.” Some of the earlier sincerity is gone from his voice but my gut tells me not to call him on it. Yet.
He has a good reason to lie—my inner voice tells me. I can feel it, and I want to hear more.
“If you’re not law enforcement, why do you want to bring him down? How do you know about this, and why do you care about a bunch of strangers’ money?” I don’t know how to be anything but direct at this point.
“I represent another interested party. Someone who wants to see this information fall into the right hands.” Somehow, I can read Adam well, and this is total bullshit. He’s not even trying to hide the fact he’s deceiving me. Something else is going on here, and now I have to know. I just hope at some point Adam feels like he can trust me with the truth.
I take the last few bites of my food without saying anything. Adam’s watching me expectantly, but I’m trying to play it cool. If I don’t act like this is the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to me, maybe I can maintain some semblance of a power balance in this partnership.
“I’ll help you,” I say and try not to smile. I fail.
“You will?” Adam asks with as much excitement as I feel. I also sense something else emanating from him. I think it’s relief. He’s carrying a huge burden right now and it has nothing and everything to do with the money. “Thank you so much for your discretion and understanding, Abel. You have no idea what it means to me.” How am I this connected to him already?
“I hope that someday you’ll tell me.” He picks up on my meaning, but before he can speak, his eyes flick to the other side of the restaurant.
“I have to go now, Abel. Some of my associates are here. I’ll contact you soon.” Something about the way he said associates makes the hair on the back of my neck stands up.
I turn and see two enormous men standing just inside the diner’s entrance staring at Adam. He walks to them quickly, and they follow very closely behind him as he exits the restaurant.
“That was odd,” I whisper to myself. I guess it’s not really that strange, considering everything.
“Stiffed you with the check, huh,” the waitress’s cheerful voice booms.
“It’s okay. I don’t mind.” He did totally stiff me with the check, though.
Oh well, Adam can owe me one.