Free Having Faith by Abbie Zanders Page B

tiny receiver tucked around her right ear.  “Yes, sir.”  Pressing another button, Phoebe looked up at them and grinned again.  “Mr. Callaghan will be down shortly.  Paul will take you down to the café.”
    Paul stepped forward.  Like Phoebe, he wore a black BodyWorks polo embroidered with his name, but instead of shorts, he sported thin men’s workout pants. 
    “Hi.”  Every bit as attractive and fit as Phoebe, his grin was equally devastating.  He gave Faith a knowing grin.  “First time?”
    She nodded.  Paul laughed easily.  “I know.  A bit overwhelming, right?  Don’t worry.  You get used to it.” 
    “Oh, we’re just here for the demo,” Faith told him, expecting Paul’s friendly façade to fade once he realized they would not be the source of his next commission, but he remained as pleasant as ever, leading them over to the café.  The subtly lit board boasted the Celtic Goddess name, along with a dizzying assortment of organic, healthy fare choices.
    “What can I get for you?” he asked expectantly.
    “Oh, uh, nothing, thanks,” Faith stammered.  There were no prices listed, and she heard her mother’s voice echoing in her mind:  If you have to ask how much it is, you can’t afford it.
    Working for the Goddess as she did, Faith knew that even the smallest item was out of her price range; she could only imagine how expensive some of those exotic (but delicious) sounding smoothies were, let alone the healthy cuisine that smelled so heavenly.  There was a reason the Celtic Goddess was as wildly successful as it was.  As well as being out-of-this-world good, it was well-known for being completely organic.  Whoever ran this place was smart to incorporate it into the overall package.
    “Are you sure?” Paul asked, his smile slipping a bit.  “It’s on the house.”
    Matt looked hopefully at Faith, but she shook her head slightly.  She had no intention of abusing Kieran’s generosity any more than they already had.  “Thank you, but we’re sure.”
    Paul frowned, looking uncomfortable.  Faith didn’t understand why until Kieran appeared a few moments later.  She caught her breath.  He looked amazing in his BodyWorks outfit, the form-fitting black showcasing his magnificent physique and making his incredible blue eyes stand out even more than usual.
    Kieran was all smiles as he greeted them, but less so when he turned to Paul.  “You didn’t get them something?”
    Color rose upward from Paul’s collar as he shook his head.  “He offered, several times,” Faith said quickly, not wanting to get Paul into trouble.  “But we had something just before we came.”  Paul shot her a grateful glance.
    “Wow, Kieran.  This place is awesome,” Matt said.
    Kieran’s easy grin returned.  “Glad you like it.”  
    “Are you like a manager or something?” Matt asked, his voice full of hero worship.
    “Or something,” Kieran chuckled.  Faith didn’t fail to notice the hint of a smirk on Paul’s face.  She thought back to the woman at the reception desk, at the way everyone referred to him as “Mr. Callaghan” and the obvious air of respect they had for him.  Her knees nearly buckled at the obvious answer.  He didn’t just work here.  He owned the place.
    “Come on, I’ll give you a tour before the demo starts.” 
    When Faith hung back, assuming he was talking to Matt, Kieran reached out for her hand with a half-grin.  It did nothing for her sudden lack of muscle control from the waist down.  “You, too, Faith.”
    Kieran’s much larger hand swallowed hers.  The immediate jolt that raced through her system left her heart thudding in her chest.  She glanced up at Kieran.  His eyes widened as if he had felt it too, and then met hers.  For a brief moment she saw his surprise.  Faith tugged her hand back quickly, offering a quick apology.
    “I’m so sorry,” she said awkwardly, rubbing the palm of her still-tingling hand on her soft cotton