Free Unexpected Encounter (Singleton) by Taige Crenshaw Page A

to pitch her budget to get more funding to hire some new people.
    Her thoughts turned to Driscoll as they usually did and she smiled. Over the last few weeks, she’d spent as much time as she could with him. They had done many activities and she’d kept going by after work for dinner as she had from the beginning. They’d also called, texted and emailed each other often throughout each day, but it was dinner time when she saw him that she couldn’t wait for, so she could be with him. Her smile slowly faded. This week they had communicated, but she hadn’t seen him at all—she’d had to miss going by to dinner at his house. Today she’d been tempted but being as tired as she was, she wouldn’t be good company.
    “Tomorrow I’ll see him. Thank God, I have the day off and with some of the staff back, I hopefully won’t be called in.” Lila rubbed her hand over her face. “And I really need to stop talking to myself. I need company that can talk back to me.”
    The sound of the doorbell made her jump. Frowning, she turned, not sure who it could be. She checked the peephole and her heart raced as she opened the door.
    “Driscoll,” she said.
    “Hey.” He stepped close, holding a bag. Driscoll brushed his finger over the side of her cheek. “You look tired.”
    “Hmmm…” She turned into his touch.
    “I won’t stay long, I just wanted to see you.” He kissed her softly.
    Lila leaned against him and enjoyed the kiss. He pulled back and held out the bag.
    “Brought you something to eat since I figured you wouldn’t be in the mood to cook. It was for both of us but seeing you so tired, I decided to not stay.”
    “How’d you know I was home?” She ignored what he held out and grabbed his arm. “Come in.”
    “I give good bribe.” He wiggled his eyebrows.
    She looked at him. “You might want to rephrase that.”
    “Why? I do give good bribe.” He winked. “I asked your assistant to let me know when you left work today. So she did. I really need to meet her, she sounds like quite a character on the phone.”
    “She is that. She never said a word to me.” Lila tugged again. “Why are you still standing outside?”
    “I told her not to. I don’t want to keep you from getting rest,” Driscoll protested.
    “Let me just take a quick shower,” she said yanking him in then closing the door. “I want you here. Stay.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” Driscoll smiled. “I’ll get your dinner ready.”
    “Okay.” Lila headed to the stairs but turned and dragged him to her. She kissed him deeply before moving away. “Don’t leave.”
    “I won’t.” He went toward the kitchen.
    Driscoll had been at her place often enough that he knew his way around and she didn’t have to show him where things were. She hurried up the stairs, her tiredness ebbing at him being there. As promised, she cleaned up quickly then went back down the steps. Hearing the television in the living room, she went that way. In the doorway she paused, taking in Driscoll sitting on her couch.
    “Planning detainment is always better with strawberry and coconut.” Lila read his shirt, chuckling. “Do I even want to know what that means?”
    “Maybe.” He patted the seat beside him.
    She went over and sat. Driscoll handed her a plate of food then picked up his. Lila lifted a fork and scooped up some mashed potatoes. Driscoll started eating his own meal.
    “It was when Morgan was acting like an ass with Bella.” Driscoll told her about their plan to detain Morgan to get some sense into him and the other details of how strawberry and coconut had come into play.
    “Call it what you like, it is still kidnapping.” Lila licked her lips taking in the sauce from the meatloaf.
    “Only if he didn’t want to be taken.” Driscoll shrugged. “We figured after Bella finished yelling at him, she’d convince him he wanted to be there.”
    “You all are good friends to be willing to risk jail for her.” Lila reached for the iced tea he had