“Have I ever said I’m going to marry James?”
“No.”
“James and I are simply friends. I don’t know yet whom I’ll marry.” She waved a hand in the air. “Any number of men would love to marry me. I’m sure you have the same problem with women.”
“I’ve got ’em lined up down the block,” he said, playing along. “Begging, pleading with me, ‘Sal marry me, please marry me.’”
Sara smiled at the blatant overdramatization, even while her thoughts lingered on his words. “Sal? It that your real name?”
Crow straightened. He hesitated as if weighing his options before answering. “Yeah, but nobody really calls me that anymore.”
“Sal.” She rolled the name around on her tongue and found it to her liking. “Can I call you that?”
He shrugged. “If you want to.”
“Does Raven call you Sal?” She wondered why she even bothered to ask when she already had a good idea what his answer would be.
“Usually,” he said. “Anyway, what does it matter what she calls me?”
But it did. Sara didn’t care about dozens of women; she only cared about one. The one who seemed to know him so well, who’d called him Sal before Sara even knew that was his name.
Raven.
The one with the inside track to his heart.
Chapter Eleven
Sara rose early the next morning, her conversation with Crow still on her mind. The fact she’d just learned his real name only underscored how little she knew about the man.
Today she’d remedy that oversight. He’d asked for the day off. She’d decided to spend it with him.
It could be a battle, but Sara had come prepared. She’d left her hair down in loose waves and worn the simple wrap dress that he’d admired soon after he started working for her. Even her makeup had gotten extra attention this morning. Though she’d never been really big on resorting to feminine wiles, Crow was a tough opponent, and difficult times called for sacrifices.
Like being up and ready to go at 6:00 a.m.
Sara knew from past experience that Crow didn’t usually leave the house before seven, but she wasn’t taking any chances.
The coffeepot beeped and Sara forced herself from her chair. Hopefully the extra strong brew would jump-start her morning. She poured herself a mugful, added a couple of sugar cubes and returned to the table to read the paper.
By the time Crow sauntered into the kitchen, looking incredibly handsome in a pair of black running pants and a T-shirt, Sara had drank three cups and was finally wide awake.
He stopped in the doorway. His gaze shifted to the clock. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothing.” Sara took a deep breath. She’d decided to use the direct approach. “I thought we’d spend the day together.” Sara took a sip of coffee and peered at him over the rim of her cup. “Won’t that be fun?”
“It could be, but it’s not going to happen.” Crow took the seat at the table opposite her. “My day’s booked solid. I’ve got a bunch of errands—”
“Perfect,” Sara interrupted. “I love to run errands. I can keep you company.”
“Why?” he asked bluntly.
“Because I want to spend time with you.”
“We’re together all the time.” He looked at her as if she’d gone utterly mad. “I’m your bodyguard. My job is to be with you. Remember?”
“Oh, that—” Sara waved a dismissive hand “—that doesn’t count. That’s work.”
“And what will this be?”
From his stony expression, Sara had to admit that her plan was off to a rocky start. Impulsively she reached across the table and grabbed his hand. Surprisingly he didn’t pull away.
Emboldened, she rubbed her fingers lightly across the top of his hand. “It’ll be fun. C’mon, Crow. Be my friend. Let me come along. Please.”
He stared for a long moment. Finally, just when she’d about given up hope, his expression softened. “Okay, you can come. But it’ll be boring, not fun. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“It’ll be great.” Sara flashed him her brightest smile. “Just you wait and see.”
It had been a good day so far, Crow conceded. All morning he and Sara had run errands and now it was time for lunch.
He’d planned to stop by and see if his mother was free, but that would have to wait for another day. No way was he introducing Sara to his mother. In two seconds flat, Sara would know his life history. His mother never had learned how to keep her mouth shut. And his sister was cut from the same cloth. Thankfully, Sara wouldn’t be crossing paths with either of them anytime soon.
“How ’bout we grab sandwiches at the deli and head over to the zoo for a couple of hours?” Sara said with a hopeful smile.
Crow groaned to himself. His first impulse was to shoot down the idea. But she had been such a good sport all morning. And she did look incredibly lovely with her hair shining like spun gold and that dress showing off her curves to full advantage.
“I haven’t been to the zoo in years,” he said. “When I was a kid it was one of my favorite places.”
“My mom and I used to go there.” She paused for a moment, remembering. “We’d always eat in the Safari Café.”
“I’ve got an idea,” Crow said. “If we’re going to the zoo anyway, why don’t we eat there? You can relive those good old days.”
Good old days.
Sara had never thought in those terms of the years she’d lived with her mother. But for the first time she realized that they hadn’t been all bad.
Her mother may not have been the best at holding on to money or judging men, but in her own way, she’d tried to make it work. She certainly didn’t deserve what she’d gotten.
“Sara? What’s wrong?” Crow’s voice was low and gentle. “If you want to talk about it…”
She blinked several times. Talk about it? Never. Sara shook her head and forced a smile. “I’m sorry. I guess my mind just wandered. Eating at the zoo sounds like great fun. I’m ready whenever you are.”
Crow glanced at his watch as the clerk in the zoo gift shop ran up his purchase. He had less than an hour to get to the rec center.
“What did you buy?” Sara had ambled over from the other side of the store and now stood gazing curiously at the sack.
“Something for you.” A Raja sweatshirt might be a rather unconventional gift, but he hoped she’d like it. After all, she’d loved the Asian elephant exhibit and had told him that Raja was her favorite.
“But I didn’t buy you a gift.”
“Your presence today was my gift,” he said.
Sara grinned. “As if I’d believe such a corny line.”
“Okay, if you want to get me something, how ’bout a new Corvette,” he said promptly with a wicked grin.
Sara laughed out loud, and it only seemed natural to take her hand as they walked to the car.
Today had made him remember what it was like to be part of mainstream America. How enjoyable it was to walk on a sunny day with a beautiful woman at his side.