“Let’s get the food on the table,” Cash said, breaking the mood.
She put dishes and silverware on the table and they sat down. Cash glanced over at Tosha.
“She looks comfortable.” He nodded toward the sleeping cat.
“Yes, she’s doing what cats do best.”
“She is rather cute,” he admitted. “We always had dogs at home, big ones, much too large to coexist with a cat.”
“You’d be surprised. Friends of ours have a German shepherd and a Siamese cat that sleep together.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Why not? It’s no different than big dogs sleeping with little dogs. Cats and dogs in the same household usually tolerate each other, and if they grow up together they often like each other.”
“If you say so.”
“Oh, Cash, you don’t believe a word I’ve said.”
He had a sheepish grin on his face, and did not reply. “On a more serious note, I’d like you to come on down to San Diego with me next week and meet my mother and sister. It’s my niece’s birthday and I promised I’d be there.”
“Meet your family? That is a serious note.”
“They won’t give you the third degree, if that’s what you’re afraid of. I’m the one they’ll grill. I can just hear my mother, now: ‘It’s about time you decided to settle down. I thought you’d never find the right girl.’”
“Girl?”
“You know how mothers are. I can just hear her: ‘My son and his girl.’”
“And how will you answer her?” she asked.
He kissed her gently, then drew away for a moment. “How do you think I’ll answer? If you don’t know, perhaps this will provide a hint.” His kiss was fiery and fingers of heat spread through her body. He communicated well, she thought as her heart filled with passion and love.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
In the morning Christie’s thoughts were focused on Cash. He was beginning to consume a lot of space in her life, making it difficult to concentrate on anything else. She wasn’t complaining—it was a delightful distraction. Double the pleasure, she thought: Cash in reality, and Cash on her mind. She had thought her life complete until he’d entered it and filled it with his presence.
Meeting his family would be a big step. He had told Christie that it was only right that she meet his mother and sister, since her family had met him. It was endearing to know that there was a smidgen of old-fashioned charm in his character. It also indicated the seriousness of their relationship.
She wondered what his mother and sister were like. The McCulloughs were a close-knit family like hers, and she admired that. Many people she had met over the years had the barest relationship with their families. It was hard for her to understand, because she treasured time with hers.
Cash’s enduring friendship with Margo, Hal, and Elliot, and his dedication to helping his housekeeper’s nephew, also said a lot about his character. She thought about the caring way he had treated her when Tosha was sick. His tough-guy courtroom persona had fallen away and he had consoled her. He didn’t laugh at her for being wrapped up in her pet. He understood her anxiety, and tried to ease it by being there for her. Matt probably would have laughed and told her to lighten up. Looking back at the college romance, she now wondered what she had seen in Matt. Love might be blind, but she had her eyes open this time, and she liked what she saw.
The phone rang. She picked it up quickly, hoping it was Cash.
Her wish was answered. “Hi,” he said. “How about lunch at the Cliff House? I can take about ninety minutes around noon, if that works for you.”
“Definitely works for me. Shall we meet there?”
“No sense in both of us getting frustrated over hunting for a parking space. I’ll pick you up.”
“If you ring me just before you get to my building, I’ll wait downstairs. That way you won’t be stressed twice.”
“Very practical. I’ll see you at noon.”
“Don’t forget to make a reservation,” Christie said into a dead line. But then, Cash knew his way around. She doubted that he would depend on a walk-in at the Cliff House.
After showering she dressed in a pair of tailored beige pants and a white silk blouse. She walked into the kitchen to give Tosha her morning treat. The cat had responded to the antibiotics and her appetite was in full swing again. She padded to her bowl, sat down, and waited expectantly. Christie pulled the tab off a can and scooped a portion of chicken and liver into the dish. Tosha was at it instantly.
Christie took time for another cup of tea. Even though her cat was on the mend, she wasn’t ready to leave her alone for long periods of time.
When she arrived at the office, she was surprised to see a vase of red roses on her desk.
Sharon peered inside the door. “I could hardly wait for you to arrive, Christie. Who are the flowers from?”
“We’ll know in a minute.” Christie lifted the tiny envelope from its perch and slipped the card out. “How sweet.”
“Yes? Don’t keep me in suspense.”
“It’s from Dani Shepherd. She says, ‘Thank you for giving me a new family.’”
“That is sweet. You deserve it; you were a godsend to those people. I don’t think anyone else would have been able to reunite them.”
“Thank you, Sharon.” Christie was slightly embarrassed by the effusive compliment, but appreciated the secretary’s goodwill.
The day certainly was off to a good start, she reflected. Her cat was well, Cash had invited her to lunch, and her desk was adorned with beautiful roses. It couldn’t get much better than that, she thought.
Ten minutes before noon, Cash called to let her know he was on his way. It was a short drive from his office to hers, and when he pulled up in front of the building, she was waiting. He double-parked while Christie hurried off the curb and into his SUV.
“Hi.” He leaned over to give her a quick peck on the cheek.
At the Cliff House, a parking attendant took charge of the SUV. In the restaurant’s narrow foyer, a life-size wood sculpture of a California bear commanded attention. Christie resisted the urge to touch it. They went through and paused on the balcony that overlooked the Sutro Room below. The stairway curved down to the restaurant. She was awed by the windows that rose two stories high, opening up a view of the Pacific all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge. They walked down the curved staircase and were seated at a table next to one of the windows. Below, the surf crashed on a rocky beach, and gulls napped on the sand or winged their way over the water in search of an easy meal.
“This is the first time I’ve been here,” Christie said. “The architecture and the view are astonishing.”
“And the food. You’ll soon add that to your list of astonishing. All kidding aside, the Cliff House is an amazing place. It has quite a history: the original Cliff House was destroyed in a fire. It was rebuilt and over the years it’s gone through many reincarnations.”
“The view is extraordinary.”
A waiter stopped at their table to take their order. He suggested the clam chowder and the special of the day, baked salmon with a mustard-dill sauce. Christie and Cash agreed that the special sounded good. A busboy filled their cups with coffee while they waited for their meal.
“My sister suggested you bunk with her family next weekend,” Cash said. “Patty figures that way Mom can’t ambush you with questions. She means well, but she can be a little overwhelming. It wouldn’t hurt to have a little space between the two of you. If you agree, that is.”
“I’ll take your sister’s advice.” Christie was relieved; she had been concerned about staying with his mother. Since she wasn’t quite sure where her relationship with Cash was headed, she didn’t want to have to dodge personal questions.