Without Bloom forcing her into a gilded dress, Esther looked more modest and demure when Sullivan picked her up for lunch. She wore a plain blue top and fitted jeans. Her hair was tied up in a ponytail. Still, Sullivan's heart quivered when he saw her. Simple as she was dressed, there was a beguiling air about her.
She didn't meet his eyes when she entered the car; her lips were pressed in a thin line, and she kept looking at her phone.
Sullivan couldn't help but ask, "Are you expecting a call?"
She looked up at him as if she hadn't noticed his presence. "Er, yes. My friend said she had something to discuss with me."
Sullivan nodded and returned to the file in his hand. But he wasn't reading the reports; rather, he stared at the back of her head. She had occupied the front seat, which was strange. Was she still uncomfortable around him? He assumed their midnight snack had drawn them a little closer; it seemed he was mistaken.
