Grounded

female with a broken heel, trying to get herself together and out of the way before she was trampled.
    Flustered and frustrated, she’d been a vision that he wanted to get to know better, so he’d picked up some of the things that’d spilled from the box she was carrying, and instead of putting everything back in the carton, he’d slipped a couple of envelopes with her name and address on them into his jacket pocket. It would get him another meeting with her, he knew, and it had. He was extremely pleased with himself for having figured it out on his own, not having used a single bit of the magic that was always at his disposable. Of course, he rarely had to use magic in the human realm. Mortals really were quite a naïve lot.
    Quietly dressing so as not to wake his three sleeping companions, he left an envelope with three thousand dollars on the dresser and a little note thanking them for the terrific weekend. Whether they’d be offended by the implication of the money, he didn’t know, and he didn’t really care. Money was the universal common denominator. Even if they voiced faux indignity over the cash to one another, they’d take it and be secretly thrilled by such a gift.
    ~ * ~
    Twenty minutes later, Dion opened the door to his office. He kept a suite in one of the most prestigious office complexes in town, and even though he didn’t need to, he actually did business as a security consultant. He had seventeen employees who were at the top of their field and the business did very well. Well enough that he also employed three accountants and a former IRS man who did his taxes. Dion grinned. Yeah, he even paid taxes!
    "Ms. Reed," he said cheerfully, "how are you this morning?"
    "Wonderful, Mr. Vine. How was your weekend?"
    "Same as usual." He grinned and went into his private office.
    Still thinking about Patty James, Dion looked out the window that filled the wall behind his desk. The city lay before him, the river and mountains in the distance. What was it about the girl that captivated him? She was nervous to a fault, very naïve—she’d allowed a complete stranger into her home—and she seemed unable to carry on a decent conversation. Much shorter than his six-foot-four-inches, with hair the color of honey, eyes that weren’t exactly green, but not exactly gray either, she was not even close to being his type. He liked the long-legged, model types… the ones who were short on conversation because they had better things to do with their mouths.
    Yet, there was something intriguing about Patty, som ething that drew him to her. He couldn’t quite put a name to it, what it was about her that called to him, but he was going to find out.
    Shortly after nine, Dion’s intercom buzzed. "Yes," he said smiling. He already knew what the call was about.
    "There is a Ms. James to see you, Mr. Vine. And she doesn’t have an appointment," his secretary added.
    "That’s quite all right, Ms. Reed. Send her in." He clicked off and stood as the door opened and Ms. Reed ushered Patty inside. Dion caught the look on her face as she gave Patty the once-over. "Thank you, Ms. Reed. Please bring coffee and beignets, and then I don’t want to be disturbed for any reason."
    Ms. Reed nodded curtly and shut the door.
    Patty stood just inside the door, looking extremely nervous.
    "Good morning, Ms. James. How are you?" He offered his hand.
    "I’m fine," she replied, taking his hand. The same feeling of an electrical current raced up her arm and Patty felt her knees begin to shake . I’m going to carry on a decen t conversation an d no t act like an idiot today , she told herself. "How are you Mr. Vine?"
    Dion Vine. D. Vine . Patty almost laughed out loud as the thought crossed her mind, and
    she wondered if he realized it, too. "Please call me Patty."
    "And you can call me Dion. I think we are past the formality stage, anyway," he said with a chuckle.
    "Yes," she agreed, smiling. "I think we are."
    "Please, sit down," he offered.
    "Thank you." She took a seat in a comfortable, oversized chair just as Ms. Reed returned with the coffee and pastries. Everything smelled wonderful and Patty’s stomach growled loudly. She blushed. "I’m sorry."
    Ms. Reed frowned but said nothing as she left the room.
    "No need to apologize," Dion assured her. "Help yourself to a beignet while I pour the coffee."
    "Thank you," she said and reached for the plate of scrumptious-looking pastries. Patty almost hadn’t come downtown this