A Toy for Christmas

by Mary Jane Forbes

  “What year? Make?” Tavis said.

  “A vintage Chevy,” Blaise said. “Green except for large patches of white where she was being sanded for a paint job. We think she was in the process of being restored. Has the cutest little red reflectors mounted above the headlights.”

  “Lead the way, Blaise. Sounds like my kind of truck.”

  Charley’s eyes danced from Blaise to Dahlia to Tavis to Bentley sitting like a Roman king. Tavis was now holding the leash.

  An intricate plan was put together—Charley driving Tavis back to pick up the rental car, then, with Charley in the car, meet Blaise driving the truck to the car rental agency. Tavis would drive Blaise in the extended cab back to the stately manor, Charley in the passenger seat. This intricate plan assumed that the truck would start and, if it did, wouldn’t conk out on the road. Cell numbers were exchanged.

  The plan was executed without a hitch.

  Back at the stately manor farewells were said Tavis promising to return that evening with his suitcase. He begged off their offer to stay for dinner. He had promised to take Charley out, and as the Springers knew, a man doesn’t cancel a dinner date, especially the all important first dinner date.

  Charley shook her head as Tavis turned the dream Chevy truck out of the driveway.

  “You certainly are a charmer, Mr. Hunter. You’re lucky Bentley wanted that raw hide and not your skinny ass.”

  “Speaking of skinny asses, yours is pretty cute, but not much there for Bentley to munch on. Mind if we stop at my motel? I’ll grab my stuff and check out. Where are we going to eat dinner? On the water? A nice spot? I owe you. You came through for me, Miss King. No rent. A refrigerator well stocked. A wine cooler. And a dog…a big friendly dog.”

  “I wouldn’t push the friendly part until you’re sure. As for dinner, I have a lovely place in mind…on the water, the waiter’s serve the wine with a napkin over their arm, and the food is to die for.”

  “Ah, sounds like you dine there often?”

  “No, it’s out of my pay scale, but being the client is grateful, I think he can splurge. Let’s hope the valet parks the truck. But with destiny working for you, let me say there is parking at a grocery store across the street.”

  Chapter 32

  ────

  THE SUN WAS SETTING behind them as Tavis turned into The Shores Resort known for its truly remarkable dining experience. Charley’s intent—test the level of Tavis’s gratitude. She was exhausted and hungry. Her client had not only tested her realtor expertise, but also her emotional stamina. She tried very hard not to succumb to his charm offensive, a battle she was losing minute by minute but determined not to admit it.

  The hostess led them to a table on the terrace overlooking the ocean’s gentle waves turning from deep gold to purple in the setting sun. Charley kept Tavis in her peripheral view, wondering what he was going to order—declare an appetizer would satisfy him and his wallet, or Filet Mignon? She wasn’t going to take advantage of his bravado. On the other hand, if he was going for broke she’d follow his lead. It had been a hard day after all.

  “What do you suggest, Miss King?”

  “The food is wonderful here. You can’t go wrong. Depends how hungry you are and what you fancy.”

  Her words brought a smile to his lips and warmth to his eyes as he glanced up. If he was looking for a reaction from her, he may have missed it as a shot of adrenalin, or something like that, shot through her system. She was going to have to look out for Mr. Tavis Hunter or he’d swallow her whole.

  “Okay, I’ll have the steak. Being from the West, we men love our steaks rare,” he said with a chuckle. “How about you?”

  “Well, I’m from the south and love fresh fish. So the lobster and salmon dish is my choice.”

  “Ah, a hearty choice. A woman after my heart.”

  “I’d hardly say that lobster—”

  “An appetizer?”

  A tiny laugh escaped her lips. “No, I think my order will satisfy my hunger pangs, thank you.”

  “Umm, I like your laugh, Charley. Sweet, feminine, charming.” His voice was almost a whisper. He didn’t look at her.

  The waiter saw his dinner guests were ready to order. Questioning if they would like a cocktail, a glass of wine?

  Tavis ordered a glass of house red and house white.

  Ah, a little sanity taking hold of his hunger pangs, she thought, turning to look out over the water, now a dark blue, almost black. The stars were beginning to appear.

  The waiter returned with their wine. Dinner would be served soon. Tavis told him not to hurry.

  Raising his glass to Charley, he made a toast. “To a beautiful woman, a beautiful night, and a menu to whet any man’s appetite,” he said with a grin as he tapped his glass to hers.

  Charley’s eyes rose over the candle. “This place…too much for what I provided today?”

  “Not at all, Miss King. Tonight we keep our eyes on the left side of the menu. Tonight we throw caution to the soft ocean breeze. Tonight we celebrate.”

  “Yes, celebrate. You have a place to lay your head and a truck to drive. But that does come with Bentley.”

  “Wonderful animal, Bentley. I’m sure he and I will have wild adventures over the next few days. Did the Springers say when they expected to return? I missed that part.”

  “Not exactly. Sounded like it was a few days. But as you are aware, Nevada isn’t exactly next door. Could be more than a week. You said your folks stay away in the heat of the summer. Are they retired?”

  Tavis seemed to get a kick out of her question, putting his napkin over his mouth to stifle a laugh. “Dad doesn’t know the meaning of the word. No matter where he goes people seek him out and he doesn’t hesitate to oblige. My mother is accustomed to his absence except for the cocktail hour. They don’t over indulge mind you. It’s just that it’s their special time together, even if he has to run out to finish a job later.”

  “What does he do, his line of work?”

  “He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Geology. Joined the family company making it even more profitable in mining coal and copper, until he bought land in Texas with oil underneath…lots of oil. Then he made it big…really big.”

  “But you didn’t want to follow in his footsteps?”

  “My dad isn’t someone you follow or you get swallowed up with his ‘do it my way or hit the highway.’ So here I am. Graduated head of my class and still aimlessly seeking my life’s path. My rich daddy nagging at me to get going, seek my fortune like he did when he struck oil.”

  “Ah, I can understand that. How about your mother? She travels with him but only sees him in the evening?”

  “She’s into charity work…work that can be done from almost anywhere. Sometimes she travels to where she grew up, Kenya. She’s black, grew up in a hovel…hence the charity work. She’s done wonderful things for her family, her relatives—”

  “Have you traveled with her—”

  “No. Not allowed. She does her thing. Dad does his thing. And, by extension, I do my thing. He, geological engineering. Me, computer science, computer engineering.”

  “Whew, your family is so different from mine and yet very similar. Families! I see movies, TV shows, even friends, their families seem warm, caring. I’m sure they aren’t all like that. You never know what the dynamics of a family are unless you live in it. They can look like one thing from the outside, but inside is a very different story.”

  Their dinner arrived and Tavis ordered another round of wine. He nodded to Charley. She nodded back. Yes, another glass of wine would be nice.

  Chapter 33

  ────

  IT WAS A PERFECT evening sitting under a blanket of stars—peaceful, good food, and a handsome dinner companion. Tavis had shared personal information about his family. His black mother explained his olive skin. She’d read that his grandfather was Italian. So the bloodlines were mixed. A very beautiful mixture.

  Finishing his fami
ly story they sipped an espresso in an easy silence. She supposed he was waiting for her to share personal information, too. But what to say? He was going to be working with her brother. She felt it incumbent upon her to let him know, at least a little, about what he was stepping into.

  He was giving her time, not pushing with questions, knowing there was a story behind the woman sitting across from him who changed her name.

  Charley glanced around at the diners enjoying the evening. “In a way, our stories are similar…our fathers, not so much our mothers.”

  “How is that? Both white?” he said with a chuckle.

  “Well, yes, there is that. My father wanted, more than wanted, believed his first born would be a boy. But there I was, screaming my head off I was told.”

  “You’re older than Frank? You sure don’t look it. I took you for his kid sister.”

  “Only by a year. My father didn’t know what to do with me. When I was a kid about ten or so, he couldn’t see how I was going to succeed in the world. Frank was already his co-pilot in the truck, going to construction sites. I was not invited. Of course, I didn’t understand why, only feeling he was disappointed in me…no matter what I did, it wasn’t good enough.”

  “But now…from what I’ve seen today, you like being a real estate agent. You have to be able to read people, have to be able to suck it up if they are critical about what you’re showing them. Nasty I bet…at times. The Springers think you walk on water.”

  “They were my first sale…only a few weeks ago. They are, were snowbirds from Vermont. The house was perfect for them. I was lucky. Michael said I needed an edge and offered to shoot a video of what I called the spooky house. My boss, Rachel Ramirez, AKA Ramirez Real Estate Agency was against it. But Michael said he’d shoot a video free of charge if I agreed to have dinner with him.”

  “And, did you have dinner with him?”

  “No.”

  “Oh, oh, Miss King doesn’t keep to an agreement.”

  “Not true, silly. There hasn’t been time.”

  Tavis opened his mouth, thought better of it, and sipped the last of his coffee.

  “When I started at the agency I changed my name. Dropped the ‘man’. It took a month to wade through the paperwork.”

  “I wondered when that happened…why?”

  “To annoy my father. How’s that for being a brat? I’ve told you about my father so you’re aware of the family dynamics you’re stepping into. As far as I know Geoffrey Kingman is not only an investor in DroneKing, he’s the only investor and not too happy about the way the conference in Vegas turned out. Frank thought GK’s video was going to be big. GK had signed up a local company to mass produce the game. I don’t think any money was exchanged in advance. And now Geoffrey says he’s not putting another penny into Frank’s company. So you may want to think twice before signing up.”

  “Frank told me much of what you said…not your personal stuff. He’s a talented designer. Somehow, some way, I think he’ll pull the company together. Nothing you’ve said makes me want to take a plane back to Arizona.”

  A large wave broke a few yards out, followed by several more.

  Clouds moved in covering the stars.

  “Rain’s predicted tonight,” Charley said, placing her napkin on the table.

  “How about an after dinner drink in the bar?”

  “I’d like that. Maybe the storm will pass. Downpours are not fun to drive through in Florida.”

  Chapter 34

  ────

  LIGHTNING STRIKES LIT UP the terrace, the beach, and crashing surf. Thunder roared overhead. The stormy sky made the bar cozier, more intimate. Tavis and Charley sat at a small bistro table facing the fiery night each holding a snifter of Brandy. He leaned forward, laid his hand over hers.

  “Today was fun. And don’t think I’m walking that monster dog every day, three times a day alone.”

  “What about when you go to work?”

  “Bentley’s coming with me. We’re a pair. At least he seems friendly enough. I’ll put in a supply of chew-bones. By the way I have a favor to ask of you.”

  “And…what is that?” She looked down at their hands. He was punctuating his sentences with a quick squeeze or a soft tap on her knuckle. It was very disconcerting, but if she was honest with herself she liked the intimacy.

  “I’d like to tag along with your online pilot course. That way we can get our pilot’s license at the same time. As far as flying, we’ll learn together. Frank has me pegged for engineering, more programming. I can pass on tips I pick up from the partners, and you can help me with how laymen learn to use a drone in their business or as a hobby. What do you say?”

  “It works for me. But I think I’ll be getting the better part of the deal,” she said with a smile.

  “Good.” He gave her hand another squeeze. “Mind if I tickle the keys of that baby grand over there?”

  “Another talent, Mr. Hunter?”

  “More of a hobby. Come with me? Stand where I can see you.”

  Charley nodded, picking up her drink.

  Tavis didn’t tickle the keys, he caressed them. Playing a few cords, he eased into oldies but goodies playing ballads, love songs—Unforgettable, Always on my Mind…and more, many more. No singing, just lovely soft music, all the time stealing glances at Charley. Then he switched to a medley of classical—Beethoven, Rachmaninoff. Returning to love songs, as the bar filled with patrons, drinks in hand, a few men swinging their ladies into their arms, dancing. With a slap of the keys, Tavis laid into Hernando’s Hideaway. A couple took to the floor performing a perfect tango for the crowd. A show stopper. They shook hands with Tavis then walked out to the terrace. Others followed. The storm had passed.

  Tavis stood sipping the last of his Brandy, eyes locked with Charley’s. “Thank you for a most enjoyable day, Miss King. You don’t know it yet, but we’re going to be married.”

  “Are you always so impulsive, Mr. Hunter?”

  “Vegas once. Married for fifty-three hours. I was drunk. Believe me, right now, this moment, I’m stone cold sober.”

  ────

  Tavis drove Charley to her car in the agency parking lot. The morning activities, showing Tavis the condo, then to meet the Springers faded in her memory. This morning was years ago. The last few hours hit her hard and fast. So many mixed feelings. Talking was out of the question. She didn’t know what to say…was he joking or proposing. Well, it didn’t matter. It wasn’t funny, and he had a nerve softening her up with the love songs and then going IN for the kill. She glanced at him staring out the side window of the truck lost in thoughts she couldn’t fathom.

  Thank God the agency was only a few miles from where they had dinner. All of a sudden the silence became deafening. What was she going to say…see you in church? Turning into Ramirez Real Estate, he pulled alongside her car.

  They climbed out of the truck. He took the car keys from her hand, unlocked the door, nodding for her to get in. Leaning in he handed her the keys with that darn smile that could melt an iceberg. “I’m reporting for work tomorrow, meeting up with the gang. Thanks again for an incredible day. I’ll be in touch. Tomorrow will be busy but maybe the next day we can take Bentley for a walk. I doubt he’s met the neighbors yet.” He stopped talking, stared at her with those warm eyes over the smile and the very sexy stubble around his chin and upper lip. Then he closed the door as a vale slowly descended over his face. He turned and strode to his truck.

  Charley didn’t wait to see if it started, she did a perfect three-point turnaround and then merged with the evening traffic heading south to her firetrap. A tear slid down her cheek. Why? she thought wiping it away. Hormones? There was no reason to cry. It had been as he said, an incredible day. A handsome man…

  Chapter 35

  ────

  TAVIS SET THE GPS on his cell to the address of the facility Frank had rented for the production phase of DroneKing. Bentley lounged on the cab’s narrow back seat, his
muzzle pointing forward resting on the back of the seat in front of him. He seemed to be content with his new playmate.

  The cinderblock building set back from the road. Weeds in front, an asphalt driveway and parking lot circling the building. A little seedy, but it wouldn’t take much to spruce up the entrance. A van, two cars, and a motorcycle were parked out front. He surmised Frank, Michael, and Janet, the woman Frank told him about, came in three of the vehicles. The fourth was a mystery unless GK had second thoughts and was not quitting.

  “Okay, Bentley. You be a good dog. Don’t get too excited and flatten anyone with your exuberance.” Tavis snapped on Bentley’s leash, not that he could stop him if the dog had a mind to go somewhere else, but it looked like he was in control of him. Tavis reached into the front seat slinging the backpack with his laptop, a large shoulder tote of chew-bones the Springers had left for him, and sauntered into the front entrance of DroneKing, Inc. A woman was holding a large blueprint. Frank was pointing at the line of windows along the front of the building. Michael was listening to him and GK was sitting on an old desk pouting.

  “Hey, Tavis, you made it. What’s with the pony?”

  “I’m dog sitting for a few days. It’s part of the deal your sister came up with…a place for me to stay. Meet Bentley. He doesn’t know he’s a dog. He’s very friendly. Watch out for his handshake, it’ll knock you flat,” Tavis said chuckling.

  “You know the guys and please meet Janet Scott. She’s going to keep the operations straight beginning with the layout of the space. She has a dumpster on order…when, Janet?”

  “Nice to meet you, Tavis,” Janet said extending her hand. “The dumpster will be here in an hour. There’s lots of trash, or crap, take your pick, to be thrown out. I figure we can have this place cleared out today with the five of us. A cleaning crew will be here in the morning to scrub the whole place down. Frank and I were just doing a preliminary layout…research area, production setup, and then an open floor plan for our desks. Simple and cheap. No phone system. We’ll use our cells until we need to transfer calls. The only other thing we need is a water cooler, a small used refrigerator and a microwave. As I said, simple and cheap.”