“Great. As you know, there are tours and courses offered through our department. Any of my staff can sign—”
There was the odd twitter-style giggle again. “Those won’t work for me. I work while they are going on. Even now, I’m just here on my break. I’d need a private meeting after hours.” Her fingers played along the hem her short, short uniform skirt at the inside curve of her thighs.
He may the most clued in man at times. In his college days he would have never been able to pick up on flirtatious signals. Mostly because they rarely happened, unless some girl was looking to get her tutor to do all her work for her. Then he’d been offered all kinds of favors. Over his adult years, he’d become aware of when a woman was given him special attention.
“I understand. As a museum employee you have privileges. Part of those is education on the exhibits in the facility when the time suits your convenience.”
“Yes, I recall reading that somewhere or hearing it in a meeting.” Her smile was so wide it made her nose scrunch up and crease along the bridge.
She was an attractive woman, if she toned down the make-up and the sex available sign flashing around her. However, he wasn’t interested.
“I’ll make sure one of my staff members gets with you and gets you on the schedule when you get off work one day this week. I don’t want to delay you any longer, Stacey, I’m sure you need to return to work.”
“Of course. I’ll look forward to all the education I can get.” With that she winked at him then turned on her high navy blue heels and walked away toward the atrium.
Shaking his head, he continued down a side corridor that offered a short cut to the wings on the other side. He’d get Randy to give her a tour. Randy wasn’t one of his best entomology assistance. Randy was even the reason that their Six-spotted Fishing Spider had escaped while they were loading the eco-tanks.
But, Randy would feed the woman’s flirtation. Hopefully, someone appreciating what she was offering and willing to take her up on it would keep Stacey from bombarding him.
Finally at Sonya’s office, he saw that her lights were out. Normally, even when she was avoiding him, it would be bright inside, showing she had been at work. Now, it was two in the afternoon and it appeared as if she’d never been at work that day. Deciding to leave the package he tried the handle and found it locked. If he went down the hall from her office he could would come to the elevator that led to her storage rooms, but it was standard museum policy that no one, not even curators from other departments, were allowed to go into a storage room or authentication labs without escort.
Instead he went the other direction and went to see if she was possible teaching a course in one of the classrooms.
When he sent her flowers, he hadn’t placed any indication that they were from him. He didn’t want her to attempt to return them. Either to the florist or him. The reason he had a messenger pick them up. Last week when he got off work, he gone by her office to see how she displayed them. But, even with the room being shadowed he hadn’t seen them anywhere, which let him know she’d taken them home.
At the classroom people where flowing out holding canvases with fresh paint covering them. Making it apparent to him the class was over.
Parker waited off to the side until everyone left. There was a young guy washing brushes in the sink when he entered.
“Excuse me.”
The man turned. “Dr. Hayden. How can I help you?”
“Simeon, right?” He recalled meeting him at the pre-opening of his exhibit. He’d been shocked that a white guy with such a rich southern accent had been an assistant in the African American department. Extremely knowledgeable about the art history as well.
“That’s right.” He smiled broad. “Is there something I can do for you?”
“I was looking for Ms. Watson. Something I needed to give her. I was going to set it on her desk but it didn’t look as if she was here.”
“She’s not.” Simeon shut off the water then picked up a towel for his hands. “She’s in Kansas arranging an exhibit tour. She’ll be back to work Wednesday or Tuesday after her flight lands knowing her.”
“True.”
“I can take it for her, place it on her desk if you’d like.” The younger man crossed the room.
“If you don’t mind.” Parker handed him the small box.
“Not at all.” Taking the package, he went on to say, “I just need to finish cleaning and set up for the next class, but then I’ll take it.”
“Whenever. No rush. Thanks.” Parker left the classroom. He had no doubt that when Sonya saw what was in the box, she’d come looking for him soon after.
He couldn’t stop whistling to the beat of his steps on the wood flooring as he went back to work.
~ML~
“Excuse me.” Sonya waved her hand at an Arachno-History exhibit staff. A tour had just dispersed and the elementary school kids and their teacher were headed off in toward another wing led by a museum staff member. “Sir.”
Finally the man heard her as he turned and came toward her at the archway of their area. “Yes, ma’am, how can I assist you?”
“I need to speak with Dr. Hayden. Could you let him know that Ms. Watson is waiting?” She used her most professional voice, keeping her tone low as visitors meandered passed them in and out the insect exhibit.
“Oh, ma’am. He’s in his office right now. You can go back there. If you keep straight down this corridor and make a right after the venomous sp—”
“Um, no. Can you let him know I’m here? Thanks,” she said firmly as she lifted her chin higher and folding her arms to bring attention to her directors’ badge. Rarely was she the type to use her clout, but at times like this it was called for.
“One second.” The man gave a sharp nod before walking away, headed in the direction he’d instructed her.
Exhaling a breath, she waited with her back to the all the bugs and prayed nothing escaped while she stood there.
“Sonya?” The deep timbre made it really clear to her who came up behind her using her first name.
Turning to face Parker, she corrected him. “Ms. Watson. If I may have a private word Dr. Hayden.”
Walking away, she waved him over to a small alcove only about seven steps away.
“Why did you send someone instead of coming to my office yourself?”
She waved her hand in the direction of his wing. “You know how I feel about spiders. I don’t need them watching me with all those eyes.”
“I remember vividly.” He gave her a lopsided smile. “I could explain about them to you and I think it would help you not to be so afraid of them.”
“No need. Look I didn’t come to talk to you about insects.” She glanced around, ensuring they were still relatively alone.
“What did you want?” He slipped a hand in the pocket of his slacks, looking to relaxed and sexy.
Did his voice get lower? She brushed the question away.
“I wanted to thank you for the roses.” She licked her lips, and whispered, “But it doesn’t look well for you to send me flowers.”
“Really?” An eyebrow rose slowly. “Why’s that?”
“It’s unprofessional. Unless you want to tell me you send them to all the other curators including Kravers.”
“Nope. Just you.” He took a step toward her, leaving a little more than a foot separating them. “I didn’t sign the card and had them sent by special messenger. Who would know?”
“I would know.” She peered down the back hall and saw one of the security guards nod as he walked by.
He leaned in toward her and placed his lips close to her ear, but didn’t touch her. “Have you ever considered the fact I’m not trying to hide my attention towards you?”
That threw her for a loop. She’d never really considered that Parker was trying to make their history public.
“Parker.” She exhaled, trembling from the heat of his nearness. “I’ve managed to keep my business private, away from
work. Just because my ex-husband is at the same museum as I am, doesn’t mean I want to broadcast that to everyone in the facility.”
“Don’t worry.” He grasped one of her wrists lightly. “I don’t plan to ask Kravers to open up an exhibit called ‘Ode to Sonya Hayden’.”
“It’s Watson.” She growled low, removing her hand from his touch.
He smiled and held her gaze.
“Anyway. I need to get back to work. Let’s keep our relationship strictly professional from here on out.” She tugged at her gray and navy blue pinstripe blazer.
“I’ll consider your words. Have lunch with me.”
“What?” She rolled her eyes.
Parker winked at her.
“No.” Shooting her hands up at her side she walked away.
That man is too thick headed for his own good.
When she arrived back at her office, she went to her desk and sat, still fuming at the audacity of her ex. There was a stack of work on her desk, as she expected. It was the reason she had come directly to work after her plan landed.
For a moment her mind played Daryl’s parting words about her work being the only thing in her life. After seeing Parker, the Councilman’s jab cut deeper now than it did five days ago. She comforted her frayed emotions by telling herself that Daryl was just not the man for her. It wasn’t her fault there was no sparks between them.
Parker.
“He’s history.” She distracted herself form internal conversation by sorting through the paperwork and packages on her desk.
She’d been lost in returning correspondences, reports and faxes for over an hour when she got to a flat box at the bottom of the pile. Picking it up, she checked the weight, light. Her department was on it, but beneath it read EYES ONLY: SONYA WATSON
After she got her letter opener out of her side drawer, she sliced through the tape on the two sides. Taking hold of the lid, she lifted it away. Inside of the box was white tissue paper, when she peeled it back she saw a plain, orange paper folder that had a tiger in the bottom right corner and Hudson University below it—her undergrad college. In the center of the folder was a label that a subject written in blue ink CALCULUS I.
She knew that handwriting. The sight of it caused warmth to spread throughout her body. She was unable to keep herself from placing a finger over it and tracing the strong pen strokes. Her heart beat a fast staccato as she guide her hand up to the other writing that was in a slant across the top. It was just four numbers.
The last four digits of my dorm room phone. Her eyes welled up at the memory of the day she’d written those numbers down. After his call, she’d finally agreed to go out with Parker Hayden. They had been in that class together. He’d passed her a note that asked her if she liked pizza. She’d replied yes. When he sent it back to her with the question of if she would like to get pizza with him? She never answered, but made him wait all class.
Once the class ended, she had turned to the seat behind her, pulled his folder to her and wrote down her number saying ‘I’m free Friday night. Call me.’ She’d promptly rushed from the class. It had been the boldest thing she’d ever done.
Laughing now, she blinked away the tears flooding her eyes as she recalled how Parker had sat there looking shocked and bewildered that she’d said yes. Months after the dance they shared, she’d been giddy that he’d finally asked her out. She believed she would be stuck in the friend-zone even he seemed to like her more than that.
With a shuddered breath she removed the folder and slipped it into her briefcase, then placed the box in the trash. If Parker thought this gesture was going to change things between them he was wrong.
Swiveling her chair back toward her computer, she tried not to think about the folder and concentrate on her work.
He’d kept it all these years.
Biting down on the side of her lip, she admitted to herself that she was touched by the knowledge.
“Hey, boss lady.” Simeon entered the room. “Couldn’t stay away for just one more day, huh?”
The assistant curator’s words got her right in her gut. She was more than this office, she wanted to rant, but held her tongue because she knew that was just something she would be saying in anger. Besides her dancing, this really was it for her.
No husband. No kids. No family. Social life, zero.
“Yea. I wanted to finish work on the annual catalogue,” she mumbled.
Thankfully, Simeon didn’t make a comment about it.
“What do you have there?” She pointed at the clipboard in his hand.
“It’s the shipment order for the Continuing the Legacy: African American Women United in Military Service collection.”
Taking the clipboard, she was too glad to do something else besides bemoan her personal life. She reviewed the top sheet, verifying it was set to go for the Black History 101 Mobile Museum in Alabama. She briefly checked the items categorized and listed.
Rising, she moved to the filing cabinet along the sidewall of her office. “I’ll compare it to the receipt sheet and then I’ll be down to check the items for shipment and supervise the packing.”
“Gotcha.” He headed out.
“Oh, Simeon, before you leave.” She waited for him to face her again. When he did she asked, “I saw on my schedule Kravers has called a directors meeting Thursday morning. I find it strange when we will have the normal monthly meeting in two weeks. Any whispers about what it’s about?”
“Not that I’ve heard. Nothing happened out of the ordinary while you were gone. I got the message to make sure your schedule was cleared for it. That was it.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
“Welcome back.” With that he was gone.
The last time Kravers had called a meeting like this, it had been over a year ago and it had been to announce that they were building a new wing to bring in bugs and a year later, Spiderman and his bugs should up in her life. Parker.
Pulling out the top drawer for current fiscal year forms, she finger skipped her way along the folders until she got to the one she was looking for and removed it.
Deciding not to stress of over why her boss had called an out of cycle meeting, she took the folder to her desk and removed the receipt slip and began to cross check it to her department’s shipment sheet. The last thing she needed was for an item to go missing when it was in her custody. Too many people had to get involved and start going through her things when something like that happened.
In the years she’d been working at the museum, there had never been an incident in her department. She would do her best to ensure it never did.
Chapter Four
“Thank you everyone for coming.” Kravers entered the conference room. “I know this is an unexpected meeting but you all know when I have exciting news that will affect the museum structure I like to be prompt with it.”
Parker watched the museum director arrive at the head of the table and pick up the pointer from the SMART board rail.
“What is going on?” asked Dean Bosman in his very clipped, nasally tone. The man was the curator over the Victorian Era exhibit.
“I plan to get right to it.” Kravers looked around the room, meeting everyone eyes. When he reached Sonya a wide smile stretched across his face.
Steam bubbled in Parker’s gut for a moment. He didn’t think anything was going on between Sonya and the older man, but he still didn’t care for the way Kravers was staring at her. He unclenched his fist beneath the table and waited the man out, there had to be a reason for the look.
Staring across the table at Sonya who sat across from him, Parker could see she was uncomfortable by how she shifted in her seat.
“Sir?” She asked, looking from the museum director to her colleagues.
“Ms. Watson, how was your trip?”
Sonya frowned. “Fine, Mr. Kravers.”
“Good. Good. Nice to have you back.”
“Thanks.” She rubbed the side of her neck, still appearing unsure why she’d b
een singled out.
Parker didn’t understand the significance of Kravers making a big deal of Sonya’s trip. When he’d done his training for the job he’d been briefed on his responsibilities. Even though he wasn’t a curator, just an expert in his field of science, he was briefed that one of his responsibilities was travel expectations. He’d be expected to visit other museums and entomology venues to procure permanent and temporary exhibits for his department. So, why was the head director making a fuss over Sonya?
“Well, everyone, we will be making some changes around the museum in the near future. In the next two weeks we will be clearing out the third chamber of the west wing in the museum.”
The sound of everyone’s mind clicking and thinking about who that section fell under was almost audible.
“Wait! That’s part of my department.” Dr. Blakely the curator over Air & Space Histories sat forward in his seat toward the table as he stared at Kravers, his eyes wide with questions.
“Yes, it is, Dr. Blakely. However, it makes sense to utilize that area for new exhibit space.” Kravers signaled his assistant to turn on the projector.
A large map of the museum and all of its wings was displayed. All eyes focused toward the front.
“I will not stand for this. This is an outrage,” Blakely argued.
“Calm yourself, Blakely, they are only pictures. It is not as if we are flying all of your plans and helicopters out.” Kravers shook his head and returned his gaze to the screen.
With a pointer light aimed at the screen, Kravers began using the red penlight to circle around the area he was referring to. “Here will be the area the facilities team will remove those portraits in the next few days.”
Parker stared at the map and noticed that the section was smack in the middle of Sonya and Blakely’s areas. Kravers could have just as well taken some of Sonya’s space. If one of them had to be moved and reduced in size he was glad she wasn’t on the chopping block. Parker understood her angst concerning his new addition to the museum and didn’t wish her any further disparaging situations. Any more, he feared she would put in for a position in DC.
Evidence of Desire: Hero Series 3 Page 7