“Wait, you have the latest edition of Design Thinking?”
“Yeah. Damn thing cost me thirty bucks. I used it I think twice. Why?”
“That came out after I graduated, and I don’t have thirty bucks to drop on a book. Freddie’s too cheap to buy book-based resources for the office, so I’ve had to do without.”
“Want to borrow it? I can’t sell it because my profs might decide I need it a third time, but you could have it until I need it back for classes.”
“Really? That would be great. I heard there’s a whole section in there on customers and clients.”
“Yup. A very big section. Why do you need that? You’re great with customers.”
“I have some ideas for the shop, but Freddie thinks he knows best. If I show him that the ideas are supported by current market research and published in current design handbooks, he might be willing to listen to me.”
“You need to start your own shop,” she said. “It sounds like Freddie is an idiot.”
“Freddie is an egocentric jerk, but he’s great with clients, especially the bigwigs. I’m not so good with the face-to-face stuff.”
“That’s too bad. Your face is nicer to look at than Freddie’s.” The words just popped out, and she immediately looked out the window so he wouldn’t see her blush.
He almost said, ‘you think so?’ but thought better of it. Instead, an awkward silence hung in the car.
“Uh, I can grab you that book if you have a minute to wait,” she said as they pulled up to the curb in front of her house. “Or I can bring it tomorrow.”
“I have a minute,” he said. “It’ll give me something to read tonight.” And help me keep my mind off compulsively checking my emails every two minutes.
“Okay, hold on.”
He got out of the car.
“What are you doing?”
From the back seat, he produced a spare jacket. He came around and held it up, a makeshift umbrella.
She laughed and climbed out of the car. They ran together, her mostly covered, him not covered enough to make any difference, up the steps and under the cover of the old porch.
The door opened before Kaylee could reach it, and an elegant woman stood in the doorway. She was wearing black slacks and a white shirt, probably what she was required to wear for work. Her black hair was trimmed in a style similar to that of First Lady Michelle Obama’s. Like Kaylee, she wore subtle makeup that added to the intensity of her eyes.
“You’re early,” she said. “I was just on my way out.”
“You’ll need a jacket and an umbrella,” Kaylee said. “Uh, this is Jules, from work. He gave me a lift home so I wouldn’t have to wait at the bus stop in the rain. Jules, this is Frannie, my mother. I’ll just grab you that book.” She slipped in past her mom.
“Thanks for giving her a lift,” Frannie said, holding out her hand.
“It’s no problem,” Jules said. “I remember bussing. It’s not a lot of fun on the best of days.”
“I like the look of you,” she said, smiling. “Kaylee’s got good taste.”
He looked down, embarrassed. “Uh, thanks?”
“Who’s there, Mom?” The face that appeared over Frannie’s shoulder was a younger version of Kaylee, only she was taller than Kaylee and their mom by a good six inches, and was wearing blue eyeshadow. He couldn’t imagine Kaylee in blue eye shadow.
“Kaylee’s friend from work.”
“I’m Cora,” she said.
“I’m June,” said another voice, and a girl thirteen or fourteen wiggled in beside Frannie. “Tony’s around here somewhere?”
“Tony?” Jules asked politely, turning his attention to the youngest as she was probably the safest at this moment.
“My younger brother,” she said. “He has homework. Are you Kaylee’s boyfriend?”
So much for safe. “Uh, not exactly, no,” Jules said. “But I am a friend.”
“Not exactly?” Cora said, arching an eyebrow.
“Here’s the book,” said Kaylee. “Excuse me. Can I get to the door?”
Frannie turned. “Girls, back to your schoolwork. And if you don’t have schoolwork there’s dishes. Kaylee’s in charge. I’m off to work.” As the younger two departed, Frannie grabbed her coat and boots from the closet beside the door. She stepped out past Jules and yelled, “And get to bed on time!” She smiled up at him. “It was nice to meet you.”
“You too,” he said. “Did you want a lift to work?”
“No thanks!” she said. “It’s only a few blocks, and the walking is good for my heart.”
Before he could argue that her heart could manage one car ride on a rainy day she was marching down the stairs. He shook his head, but he couldn’t help smiling.
“Sorry about that,” Kaylee said.
He turned back to her. “They’re interesting,” he said, grinning.
She appeared to relax a little. “Here’s that book.”
“Thanks.”
“Uh, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then. I have to help Tony with his math.”
“Yeah. Have a nice evening.”
“You too. Enjoy the book.”
The next day there was a familiarly-shaped, paper-wrapped “parcel” standing upright in a large vase of water on Jules’ desk. Kaylee eyed it hopefully, but Jules said nothing about it. All day she kept glancing over at it, trying to imagine what sort of flowers were hiding inside, and all day Jules pretended it wasn’t even there.
As they were getting ready to go for lunch she finally said, “Flowers?”
“Yup.”
“You shouldn’t have.”
“They’re not for you,” he said with a laugh.
Probably for Jane, she thought bitterly. The rest of the afternoon when she glanced at the flowers, it was with resentment.
At the end of the day he scooped the flowers out of the vase and said, “Come on, I’ll drive you home. I’m headed that way anyways.”
“Something to do with the flowers?”
“Yup.” He was grinning.
Damn him. “Fine,” she said. “At least I don’t have to bus.”
He set the flowers on the back seat, which was good, because if he’d asked her to hold them she would have “accidently” squished them. He was chatty, which was strange for him, and she was staring sullenly out the window, replying only when she absolutely had to. It didn’t seem to faze him—he just kept on talking.
They pulled up in front of her house and he got out of the car.
“You don’t have to walk me to the door,” she said.
“I’m not.”
He got the flowers out of the back seat and followed her up the porch steps. Frannie was at the door in her work clothes when they arrived. “It’s not raining today,” she said by way of greeting.
“Huh, would you look at that,” Jules replied.
Frannie grinned. “Borrowing another book?”
“Nope. Just dropping these off.” He handed her the flowers.
“What are these for?” Frannie said.
“For you. Just because.”
Frannie hesitantly unwrapped the flowers. They were carnations, which were fairly cheap at the grocery store, but they were brightly colored and it was a large bunch. “I’m going to put these in water before I go to work. Excuse me.”
Kaylee turned to Jules. “You bought my mom flowers. Why?”
He shrugged. “If she’s anything like my mom, she loves flowers and doesn’t get them often. She did a good job with you, and she’s doing a good job with your siblings. I guess I just wanted her to know that someone saw that and thought of her.”
“I thought the flowers were for Jane.”
“How do you know about Jane?”
“I overheard your phone call the other day.” She looked away. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”
“Is that why you cancelled on Friday?”
“We never talked about what was going on between us. I just didn’t expe
ct you to already have a girlfriend.”
He laughed. “Oh, Jane will like that one. Or then again, probably not. No. Jane’s not my girlfriend. Most definitely not.”
“Why did you need to see her then?”
“Because sometimes we need to see friends. Sometimes we need the people closest to us, for support, for a listening ear. Please believe me, Kaylee, I have never kissed Jane and I don’t intend to. I don’t buy her flowers unless it’s her birthday, and I only do it then to piss her off. She’s not the flowers type of girl. I have no interest in her at all.”
“Do you have any interest in me?”
“I’d kiss you now just to show you how interested I am, but I think your sisters are watching.”
“The probably are. Are you free this weekend? We can reschedule that dinner.”
“My weekend is wide open.”
“Okay. We’ll go Friday after work, as planned.”
“It’s a date.”
“Are you two finished?” Frannie called through the closed front door. “I have to leave for work. I’ll be late.”
“I’ll give you a lift,” Jules called back. He smiled at Kaylee, and then he leaned in and kissed her cheek. “I can’t wait for Friday.”
Blushing, she slipped into the house, past her mom. Frannie eyed him and he squirmed. “I like you,” she said. “But I love her.”
“Understood,” he said. “Do you want that ride?”
“No, I’m not running that late yet. I’ll be fine. Thanks for the offer though. And don’t worry about curfews on Friday. Okay?” She winked and headed off for work.
Jules was grinning as he walked back to the car. Nothing could spoil his week now.
“You’re looking particularly nice today,” Freddie said. Kaylee glanced up from her work. Of course, he had timed his visit for when Jules was out of the room so she was alone.
She smiled and said, “Yes, I have a date tonight.”
“Nothing too serious I hope.”
“Excuse me?”
“Sorry, but you’ll break my heart if you tell me you have a steady boyfriend.”
“Maybe she does,” Jules rumbled from behind Freddie. “Maybe she doesn’t. It’s none of your business. Can I talk to you a moment, Freddie?”
“Uh, sure,” he said. He looked back and tried to smile at Kaylee, but it lacked his usual confidence.
They went to Freddie’s office and closed the door. “How did we get so lucky?” Freddie said. “You’re into her too, aren’t you? I can tell. God, I can’t blame you. Did you see what she was wearing today?”
“Freddie, stop it. She’s not here to entertain you. If you keep this up she’ll report you to her professors and I’ll back her up.”
“I’m being friendly.”
“No, you’re being creepy. There’s a difference. Knock it off.”
“You can’t threaten me, Jules. I’m your boss.”
“You can’t fire me for standing up for someone receiving unwanted attentions from her boss,” he shot back.
“Is she receiving unwanted attention from you?”
“No.” Jules dropped into the chair and ran his hands through his hair. “Freddie, we’re friends. I don’t want that to change. And I sure as hell enjoy working here. I did even before Kaylee arrived. I’m just telling you not to mess this up for the shop, okay? We don’t need that kind of bad press.”
“Fine. No more pickup lines. I’ll keep it professional. But you’re asking a lot, Jules. She’s just so fine!”
“Look from a distance, okay? You’re making her uncomfortable. Just tone it down.”
“Okay, okay, I’ll do my best. Now get back to work before I do have a reason to fire you.”
“Yes, boss,” Jules said with a salute.
“Thanks for the rescue,” Kaylee said when he came back in.
“He’ll leave you alone,” Jules said. “He doesn’t mean to be offensive or creepy.”
“I know.” She sighed. “Sad that I’m used to it by now. I really thought telling him I was seeing someone else would do the trick. It usually does.”
“He can be relentless, I’m afraid. But he knows better than to put the shop at risk. I told him you’d complain to your professor, and that would be bad press for us.”
“You’re a genius. So where are we going tonight?”
“A friend of mine got us reservations at this sweet little comedy club downtown. Dinner and a show. It’s not that expensive or fancy, so don’t worry that you’re underdressed, but it’s popular and pretty hard to get a table.”
“But your friend managed it?”
“My friend is Brock Tandell, so he can manage things most people can’t.”
“You’re friends with the mayor?” she squeaked.
“Yeah. I don’t talk about it much because people usually think I’m bragging and I’m not. He’s one of those friends that helped me get through school. He charges a lot less in interest for a loan than the bank does.”
“Wow.”
“His wife is pregnant, and we’re having a baby shower soon. I’ll ask my buddy Remy, the one who’s organizing, and see if I can bring you along. He’s a lot of fun when he’s not being the mayor. Well, he is now that he’s married. He used to be moody as shit.”
She laughed. “I bet you know all sorts of stories. God, have you ever seen him shift?”
“He doesn’t like talking about that, and we sort of respect his privacy on that.”
“Of course. I’m sorry. That was rude of me. I just can’t believe it. Brock Tandell. He’s like, rich, isn’t he?”
“Yeah. Old money. Big corporation. But still a nice guy. One of the nicest rich guys you’ll meet.”
“Well, so far he’s not messing anything up too badly as mayor, so.” She shrugged. “I’d vote for him if he ran again.”
“He’ll be happy to hear that.”
Dinner was a buffet, and the comedian was an up-and-coming that Jules hadn’t heard of but Kaylee had. He was smart and funny and had everyone in the club hooting and cheering. Jules and Kaylee left arm-in-arm with big smiles on their faces.
“I still can’t believe he said that!” Kaylee laughed. Jules opened the car door for her and she slipped into the seat.
“The night is still young,” she said. “Did you want to go out for drinks?”
“I think I’ve had all the crowd I can deal with,” he said. He was trying to back the car, out but the parking lot was full of cars jostling to be next in line for the exit. He frowned. “And I don’t think I want to deal with any more parking lots tonight.”
Kenny (Shifter Football League Book 2) Page 45