by Debby Mayne
He pretended to be offended. “Are you saying I’m up to something?”
“I wasn’t, but now that you mention it, what are you up to?”
Dave pretended to be appalled. “So you think I’m a conniving sort of fella?”
“Stop with the fake Southern accent. You’re not very good at it.” She glanced down at the rose and then gave him a puzzled look.
“You don’t think that flower was from me, do you?” He pointed to the rose on her desk.
“Just tell me what’s going on. I hate games.”
“Yeah, me too, but sometimes you have to play.” Dave leaned forward and whispered, “Tom Jenkins sent you the rose. I intercepted it in the building lobby.”
“But why?”
“You know your uncle. He would have the big one if Tom came waltzing in here with a flower.”
“That’s not what I’m asking. Why would he give me a flower?”
Dave rolled his eyes. “Don’t tell me you’re dense. I had you pegged for an intelligent woman who likes to act.”
“Enough nonsense.” She looked back at the flower, felt a tummy flutter, and had to stifle a giggle. “Spill it, Dave.”
“The guy likes you. He thinks you’re cute, and he would like to date you. He’s willing to fight the lions and tigers—and the bear who runs this office—just for the opportunity to get to know you better.” Dave made a mock grin. “Is that enough or do I need to explain further?”
“But why did you ask my uncle if I could go to dinner with you?”
“Look, Cissy, I’m just trying to help out a coworker. You and Tom obviously like what you see in each other, and you have an obstacle. I thought I’d make it easier for you two to get together.”
“So you want me to lie and say I’m with you when I’m really not?” Cissy had been accused of being strong willed and defiant, but she’d never resorted to outright lies.
“I thought—” Dave closed his eyes and shook his head. “I don’t know what I was thinking. Of course you wouldn’t lie. You’d much rather be miserable sitting around the house with your uncle and aunt after spending the entire day in the office listening to his grumbling.”
Cissy felt terrible, but she needed to make things clear with Dave. “I appreciate what you tried to do, Dave, and I’m not saying I’m perfect or anything . . . ” She paused and tried to think of the right words to say without making him think she didn’t appreciate the gesture.
“Now I’m going to say the same thing you told me.” He paused and smiled. “Spill it, Cissy.”
“I don’t like to lie about stuff, no matter what. It’s just wrong and makes me feel terrible about myself when I do it. It’s not that I think I’m above it, and I certainly understand why someone would . . . well, you know, tell an occasional little white lie to get—”
“Do all Southern girls do that?”
Cissy pulled back and scrunched her face as she looked at him. “Do what?”
“You just did the same thing Charlene does.”
“I still don’t know what you’re talking about. It’s not that I’m not smart, because I am. Everyone back home says so. But I can’t read your mind when—”
“Okay.” He held up a hand to stop her. “That’s exactly what I’m talking about. You over-explain everything.”
“Oh.” Cissy glanced down at her desk. Yeah, she could see what he was saying.
“I know you’re intelligent, and I get that you don’t lie. But in the short time since I’ve known you, I think you are a very nice person who needs to live her own life without interference from her uncle.”
“Yeah, it would be nice to make some decisions on my own.”
“If you ever change your mind about Tom, I’ll do whatever I can to help, even if it does mean getting on the bad side of your uncle.” He offered a warm smile. “Perhaps you and I can actually do something together sometime, since you obviously can’t go out with Tom without making your uncle mad. I realize I’d be your second choice . . . ” He glanced down and then back up at her with a shy smile. “You are very cute.”
Cissy let out a breath she just realized she’d been holding. “Thank you, Dave. That’s very sweet . . . I think.” She held his gaze, hoping for even a hint of what she felt when she saw Tom, but it didn’t happen. “Maybe we can go out sometime. But never consider yourself anyone’s second choice.”
As Dave worked through the morning and she studied the training book, she pondered just how much he was willing to risk—the biggest thing being his job. None of her friends had ever stuck their neck out for her like that before. In spite of the fact that he was willing to be dishonest, she appreciated his offer more than she’d ever be able to express. And he really was cute, even if he did look about ten years younger than he was. Maybe if she spent a little less time thinking about Tom Jenkins and more time thinking about Dave . . . Well, that’s not gonna happen.
At eleven thirty Dave got up and stretched. “Want to go to lunch again? I’m meeting some friends at a diner you might like.”
“I appreciate your offer, but not today. Aunt Bootsie made me a sack lunch with leftovers, and I thought I’d take it to that little grassy area with the benches behind the building.”
“Have a good one.” He plucked his jacket off the back of his chair, flung it over his shoulder, and headed for the elevator. Cissy watched as he punched the button and disappeared when the doors closed.
All her life she’d had male friends, but Dave seemed the most willing to take a risk strictly for friendship. Too bad he didn’t go to church. She imagined he’d make a mighty fine Christian.
“Now that he’s gone, tell me what you want to do.”
Cissy had been so deep in thought that the sound of Uncle Forest’s voice startled her. “I didn’t hear the elevator.”
“I came up the back stairs.” He leaned against the wall, his arms folded. “Now answer me. What do you want to do?”
“What do I want to do?” She gave him a puzzled look. “About what?”
“Do you like Dave?” He planted a fist on his hip and leaned against the wall.
“Oh, that. Of course I like him. What’s not to like?”
Uncle Forest shrugged. “So you do want to date him?”
“He’s nice, but I don’t think he and I will ever be more than friends. I don’t think he goes to church, and my faith is important to me.”
He grunted and pulled away from the wall. “You better let him down nicely. He’s just now starting to get up to speed with his accounts, and I don’t want him leaving the company just because he can’t face my niece who jilted him.”
Cissy laughed. “Dave is much stronger than that.”
“I’m just glad that rose was from Dave and not Tom. I might not like having coworkers in my office dating each other, but I can live with it. Having you steppin’ out with a competitor . . . ” He shook his head. “That’s a whole ’nother thing.”
She clamped her teeth down on her tongue so hard she was certain she’d drawn blood. Rather than respond, she opened her desk drawer, pulled out her lunch cooler, and stood up. “I’ll be back in about an hour.” Then she took off before he had a chance to say another word.
It was still rather early for the lunch crowd, so the only people who didn’t appear to be in a hurry to go somewhere were a woman pushing a stroller with twins and a man wearing baggy clothes and ratty shoes. Unfortunately the man took up most of the bench she’d spotted earlier. She glanced around and saw another one less than twenty feet away. The view wasn’t as nice over there, but she wasn’t about to ask the man to move.
As she opened the bag inside her cooler, she was amazed by all the food Aunt Bootsie had been able to pack in such a small space. There was enough for at least two people, maybe even three. She smiled as she imagined her aunt putting everything together with loving hands. Bootsie reminded Cissy of her mother.
“Hey, girl. Got room for me?”
Cissy glanced up at the familiar voice and saw Charle
ne standing there with a brown paper sack in hand. She scooted over and gestured toward the bench. “Have a seat. I thought I’d be alone.”
“If you’d rather—” Charlene puckered her lips into a bow shape.
“No, I’m glad you’re here. It’ll be nice to have someone to talk to.” Cissy grinned at Charlene. “How long have you been in New York?”
“A year. Long enough to be homesick.” She opened her paper bag, glanced inside, and then looked longingly at Cissy’s feast. “They don’t make food here like they do back home.”
“I know what you mean.” Cissy pushed the cooler toward her new friend. “Help yourself. There’s enough for both of us.”
Charlene only hesitated for a few seconds before reaching in and pulling out the second ham sandwich. “I kept trying to tell myself the delis here are the best in the world, but there’s nothing better than a good, old-fashioned ham and biscuit sandwich with all the fixins. The bread here is so crusty it hurts my mouth.”
“You should see what my aunt made for supper last night.” Cissy’s eyes rolled back. “You would have been in hog heaven.”
“Well, if you ever need someone to taste her food, I won’t let you down.”
Cissy laughed. “I’ll have to remember that. It would have been nice to have you there last night.”
“Just say the word.” Charlene started to laugh, but she caught herself as she studied Cissy. “What’s wrong?”
Cissy took a deep breath and made a quick decision to open up just a little. “My uncle is being overly protective of me.”
“Does he have a good reason to be that way?”
“I s’pose. I haven’t always made the best decisions.” Time to change the subject. “So what does a marketing assistant at Paradise Promotional Products do?”
Charlene shrugged. “Everything the marketing manager doesn’t want to do. I’m hoping he gets promoted or transferred soon so I can apply for his job.”
“Do you live close to the office?”
“I do now.” Charlene took a bite of her sandwich and sighed as she chewed. “Delicious.” She grinned. “When I first got here, I couldn’t believe the prices of apartments in Manhattan, so I found a place about an hour and a half away. That commute got old, so I started looking with something different in mind. Now I have a tiny apartment in the city.”
“Must be nice.” Cissy sighed. “I haven’t been here long enough to even think about moving out of my uncle’s house, but when I do . . . ” She smiled. “You said you couldn’t believe the price of apartments. Are they that expensive?”
“Oh yeah.” Charlene told Cissy how much she paid. “I realize it’s way more than anything back home, but I’m getting used to it. Living closer in has a lot of advantages, and I’ve learned ways to cut other expenses.”
“Maybe you can give me some pointers.”
“I’ll be happy to.”
They chatted about their hometowns for the remainder of lunch, but Cissy started imagining herself having her own apartment. Wouldn’t that be something? No more having to get up with the chickens only to be stuck in the car with a grumpy uncle. No more tiptoeing around her uncle, trying to hide her attraction to his competitor. She wouldn’t have to lie about seeing Tom because she simply wouldn’t mention him.
And no more down-home Southern cooking from Aunt Bootsie.
Cissy sighed. Being on her own had its price. But she just might be ready to pay it. Yeah, an apartment closer to the office sure did sound good.
Chapter 7
ON MONDAY, THE start of her second week in New York, Charlene joined her again for lunch. Cissy opened her cooler and offered the other half of the sandwich she was sure her friend would like.
“So how’s everything goin’ with you and Dave?” Charlene asked.
“Oh, he’s been really patient with me at work.” She sighed. “This is all so new to me, I’m sure I’m not the easiest person to train. Dave is . . . well . . . ” She stopped before she blurted anything that might hurt her new friend’s feelings.
“He’s what?” Charlene’s tone implied that she thought something else might be happening.
“Oh, it’s nothing. He just said he’s not into God like you are, so I didn’t want to get into something that wouldn’t work.” Cissy gave Charlene an apologetic look. “I know you liked him and all, but—”
Charlene let out a chuckle. “Yes, I did like him, but like you said, we found out we’re not spiritually compatible. I’m glad you feel the same way about your faith.”
“I do.” She glanced down at her half-eaten sandwich. “He and I are pretty good buddies, so maybe I’ll have some opportunities to witness to him.”
Charlene shrugged. “Just don’t expect an overnight conversion.”
“Oh, I know,” Cissy said. “It’s up to the Lord to touch someone’s heart, so I plan to be available if He wants me in on it.”
A low chuckle escaped Charlene’s lips before she got serious. “How about church? Did you find a place to go yesterday?”
Cissy nodded. “I went with my aunt. Her church is fine for her, but it seems like the older, married, family-type church. Not exactly the place to meet eligible men.” She thought of Tom, and must have gotten a far-off look in her eye, because Charlene nudged her.
“Thinking of someone back home?” Charlene asked.
“Not hardly.” She explained what she’d run away from, while Charlene tsk-ed and made sympathizing noises.
“Sounds like you got out of there in the nick of time.”
“Boy, did I ever.” She didn’t want to talk about Spencer again, so she changed the subject. “Do you know anything about a guy named Tom Jenkins? The owner of Sewing Notions Inc.?”
Charlene shook her head. “Can’t say I do, but isn’t Sewing Notions Inc. your uncle’s main competition?”
Cissy sighed. “Unfortunately yes. I ran into him my first day here, and he gave me his card and asked to get together, but I thought my uncle would explode. I don’t know why, though. Tom seems like a perfectly nice man. And he’s very good looking!”
Charlene laughed. “Sounds like the Capulets versus the Montagues.” At Cissy’s puzzled look, Charlene said, “You know, Romeo and Juliet? Okay, you probably studied some other Shakespeare play in high school English. Anyway, maybe you should have a talk with your uncle about this Tom guy. Find out if there’s anything you can do to persuade him to give you his blessing.”
“I don’t think I want to go there.” Cissy made a face. “He gets furious any time Tom’s name comes up.” She sighed. “I might as well stop thinkin’ about a man I’ll never be able to see.”
“Maybe you should think about getting your own place.”
“Need a roommate?” Cissy asked.
“There’s barely enough room for me, but I just happen to know there’s another apartment that’ll be vacant soon. The guy across the hall from me got a job in Chicago, so he’s moving out at the end of the month.”
“That’s next week.”
“Yeah. He’d actually like to be out sooner, but the landlord won’t let him unless he has someone else who can move in right away.” Charlene took another bite. “Interested in taking a look at the place?”
“I couldn’t. My aunt and uncle went to so much trouble to make room for me.”
“You just asked if I needed a roommate.” She narrowed her gaze. “You haven’t been here long, but I suspect you’ll be looking for your own place soon anyway.” She grinned. “Am I right?”
Just then Charlene’s attention went to something behind Cissy. Before she had a chance to turn around and see what it was, she heard his voice.
“Cissy? I hope you don’t mind my interrupting. Dave said you might be here.”
Cissy’s heart pounded ninety to nothin’, and she had to reach for the side of the bench to reestablish her equilibrium. “Oh, hey there, Tom.” Her voice cracked as she glanced up at his smiling face. “Sorry I never got back to you. I’ve been busy settl
ing into my new job. Where did you see Dave?”
“I didn’t. When I didn’t hear from you, I thought maybe you’d lost my business card, so I called Dave to get your number. He said you were taking an early lunch and told me that you like to come here.”
Charlene scooted to the very edge of the opposite side of the bench. “Well, bless Dave’s heart, wasn’t that sweet of him.” She patted the middle of the bench. “Have a seat.”
Cissy gestured to Charlene. “Tom, this is my new friend, Charlene. Charlene, this is Tom Jenkins.”
Tom smiled at Charlene before turning his attention back to Cissy. “So how would you like to get together sometime, Cissy?”
He sure didn’t beat around the bush, did he? “I—” Cissy cleared her throat.
“I reckon it’s time for me to head on back to the office.” Charlene picked up her things and stood. “If you change your mind and want to look at that apartment, Cissy, let me know soon.”
Tom slid onto the bench beside Cissy as he cast an apologetic smile in Charlene’s direction. “I didn’t mean to run you off.
Charlene laughed. “Trust me, you’re not runnin’ me off. I have work pilin’ up on my desk, and it won’t get done on its own.”
After she left, Tom leaned back, still smiling. “Your friend is even more Southern than you.”
“I don’t think that’s possible. She just talks more than I do.”
“Maybe that’s why you haven’t answered my question. Would you be interested in getting together soon?” He gave her an expectant look. “I can’t promise excitement, but I’m a good conversationalist.”
Her heart hammered, and she found herself speechless.
“So how about it? Would tomorrow or Friday night be better for you?”
Cissy couldn’t think of anything she wanted more, but no way would Uncle Forest ever permit it. The temptation to take Dave up on his offer crept back to her mind. She squeezed her eyes shut and said a very short prayer for strength.
“Are you praying?”
Her eyes popped open, and she nodded. No telling what he’d say. From what she’d observed so far, not many people up here seemed big on praying. Either that or they didn’t want others to see them doing it.