“Hey,” Mick said, trying to get Kylie’s attention. “Rumor has it your late-night work sessions paid off. Wheeler was all smiles on Friday.”
Kylie’s gaze darted back and forth between Mick and the flirting pair. “That’s good to hear. We worked hard to get her what she wanted.”
Mick tried again. “Hey, who needs a drink?” Everybody wanted one. “Ky, help me carry?” Kylie looked torn for a split second before walking to the coolers with Mick. “Gretchen’s drinking a light,” she said as Mick pulled out four regular beers.
“Of course she is,” Mick mumbled, exchanging one and handing the light beer to Kylie. “You two seem to be getting along pretty well,” she commented, hoping the bitterness she felt wasn’t as apparent in her tone as she suspected.
“We really are.” Kylie added no more to the conversation as they headed back to the pair, her eyes never leaving Gretchen.
Mick stifled a growl of frustration. Gretchen smiled her thanks at Kylie as she took her beer, then turned back to the conversation she was still having with Jori about a particular gallery owner in Manhattan.
Kylie blinked a couple times at them and then took a long swallow of her own beer.
Just as Mick was about to try engaging Kylie once more, Gretchen asked where the bathroom was and something almost like relief zipped across Kylie’s face.
“I’ll show you,” she said, but as they began to walk away, Kylie’s father called to her from the grill.
Kylie looked frustrated once again, but Mick saw her point toward the house, obviously giving Gretchen directions to the bathroom.
Gretchen handed her beer to Kylie and strolled off, while Kylie headed toward the grill.
“Wow,” Jori said, taking a long pull from her bottle. “That Gretchen is one classy lady.”
Mick snorted. “If you say so.”
“You don’t like her. How come?”
“Long story.”
“Please. You mean the same story.” She gave Mick a pointed look.
“It’s because Kylie likes her. You saw how close they were standing, didn’t you?”
Mick looked indignant. “That’s ridiculous.”
“Ridiculous? Maybe. True? Definitely.”
Mick glowered at her.
“Oh, please. You’ve wanted to keep the charming and beautiful Ms. O’Brien all to yourself since we were seventeen. It’s old news.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about, Jorianna.”
“Don’t I?” Jori flicked her hair back over her shoulder and adjusted her glasses. “Come on, Mick. Don’t I know you better than you know yourself? We’re cut from the same cloth, babe. You’re just like me. We go through women like tissues because none of them measure up to that one sparklingly perfect ideal. For me, it was Amy. For you, it’s Kylie.”
“Back off, Jori.”
“Relax. It’s good that we can at least admit these things. It means we’re mentally stable, you know.”
“I mean it.” Mick felt her temper rising. She hated that Jori could so easily hold a mirror up in front of her face. She always could. “Back off right now.”
Jori put her hands up in surrender. “Fine. I just call ’em like I see ’em. That’s all I’m saying.”
They both knew, from past experience, when to end this type of discussion. They’d revisit it again, Mick was sure. They always did.
To her further annoyance, Kylie looked in their direction, and Jori motioned her over. Mick brought her bottle to her lips as she watched Kylie cross the yard, the T-shirt hugging her curves, the jeans looking custom tailored. Jori could have Gretchen as far as Mick was concerned; Gretchen certainly didn’t deserve a second glance from somebody like Kylie. Kylie was in a class all by herself. Mick stared at her, willing Kylie to feel her and make eye contact. Instead, she walked straight to Jori.
“What’s up?” she inquired.
Lowering her voice, Jori asked, “Ky, would you mind if I asked Gretchen out?”
“Out? Like…on a date?”
Jori rolled her eyes. “Yes, Kylie Jane. That’s generally what it means to ask somebody out.”
Kylie hesitated a beat. “Why would I mind?” Jori swigged from her beer, and then commented innocently, “No reason. I’m just making sure I wouldn’t be…stepping on your toes or anything.”
“Jori.” Kylie put her hands on her hips. “She’s my boss.”
“Your very attractive boss.”
“Yeah, well. She’s my boss, just the same.” Kylie’s voice lacked the certainty Mick was sure she’d intended.
“Okay, then.”
Gretchen emerged from the house, followed by Caroline. Both waved in the direction of the threesome.
“Kylie, honey,” Caroline called. “Can you come in and help me for a minute?”
Kylie groaned. “Sure, Mom.”
Aware of Jori watching for the smallest clue to support her pet theory, Mick tried not to show any reaction as Kylie passed Gretchen on the steps of the deck. They spoke briefly and Kylie handed Gretchen her beer, touching her arm for longer than was necessary. As they parted, she looked back at Gretchen once more. Mick knew Kylie well, and the emotion that zipped across her face before she headed into the house was definitely worry.
Mick’s guilt poked at her, but she ignored it and instead turned to Jori and gave her a nudge. “You got the go-ahead. What are you waiting for?”
Mick noticed Kylie’s brother across the yard mention something to the guy he was with and gesture in Gretchen’s direction. If Mick had a gun pointed at her, she might be forced to admit that Gretchen painted quite a nice picture in her jeans and pink shirt, the expensive black shoes hitching her outfit up a notch from most of the people there. She looked comfortably in control. Mick hated her.
Within a couple seconds, Gretchen and Jori were deep in conversation once again. Pleased, Mick grabbed another beer from the cooler and wandered over to the grill to talk with Matt and the two neighbors hanging with him. She sent surreptitious glances in the direction of the two women to reassure herself that things were going smoothly, but she needn’t have worried. Jori had the situation well in hand, laughing and placing a hand on Gretchen’s arm as they stood close and talked. Shifting her gaze up to the kitchen window, she noticed Kylie looking down at her boss and her friend, her concern apparent even from a distance.
Trust me, Ky, Mick thought, tamping down the unexpected feeling of remorse. I’m doing you a big favor.
CHAPTER EIGHT
"Good afternoon, Gretchen Kaiser’s office. This is Kylie. May I help you?”
“Hi, Kylie. This is Jessica Scott. Is Ms. Kaiser in?” The voice on the phone was female and pleasant enough, but Kylie’s mood wasn’t.
She’d been annoyed for two days now and she hated feeling annoyed, especially when she couldn’t put her finger on the reason.
“Hang on one second, Ms. Scott, and I’ll check.” Kylie put the woman on hold. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Gretchen sitting at her desk, staring out the window, just as she’d been doing the last six times Kylie looked. She buzzed the intercom.
“Gretchen? There’s a Jessica Scott on line one.” Gretchen didn’t look at Kylie, but waved her hand as if shooing a fly. “She’s a headhunter. Tell her I’m on my way into a meeting and send her to my voice-mail, would you?”
“Sure.”
Frowning, Kylie did as she was told. Gretchen had taken no calls all morning. There had to be a dozen messages in her voice-mail. Kylie wondered what had happened between yesterday and today. After their Monday off, they’d come back on Tuesday and dove right in. Wheeler called Gretchen upstairs almost first thing, presumably to talk budget, and Kylie hadn’t seen her again all day. Now Gretchen was staring endlessly off into space, just as she had since she’d arrived at work.
Concerned, Kylie finally got up and went to the doorway of her boss’s office. She knocked lightly on the door frame and asked, uneasily,
“Are you okay?”
/> Gretchen faced her. She didn’t look angry or upset, just…inactive.
“I’m fine.”
“Everything’s okay with Wheeler?”
“Wheeler is ecstatic.”
“You’re sure?”
Gretchen nodded. “Thanks.”
They looked at one another for several long seconds. Finally, Kylie inclined her head and said, “Okay.” As she turned to leave, Gretchen said, “Kylie, wait. I didn’t get much of a chance to talk to you yesterday. I wanted to thank you for inviting me to your cookout. I had a good time.”
“You’re welcome. I’m really glad you came. My mother says hello.” Carefully, she added, “I’m sorry I missed you before you left.”
“I’m sorry I left without saying good-bye.” When Kylie shrugged, she explained, “Jori said your mom would keep you pretty busy for the rest of the night and you probably wouldn’t even notice we were gone.”
I noticed. Kylie continued to smile, though she felt it fail to reach her eyes. Once she’d realized Gretchen was gone, she’d tried to rationalize it. Gretchen didn’t know anybody. Jori really didn’t know a lot of people either. Of course they’d left. Why wouldn’t they?
Trying to find the right words, she came up with, “She…treated you okay? Jori?”
Gretchen’s smile got a little brighter. “Oh, yeah. She’s great. I’m glad we met. She’s a lot of fun.”
“She is that.” There was a hint of sarcasm in her response, and Kylie nearly grimaced when she heard it.
Gretchen studied her. “Kylie…are you…okay with this? My spending time with Jori? Because if you’re not, if it makes you uncomfortable or something, just say so.”
“What? No, no. It’s fine. I’m fine. Really.” Gretchen continued to look at her and Kylie shifted under her gaze, feeling like she was completely exposed. How did a direct stare from Gretchen always seem to make her feel that way?
“Okay,” Gretchen said, releasing her.
Kylie couldn’t get back to her desk fast enough. “Spending time” with Jori? Did that mean she was planning to see her again? Maybe she already had. Kylie sat down and closed her eyes, trying to slow her racing mind. What she’d really wanted to do was to scream at Gretchen:
Run! Run as fast as you can from her! She’ll charm you into bed, sleep with you a few times, then move on to the next. Don’t get too attached.
She’ll only break your heart when she goes back to New York without you and never calls you again. I’ve seen it happen a million times.
Of course, Gretchen was a big girl and she certainly didn’t need, or want, Kylie looking out for her.
Jori said your mom would keep you pretty busy for the rest of the night…
Oh, she was smooth, that Jori Mitchell. Maybe she could give Kylie some lessons. Kylie shook her head in a combination of awe and disgust. Her stomach was growling. Loudly. Making a quick decision, she called down to the mailroom and got Mick.
“Take me to lunch?” she coaxed.
“Tell me what you’re wearing first,” Mick ordered, dropping her voice as she always did when she play-flirted with Kylie. Kylie could almost see her waggling her eyebrows suggestively.
Smiling, she replied, “A dress today.”
“Not the yellow print one that shows off your legs and your cleavage?”
Kylie laughed at the exuberance in her friend’s voice. “The very same one.”
“I’ll be right there!” The phone hung up with a bang, causing Kylie to laugh out loud. Mick could always make her feel better. She always had.
* * *
“So…Jori and Gretchen had a good time, from what I hear.” Mick bit into her sandwich with a big grin. They sat outside at a local deli, the sun shining warmly down on them. The breeze was a little cool, but it was nice just to be in the fresh air.
Kylie’s stomach flip-flopped and she sighed. This was not a subject she wanted to discuss, especially not with Mick. “Yeah, sounds like it.
Hey, why didn’t you bring Post Office Chick to the picnic with you?” She hoped the change in topic wasn’t as obvious as it sounded to her own ears.
Apparently it was, because Mick studied her as she chewed. “What is it about her?”
“About who? Post Office Chick?”
“About Gretchen.”
Kylie shifted uncomfortably, looked down, and began fiddling with her own sandwich. “What do you mean?”
“You know what I mean. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you’re jealous.”
“Jealous? Of what?” Kylie’s protest sounded too vehement to her own ears. She wanted to run as fast and as far from this conversation as she could.
“Of the fact that she left with Jori.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She felt Mick’s green eyes boring into her, but she refused to look up and kept eating, despite the fact that her stomach threatened to protest. What the hell was wrong with her?
“She’s your boss, Ky. You get that, right? Nothing can happen. You’d get fired.”
Kylie did look at Mick then, her eyes blazing a warning to end this discussion.
“I’m only saying this for your own good,” Mick went on. “I’ve known you for more than twenty years and I can certainly tell what’s going on in that head of yours. Why you insist on trying to hide it from me, I have no idea.”
Kylie averted her gaze, denying Mick eye contact. It was the only weapon she had. Pathetic, she thought.
“The rumor mill has it that she got her last assistant fired when she was at Kaplan.”
Kylie whipped around to glare at her best friend. “Maybe she was unhappy with her assistant’s competence, Mick.”
“Maybe she was fucking her assistant, Kylie,” Mick shot back.
“Jesus Christ, I don’t believe this.”
Mick held up her hands in surrender. “Look, I’m not saying that’s what happened. I’m just saying it’s a possibility.” Kylie rolled her tongue around in her mouth, her anger building.
“You know, you ask what it is about Gretchen for me. What about you? What’s your deal with her? First, you’re sure she’s a big, lying closet case pretending to be straight. Now you think she was sleeping with her employees at her last job? Make up your mind, Mick.” Mick took another bite of her sandwich and offered no response.
They were both quiet for a long while. When Kylie had cooled down, she took a deep breath and said, “I would just prefer that Jori not suck her in and fuck her over like she does to every other woman she dates. I like Gretchen and I don’t want that to happen to her. Okay? That’s all.”
Mick nodded and spoke just as softly. “And all I’m saying is, you don’t know that Gretchen’s not just like Jori.” It was true. Kylie hated to admit it, but there it was. What did she know about Gretchen, after all? Not nearly enough, a little voice whispered.
“I hate fighting with you,” Mick said. “Can we just call a truce? Please?”
Kylie exhaled with quiet relief. “I don’t want to fight with you either. Let’s just agree to disagree, okay?”
“Deal.”
They ate in silence for several minutes. Predictably, Mick couldn’t sustain that.
“Hey, what do you have going this weekend? Want to do something?”
“Sure,” Kylie answered absently. Hanging out with Mick was always a good time. “I need to yank that shrub out in front of my house.
Maybe we could do that, and then I’ll cook you dinner.”
“And we can get a movie.”
Kylie smiled. “Okay.”
* * *
When Kylie returned to work, Gretchen was up and out of her chair, pacing around her office and flipping through a binder. It was such a change from her earlier demeanor that Kylie stopped in her tracks and stared for several seconds before poking her head in the door.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
When Gretchen looked up, she was smiling widely. Kylie noticed for the first time that Gretchen had high, chi
seled cheekbones and gorgeous, perfectly straight teeth. Gretchen crossed her office to the doorway and astonished Kylie by lightly pinching her cheek.
“Ms. O’Brien, things are starting to look up. They’re definitely starting to look up.”
Gretchen’s giddiness was contagious and, in seconds, Kylie was also smiling, her face still tingling where Gretchen had touched it. “Tell me.”
“Sarah Stevenson has a huge appointment next week in Albany. I’m going to drive down there and see the client with her. And Jeff Carson’s got one that’s almost as big in his neck of the woods.” Her smile lit up the office. “They’re getting off their asses, Kylie. See? I told you. They’re cranking it up. All they needed was a kick in the pants.”
The phone rang before Kylie could respond and she picked up the extension in her cubicle.
“Gretchen Kaiser’s office. This is Kylie. May I help you?”
“God, you’ve got a sexy phone voice.”
Instead of being happy to hear the greeting from her old friend, Kylie felt her spirits deflate. “Hey, Jori. How’re you doing? Still in town, huh?”
“For at least a few more weeks. Hey, we need to get together. You, me, and Mick. And maybe Gretchen would want to come. You think?” I’d rather stick needles in my eyes. “Sure, sounds great.”
“Cool. Is she there?”
“Yeah. Hang on.” She buzzed Gretchen. “Jori’s on the line.”
“Oh, great,” Gretchen replied. “Put her through.” As the call was transferred, Gretchen closed her door. Kylie deliberately turned away from Gretchen’s windows. She didn’t want to see her talking to Jori, all smiles and good news, and it bothered her that she felt that way. She was glad Gretchen had shut the door, yet at the same time, she was hurt. She didn’t want to hear the conversation, but she felt excluded and resented it. She picked up the handset to her phone and rapped herself in the forehead with it.
“Jesus,” she muttered. “What am I, twelve?”
* * *
Saturday’s weather was crappy. The temperature was chilly and it rained on and off all day long, creating a dampness in the air that sent Kylie looking for a sweatshirt.
Too Close to Touch Page 9