by Cindy Stark
"What kind of second thoughts?"
"I didn't realize you owned the construction company working on our building." She had to admit that part impressed her. "And now we're sitting on the same committee." She swallowed not wanting to say her next words, but knowing she had to. "I've made it a rule to never date anyone I work with."
"I guess I could argue that we don't technically work together, but if you don't want to go, I understand."
She forced her lips into an awkward smile. "Thank you."
He studied her for a moment. "Let me know if you change your mind." He turned and walked away, leaving her feeling like she'd just made the biggest mistake ever. She watched as he moved farther down the hall, admiring the way his jacket fit his wide shoulders and the way his jeans outlined his rear end.
She was such a coward…and a fraud. She continually wished her life was more exciting, telling her friend, Sienna, she'd give anything if she could find a heartbeat in their town. But when the opportunity presented itself, she failed.
At the end of the hall, Scott stopped and looked back. Her face warmed at being caught staring. He sent her a sexy smile that said she was welcome to look all she wanted before he nodded and left.
She sagged against the wall and put a hand over her wildly beating heart. That man could make even the stodgiest nun forget her vows.
Now that he'd disappeared from view, he didn't seem like such a threat to her… What had she been so afraid of? That he might decide he liked her? That she'd like him?
She straightened and headed for Janet's office.
She complained that her life was so boring. But she'd made it that way. She was too afraid to do anything slightly crazy. She'd never dare elope, and unfortunately, it appeared she was too scared to date a guy that heated her blood. If she wasn't careful, she'd end up a dying spinster like Nina had labeled her. Or worse, end up married to someone like Will.
She needed to start taking more chances, creating more opportunities for new experiences. That was living.
Today had been her wake-up call, beginning with the car wreck, the kiss from Scott, and the chance to impress her big boss. If she were a smart girl, it would have ended with her giving her number to Scott.
Could she wise up and be brave enough to let him know she'd changed her mind?
She let herself into Janet's office, closed the door, and dropped her head to the top of the desk. The day's events had been anything but normal, and they'd worn her out. She didn't know what time she'd be able to leave the office, but she was certain it wouldn't be before sundown.
Her tummy cried foul with another loud rumbling, and she stole a chocolate mint from a crystal bowl on Janet's desk. "Be good, and I promise I'll find some real food in just a little bit. First, I have to get that stupid report sent out."
She brought Janet's computer out of hibernation. Luckily, Janet had given Teisha her password which allowed Katy access to all her files. Otherwise, she'd never be able to pull off this assignment. It scared her to think this opportunity would either make or break her in Mr. Winward's eyes.
Before she started hunting down exactly what her boss wanted, she had to check one thing. She clicked on Janet's contact list and then the list of "B" names. Scott Beckstead landed close to the top. She clicked on it.
Right in front of her was Scott's work phone, cell phone, work address and the number for his assistant. There was a multitude of ways to reach him if she wanted to.
And she did…but she couldn't bring herself to call him at this very second. She clenched her fists in frustration. She pulled out her cell, typed in his personal number, and hit save. It was a first step. She might not have the courage to call now, but when she did finally garner it, she'd need his number.
She sighed and closed his information.
Maybe tomorrow. When things weren't so crazy.
A knock sounded on Janet's door, and Katy raised her gaze as Teisha walked in carrying a brown paper sack. The smells emanating from it raised the army in her stomach to a frenzied cry. Food.
Janet's assistant couldn't have been sweeter. "You didn't have to do this, Teisha. I'm quite capable of getting my own lunch." She glanced at the clock, noticing the time was closer to evening than noon. "Or make that dinner."
The woman huffed as she set the bag in front of Katy. "I didn't, and I know you are." At Katy's quizzical look, she continued. "This ain't from me, honey. Some hot-looking hunk of man dropped it by my desk and asked me to give it to you so he didn't disturb you." It was her turn to give Katy a questioning look. "You got something going on I don't know about?"
Scott's gesture nearly did her in. He'd taken the time to figure out what kind of a day she'd probably had, knew she'd been hungry before they entered the meeting, and even though she'd turned him down for a date, he'd sent her food.
What kind of a man did that?
The look on Teisha's face said she demanded an answer. "He's a…well, I just met him today. No, that's not true. I remember him from school, but we didn't run in the same circles."
"Uh-huh. Is that the whole story?"
"It is. I swear. He heard my stomach growl and was kind enough to think of me." Will had never done anything so thoughtful.
"Well, you must have made some kind of impression on him. Ain't many guys that will go out of their way like that for nothing. Though my Hector would." The woman turned and left the room, closing the door behind her.
Katy attacked the bag and pulled out a Styrofoam cup of soup. She lifted the lid, releasing more of the enticing aroma. Chicken Noodle. "Mmm…" Next, she pulled out a sweet-looking orange and then a wrapped sandwich. She peeked inside. Turkey on wheat. She peeled the wrapper back even farther and took a large bite.
"Oh, my God," she mumbled around the food in her mouth. She couldn't remember anything tasting so good.
Now that she'd had a bite, her thoughts reverted to Scott. He did not play fair. This was his subtle way of saying he might have backed off, but the game wasn't over yet.
What was she supposed to do with a guy like that?
Date him, a little voice whispered inside her head. Definitely date him.
CHAPTER FOUR
It was nearly nine before Katy reached her house that night. The drive home had been treacherous with patches of black ice lingering on the road, but she'd navigated it with only a few hair-raising slides.
She dropped her keys and purse on the first flat surface she came across as she made her way through the old farmhouse. Her coat fell to the couch. She wasn't quite sure where her red sweater and bra landed, but she'd worry about them later. By the time she reached her bathroom, she was left with nothing but her boots and panties, carrying only her cell phone.
She dropped to the edge of the tub with a tired sigh and turned on the faucet, adjusting the temperature to as hot as she could stand. It would take a great deal of heat to sink into her bones and relax away the craziness of her day. The scent of lavender permeated the air as she poured in her favorite bubble bath before leaning over to remove her boots while the tub filled.
She slid down a zipper and eased her weary foot out of its casing. She should have lost the boots hours ago while still at the office, but she didn't have a spare pair of flats with her that day. If she'd only known what might have transpired, she might have been better prepared. She removed the other boot, massaging the arch of her foot and then stood, allowing her feet a few seconds to become accustomed to a flat surface.
Her panties were all that remained, and she quickly dropped them and stepped into the soothing tub. It took a moment for her body to acclimate to the heat, and then she slowly sank to her neck.
She closed her eyes and sighed, letting each of her cares fall away.
All but one.
The vision of Scott smiling at her with that teasing, tempting look in his eyes haunted her. In the darkness behind her lids, she replayed the moment he'd kissed her in the elevator.
Scott Beckstead had kissed her. H
er.
The one kiss she'd dreamed about back in high school, but knew would never come to fruition. Now it had.
More than that, he wanted to date her.
She retrieved her phone and punched in a number, grateful when a voice answered on the other line.
"I'm so glad you answered, Sienna."
Katy and Sienna had been best friends since elementary school. Their parents had grown up together, and she was pretty sure even their grandparents had known and liked each other.
"What's up, Katy?"
Just hearing the sound of her friend's voice calmed her. Sienna always was the voice of reason. "I had a heck of a day and just need to share. I started out wrecking my car because of this horrible weather. But that's not what really has me bothered." She paused not quite sure how to phrase it. "I kissed Scott Beckstead."
Silence stole the line, and then Sienna laughed. "Good one, Katy. Is this one of those unbelievable ploys like using Hotty Scotty to take the emphasis off crashing your car?"
Hotty Scotty. She'd forgotten they'd used to call him that. "No, I'm serious. I slid into a dump truck outside the medical center. Then that bitch Nina unleashed her vicious tongue while we were in the elevator."
"Language, Katy."
Her friend's reminder stopped her. Many years ago, their parents had encouraged them to help each other not use cuss words. The thought that they'd held onto it all these years seemed stifling. "Sorry." Then she remembered how free she'd felt when Scott had encouraged her to speak her mind. "No, wait. I'm not sorry. She is a bitch, Sienna. She is."
"Uh, okay. I guess she is then, but maybe you could say it a little nicer or something."
Irritation nipped at her. "I don't want to. I want to call her a bitch. It makes me feel better."
"Fine. I can tell you're stressed. Let's move on to the rest of your story before you start spouting more obscenities."
Katy sat up in the tub. "Wow, Sienna. What happened to always being there for each other?"
"I'm here for you, Katy. I'm on the phone. I'm listening."
"Yeah, but you're not hearing me." Whatever the hell that meant. All she knew was she wasn't connecting with her friend like she normally did, and it added to her frustrations.
Another silent pause. "I'm trying, okay? I'm trying. Did you really kiss Scott Beckstead?"
A rush of exasperated air flew from her lungs. "I did. I was in the elevator with Nina, and she was taunting me about not getting another guy after I dumped Will, and Scott kissed me. I think to show up Nina, but I'm not sure." He'd assured her otherwise, but thinking about him telling her he'd wanted to kiss her was just….
"Wait. You dumped Will? Katy, what is going on with you? I thought you were hoping he'd give you a ring for Christmas and pop the question?"
She had said that, hadn't she? She must have been out of her mind at the moment. "I'm sorry, Sienna. I meant to call you this morning and tell you what happened with Will last night. I...he...I don't know. It just seemed like I was sentencing myself to a life of boredom if I married him."
"Are you hormonal or something?"
The absurdity of her friend's question made her laugh. "God, Sienna. I know it sounds completely crazy. Maybe I'm having my mid-life crisis early."
"Or maybe it's pre-wedding jitters."
"How can I have wedding jitters when I wasn't even engaged?"
"Psychotic mental breakdown, then?"
Her friend's joke eased her tension. "That must be it. Did I mention my boss eloped, too, and they put me in her position while she's away on her honeymoon?"
"That's good news, right? I mean, this could be your chance to get noticed."
Both she and Sienna had always been the quiet, good girls, the ones who were never seen because they faded into the background.
"It's a great opportunity. Mr. Winward put me on the construction committee for the renovations at the center."
"Cool."
"Scott Beckstead is the owner of the construction company. He's also on the committee."
"Did you really kiss him, Katy?"
"Yes."
"You're screwed."
She dropped her forehead onto her open palm. "I know. What am I going to do? He asked me out, too."
"Seriously?" Her friend's voice seemed almost disbelieving.
"What am I going to do?"
"You can't date him, Katy. You've heard the rumors. You know what he's like."
"I know. But he's so attractive."
"So is the Grand Canyon, but you're not going to jump off the edge just to see it better. Be professional. Be friendly. But don't get involved with him. You're the one who'll get hurt."
Sienna did a fabulous job of unearthing her fears. "That's what I'm afraid of. So stay away? That's what you'd do even knowing how gorgeous he is?"
"Don't get sucked in by his good looks, Katy. They'll fade after a few years, and you'll be left with the bad boy underneath who'll break your heart."
She paused for a moment, letting her friend's words sink in. She was right. Katy knew she was, but the exhilarating feelings she'd experienced with Scott were addicting, and damn it, she wanted him. "Okay. You're right. I can do this. I can be professional and nothing more."
"Good girl," Sienna responded. "I'm glad you're smart enough to think this through. I just have one question though. Was he as good as we always thought he might be?"
"Better." Katy closed her eyes and sank into the cooling water. Sooo much better.
* * *
The next morning, Katy found Nina hovering inside the front entrance when she arrived at work. She'd dyed her hair black and styled it in a trendy style that would have seemed out of place in their county, but it totally worked for Nina. Katy sent her a look heavy with loathing and continued toward the elevator. After yesterday's dressing down by Scott, she doubted the woman would have the nerve to confront her again.
She was wrong.
Just as Katy stepped into the elevator, Nina pushed in behind her. Unfortunately, they were alone. Tomorrow, she'd take the stairs.
"So how'd you do it?"
"Do what?" Get Scott to kiss her?
"Get a promotion? Lucy and I have been here way longer than you have."
"If you consider six months way longer."
"And we have higher job titles than you. One of us should have gotten that promotion."
Katy sighed and faced Nina head on, amazed at the thickness of her eyelashes. Had to be extensions. "First off, it's not a promotion. I'm only temporarily filling in for Janet while she's off."
"I heard she ran off with that guy, Pete, and they've decided to stay in the Bahamas permanently."
"Who said that?" As far as she knew, Janet intended to return to work. At least that's what Mr. Winward had implied.
"Jeffrey."
Mr. Winward's son? Katy was certain he and Nina were sleeping together, so she supposed it was a possibility that Nina could have learned new information through pillow talk. "Well, whatever. As far as I know, Janet's coming back."
"Don't lie to me. We both know she's not, and I want to know what you did to get the promotion. Did you go horizontal with Mr. Winward so you could go vertical?"
Like Nina hadn't done that with Winward's son? Katy narrowed her eyes in disgust. "Excuse me?"
"You know, trade favors with the boss?"
"I know very well what you're referring to. Just because you've used that tactic doesn't mean the rest of us don't have morals." The elevator dinged, signaling they'd reached the second floor. "Stay away from me, Nina. I have nothing to say to you."
"It's the construction guy, isn't it?" Nina called after her. "He's using his influence to help you get ahead."
Katy ignored her comment and continued toward Janet's office. She would not allow herself to be affected by Nina's jealousy. She just hoped the rest of the staff wouldn't listen to her, either.
* * *
Friday rolled around, and Katy's work week had gone from crazy to in
sane. By the time eight o'clock arrived, she'd had enough. Mr. Winward proved to be a very demanding and impatient boss, but he'd also been willing to hand out praise when she complied. Teisha was a god-send.
And Nina? She was still a bitch. She and Lucy were being quite vocal about the fact that Katy had been promoted instead of them. It hadn't mattered one bit that Katy had denied doing anything to get ahead. Fact was, Winward had selected her above the others. But she'd worked hard to prove herself to Janet, and Janet had every right to suggest Katy as a temporary replacement.
Didn't matter. People were talking.
With no snow hampering the roads, Katy made it to her hometown of Aspen in her usual twenty minutes. She thought of calling Sienna to see if she wanted to hang out, but her friend would only want to watch a movie or gossip about people at the community college where she worked.
Katy didn't want to talk. She'd heard enough useless chatter all week, and with the amount of nervous energy surging through her system, watching a movie sounded like a death sentence.
She slowed as the speed limit dropped from highway speeds to residential through the short span of Aspen's businesses. There wasn't much traffic, but considering the wide-open spaces of the rest of the town, some might consider it a more-congested area. If a person could even suggest that about a place with not a single stoplight.
She passed the town hall and Randall's Western Outfitters, the sign from the quaint coffee shop catching her attention. If she'd made it out of the office before seven-thirty, she could have stopped and grabbed a soothing latte. But they were shut down, along with the rest of the town. Everything but Swallow's Bar and Grill.
She eyed the packed parking lot of the local watering hole with renewed interest. She wasn't one to drink much and partying crowds had never been her sort of people, but the thought of getting lost in a dark room full of loud music tempted her. She'd never stopped in after work to socialize. Perhaps it was time.
Since it wasn't her crowd, not many would know her well. Chances of someone knowing her circumstances from work would be about zero since the medical center was in the next town, and the only person she knew that lived in Aspen and worked at the center was someone from the maintenance department. Fat chance he'd even care about the gossip mill in accounting or administration.