Kairos Page 5

  “Have you ever traveled, Sulwen?”

  I want to correct him and tell him my friends and family call me Sully, but I find that I like the way my name rolls off his smooth tongue. He says it with such sweetness that I can’t bear to hear him cut it short.

  “Um…no. I’ve never traveled anywhere beyond the bordering states of Tennessee. My dad was sick for a long time, and I had to stay close by to help take care of him.” I pause at the mention of my father. It’s still hard to talk about him, and I can’t believe I just initiated a conversation about him. I clear my throat and take another sip of my wine to calm my nerves. I don’t want my emotions to take control; I don’t want to start crying on his shoulder like some lunatic.

  We carry on with small talk while I finish off my soup and salad. Finally he motions to the waiter for our check. Thank goodness for small mercies.

  The drive back to my car at Old Navy is quiet. I can tell he’s debating on a safe topic of discussion but also trying to get a feel for my mood. I shouldn’t have mentioned my father. It’s brought about an awkwardness that has yet to dissipate.

  “I’d like to see you again. If that’s all right with you.” His sincere tone throws me back a bit. He seems to genuinely like me, and the thought is incredibly comforting. I smile shyly at him.

  “I’d like that too.” He flashes me his megawatt smile, and I damn near clutch my chest to keep from gasping. We pull in beside my car, and I step out to unlock my door. He appears beside me and pulls the Old Navy bag with the dresses he bought for me from the floorboard of the car.

  “Don’t want you to forget these. Especially that purple number. You’ll have to wear that on our date tomorrow night. I’m going to take you somewhere special.” He leans down and gives me a soft peck on the lips. “I’ll call you tomorrow. Be ready by seven.” I nod like a bobblehead doll on a dashboard, and his grin spreads to his eyes. He’s got such a warm and caring smile I can’t help but grin like a fool back.

  “Bye, Logan.” I turn and get into my car and watch him drive away.

  Chapter

  Three

  I wake to my alarm clock blaring the morning news and traffic report throughout my room. I sit up and look at the time and realize I forgot to reset my alarm for later. It’s only seven thirty, and I am not a morning person, so I hit the snooze button and curl back up under my warm covers and start to drift off again.

  “Sully! Sully! Wake up, girl!” There’s a loud banging on my door as I roll back over and look at my clock. Its ten o’clock, and Tonya is about to kick my door in.

  “What the hell? I’m trying to sleep in here.” I drag my sorry behind up and pull on my sweat pants and groggily tread across to my door. I open it to find Tonya standing there dressed in black dress slacks and a silk button-down blouse. She looks like she’s going to a job interview, so I don’t question the formal attire, but I am not a happy camper to be roused early when I can sleep in.

  She looks down at my crumpled tank top and up to my bedhead. “You forgot, didn’t you? Seriously, Sully, how could you forget this?” Her lips are drawn into a thin line, and for once she actually looks pissed.

  What the hell have I forgotten? I rack my brain as I drag my hands down my face and rub the sleep from my eyes.

  She finally relents and tells me. “Do the words ‘paid internship’ ring a bell?”

  My mouth forms an O, and my eyes spring wide. Oh shit! How could I forget the internship interview with the vice president of her father’s company? With this job I could quit the Stop-N-Go Mart and say good riddance to potbellied drunks and creepy perverts hitting on me 24/7.

  “Oh, hell. Give me thirty minutes, and I’ll be ready. Can you wait?”

  She taps her foot and looks at her watch with agitation. “I guess, but you better not be a minute longer. My dad has really pulled some strings for us, and I don’t want to disappoint him.” She turns and heads down the stairs for the kitchen, where I know a fresh pot of coffee is brewing. I shut my door and strip my clothes off while running to my bathroom.

  A ten-minute shower does wonders for the body. I pull my hair up into a ponytail and braid it and then wrap it around in a tight bun. I jerk on a cute lacy headband that looks professional with my black slacks and red button-down shirt. The shirt is clingy on my breasts, but I guess that’s why you don’t see big-busted girls wearing buttons of any kind. I’m not that endowed, so my girls fit snugly but comfortably behind my camisole, and I button the red lace blouse over it and look at myself in the mirror. I look older with my hair slicked back, but I must admit that the suit more than makes up for my lack of makeup and hair preparation. I pull on my black high heels and walk down the stairs while applying lip gloss and smudging some on my cheeks for color.

  “Here. I made it just the way you like it.” She smiles at me and hands me the travel mug as we head out the door like nothing was ever wrong. That’s another quality I admire in my friend. She knows how to let the simple things go, and she never dwells on the negative. I’m a walking contradiction to her, but somehow we’ve made it work all these years.

  I slide into the Jeep and fasten my seat belt. My phone beeps that I have a text message, so I dig it out of my purse and click the envelope button to display it.

  From: Logan

  I look forward to our date tonight. Wear something comfortable! See you at 7!

  Dr. Logan Thatcher

  Historical Archivist

  Dr.? Where did that come from? I didn’t know he had a PhD. Mr. Thatcher is turning out to be a pleasant surprise. I send a confirmation reply and close my screen, only to find Tonya staring at me while she waits for the light to turn green.

  “What? It was Logan confirming our plans for tonight.” I try to play coy, but she can see the excitement in my eyes, and she isn’t going to let the subject drop. The light turns green, and she’s once again forced to drive and ignore her impulse to delve into my inner thoughts. Dodged a bullet there.

  Better to cool her jets before she fires them up. So I decide to tell her in full detail, hoping I can avoid an interrogation when I get home tonight. I release a wary sigh and spill the beans.

  “I don’t know where he’s taking me, and I have no idea what his intentions are as far as a relationship goes. He’s not from here, so I’m assuming he’s here on business and looking for a little fun on the side. And yes, I plan on being that fun for as long as he’s here. You’re the one who told me I should live a little…Well, I plan on living a lot as soon as we’re alone and have a modicum of privacy.” There. Put that in your pipe and smoke it. I cast a victorious grin at her, and she smiles back conspiratorially.

  “Sully, all I was going to ask was whether or not you plan on working this summer. I would like for us to spend some time together, but I refuse to play the third wheel, so I guess I’ll curl up and eat some Ben & Jerry’s tonight while I watch The Notebook with a fresh box of tissues.”

  I know she’s only playing with me, but I can’t stand to think she’ll be all alone in that big house with nothing to do.

  “Do you want me to stay home? I will if you want me to.” I’m hoping with all I have that she will say no, but if she doesn’t, I know I’ll cancel. I glance at her face, but she’s watching the road and chewing her bottom lip nervously as a tractor trailer blows by us and shakes the car in its wake.

  “Are you insane? You had better not cancel this date. I want details, and I mean specific details. Also, if you get lucky, please stay the night. No need to come rushing home on my account.” She grins, and her eyes light up like a Christmas tree. “I want this to work for you, Sully. You deserve a good man. Tommy was a douche bag. You know I never liked him. Like I always say…never trust a man who won’t go down on you!” We both burst into a fit of laughter, and by the time we pull into the parking garage of her father’s pharmaceutical company, we’re wiping tears from our eyes.

  I’m still collecting myself when the elevator stops on the fifth floor and opens up to Je
rrod Becker’s office floor. The entire floor consists of his office, three meeting rooms, and three personal assistants busily typing away at their cubicles. There’s also a small lunchroom down the hall.

  Mr. Becker has really come a long way since Tonya and I were kids. I have the utmost respect for him seeing as he’s a self-made millionaire. You wouldn’t know it by looking at him or Tonya. They don’t live in a massive mansion or drive million-dollar Italian sports cars. They live modestly and donate to charity to the point of excess.

  As his secretary shows us into the meeting room next to his office, I see his salt-and-pepper head peek out the door to see who is in the hall. When he spots us, he smiles a heartwarming smile and closes the distance in a few steps. He pulls Tonya into a big bear hug and kisses her hairline like he did when she was little. Seeing the two of them together makes my heart ache with a pain so intense that I hold my breath to keep from sobbing. I quickly pull my phone from my purse and pretend to check messages.

  They pass a few words in greeting, and then his dark brown eyes gaze upon me with fatherly affection. After all, he’s seen me at my worst and been there through loose teeth and broken arms, so I guess he’s entitled to feel somewhat parental toward me.

  “Sully, how have you been, young lady?” He pulls me in for a quick hug and pats me affectionately on the back. I have a hard time with affection since my father passed. I don’t like for people to hug and dote on me; it’s just uncomfortable for everyone involved. I expel a deep breath and let my emotions subside.

  “I’m doing good, Mr. Becker. How have you been?” He narrows his eyes as if he’s going to ask the dreaded question I hate to hear, but instead he turns and marches over to the big table and offers us a chair.

  “I’m well. Thank you. Have you been keeping an eye out for our favorite girl?” He smiles at Tonya, and I nod back at him.

  “Great. Well, let’s get down to business.” He pulls the head chair out and plops down unceremoniously. “I have two paid internships open for the summer. They’re yours if you ladies want them.

  “Tonya, your position would be in research and development as a technician, and Sully, your position would be more clerical. I need someone who can type up speeches for benefit gatherings, work on some informational pamphlets, things of that nature. Are you interested?” He looks at me because he knows Tonya is dying to get her hands in that research lab.

  She’s going to be the youngest in her graduating class for her PhD in biomedical science. Like father, like daughter. Their passion for science has provided us with countless tales of garage explosions and chemistry mishaps, and we must never forget the volcano they built for her seventh-grade science fair that blew its top and spewed spaghetti sauce all over the judging faculty.

  Lost in my thoughts as I am, I’m completely unprepared for the question, and I stutter out a reply. “Yes, sir. Sounds good to me.” He smiles and nods his approval.

  “All right, young ladies. I expect to see you both here bright and early Monday morning. Sully, please convey your resignation to the convenience store.” With that said he stands and embraces Tonya once more, and then he’s back in his office and we’re walking to the elevator.

  We make our way to the elevator and press the G on the board to take us to the ground floor of the parking garage. I have no long-term plans with Mr. Becker’s company. This is merely a means to cover some tuition costs and feed me through the fall semester.

  I have the money from my father’s life insurance and the sale of the house, but I’ve left that in savings for when I’m ready to buy a house and settle down. It’s also nice to know that if I really needed it, it would be there for the taking. That would have made my dad happy. He was always so worried about what was going to happen to me when he died.

  As I dwell on it a little longer it finally occurs to me that maybe…just maybe, the real reason I’m reluctant to touch that money is because it’s all I really have left of him. Crazy…yes, I know. But, it leaves me with a sense of peace, knowing that a part of my dad is still around and able to take care of me.

  We strap on our seat belts and head out of the parking garage.

  “I’m so excited!” Tonya says. “I cannot wait to get into that lab and become a part of medical history. My dad is on the verge of a pharmaceutical breakthrough, and I want to be his lead researcher. Can you imagine? We could be on CNN. I might even get to meet Anderson Cooper.” She is practically bouncing in her seat. This is her dream job, and she’s finally arrived. Even though she doesn’t graduate for another semester, the job is essentially hers. This isn’t an internship for her. This is her introduction into the family business, and she has every reason to be ecstatic. I smile at her unbridled enthusiasm. Her good mood is catching, and my sorrowful thoughts slowly seep away.

  “Sully, your date is here,” Tonya yells up the stairs to me. She’s already ensconced herself on the couch with a tub of mocha chocolate ice cream, and her movie is about to start. I breeze down the steps and past the kitchen to the powder room. One last look in the mirror tells me that my comfortable but sexy attire is passable. I’m wearing black capri shorts, a white crepe blouse with roll-up sleeves, and the cutest animal print t-strap sandals ever. I have even painted my toenails with my French manicure kit.

  I hope we aren’t going walking. These shoes would be totally inappropriate for a hike. I guess I’ll find out in a minute. I take one last look at my hair, which is braided in a fishbone that starts at my left temple and stops behind my right ear, the ends curled and lying softly over my right shoulder. I’ve managed to pull a few wispy tendrils loose around my temples so that it doesn’t look stiff and unnatural. My makeup is minimal, and lip gloss is really the only thing that stands out. I hurry back out to the doorway and grab my purse.

  “How do I look?” I spin in a circle, giving her the 360-degree view.

  “You look hot! Go get ya some of that meat muffin. Here, take these.” She pulls out two condoms from her pocket, and I walk over to collect them.

  “Seriously? You did not just pull condoms from your fleece PJ’s pocket?!” I’m trying not to laugh, but she is shameless in her attempt to get me laid.

  “Of course I did! I want you to get some Sully, not catch something bleach can’t wash off. Now for goodness’ sake, quit making the poor guy wait out in the heat.” She presses play on the DVD player, and Ryan Gosling appears on the screen, shirtless and sweaty. I’m pretty certain she’s fast-forwarding to the parts with male nudity. Maybe I should buy her a Magic Dolphin. The thought makes me smile as I step outside into the May heat.

  “What’s so funny?” His voice always reminds me of melted chocolate, the way it flows from his mouth and raises goose bumps on my skin. He’s leaning against the hood of a black Range Rover, and he looks absolutely divine. He’s wearing khaki cargo shorts with a short-sleeve button-down shirt. It’s not tucked in, and the top two buttons have been left open to reveal his tan skin. Once again his style is relaxed but sexy as hell. I glance down and notice he’s wearing white flip-flops. Good—no hiking shoes required.

  I walk up to the SUV and suddenly remember the condoms in my hand but not before he notices them as well. A beaming grin spreads across his face, and I freeze where I’m standing as my mouth forms a wide O of astonishment. Holy shit! I swear if I didn’t have crap for luck I wouldn’t have any at all. I mentally kick myself for my stupidity. I can feel the heat rising up my throat and over my face as humiliation sets in.

  He shakes his head and chuckles and then grabs me by my waist and pulls me to his chest. His mouth is on mine before I’m even aware of his intent. Although my brain has quit functioning at the sight of him, my body has other plans. My empty hand curls around the nape of his neck, and I notice immediately that something is missing. I pull back and look at him.

  “You noticed already?” He flashes a lopsided smile at me and turns around. I gasp audibly.

  “Your hair! What have you done with your hair?” I run my f
ingers through his shorn locks, and I feel as if I could weep from the loss. His long, flowing mane has been cut to just above his collar. It’s still beautiful but so short. Well, not really—it still reaches the top of his collar.

  He turns back around to face me, and his carefree smile has vanished and been replaced with an expression that couldn’t be mistaken for anything but disappointment. Oh no, Macgregor, you’ve done it now.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound so disapproving. It was just the shock of it. That’s all.” I try for a reassuring smile, but he’s still reluctant to believe me.

  He needs more convincing, so I tuck a loose strand behind his ear and break out the smitten teenager smile. He bursts out laughing and pulls me back into his warm embrace for another heart-stopping kiss.

  His tongue tastes like fine wine, and I drink him in as if I’m dying of thirst. I don’t care who is watching or if it’s a little forward for the second date. I want this man, and I’m going to have him. I don’t know how long he’ll be here, so I’m treating every day as if it’s the last. No regrets, Macgregor!

  I suck his tongue into my mouth and swirl my tongue around his until he moans in delight. His fingers tighten on the small of my back, and I know I’ve got him right where I want him. As he pulls his tongue back, I bite his bottom lip and nibble a trail across its pouty fullness. Then for good measure I give him one last quick peck on the lips and step back to gauge his expression.

  His green eyes are simmering with desire. The look he gives me is purely carnal, and it heats the juncture between my thighs until I feel moisture dampen my panties. I am so ready for this man to take me. My body is throwing signals in every direction in the hopes he’ll catch at least one.