Boyfriend for Hire

by Gail Chianese

  “Me and my big mouth,” Brody good-naturedly groused.

  “Yeah, thanks pal. I had plans with my soon-to-be-bride this weekend,” Jason teased back.

  “Stop your whining. I had plans to win my girl back today. Business first, then we can get down to the pleasure portion of our lives or you can.” It’d take more than an apology to win her back, but he didn’t care. She was worth everything.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Saturday after leaving her parents’ house, Tawny didn’t go home and cry. She refused the luxury of drowning her sorrows in Ben & Jerry’s. Instead, she sat down and updated her résumé (leaving off crazypants as a life skill), took a long shower, and started scouring job postings. Pickings were slim to none, but she’d found a couple of potential listings to call on Monday. Then she climbed into bed and allowed herself a few sniffles before drying her eyes and falling into a dead sleep.

  Sunday she awoke late or early (afternoon), depending on how you looked at it, decided she’d allow herself one day of rest, and curled up on the couch and lost herself in old movies on AMC. The phone rang halfway through the first movie and she let it go to voice mail. If it was urgent, they’d call back. Thankfully, no one did. Before she knew it, the day had disappeared and night had arrived. She ate a banana, not because she was hungry, but because she’d realized she hadn’t eaten since the day before at breakfast, and then crawled back into bed.

  Monday she awoke with a renewed sense of purpose, a strategy to get her life back to where she’d been a few of months ago. She drafted a new action plan, composed a couple of e-mails to companies who requested applicants apply via the web, and then walked into her closet and selected her favorite red pencil skirt and her yellow silk blouse. The outfit screamed “look at me, I’m fabulous and I know it.”

  She got in her car and headed to her last day at NE Event Solutions. “You can do this. It’s not quitting if they’re going to fire you anyway. It’s being proactive,” she said out loud to herself. Her inner voice replied, “yeah, right.” If she had a role of duct tape, she’d slap a strip over her inner thoughts.

  A few minutes out from her destination the phone rang. Instinctively she hit the answer button without looking at the screen to see who was calling.

  “Tawny, it’s Jane Flannery from the bank. Got a couple of minutes to talk?” Her old supervisor’s voice came over the car speaker system loud and clear and cheerful.

  “Sure. How’s Boston?” Tawny asked. Maybe they had an opening? Then she could get away from Leduc’s influence and her parents and have an excuse not to see David all the time.

  “Great, but I’m back in Providence for a bit. Not sure if you’ve heard through the grapevine, but Leduc got fired last week. I’m down filling in as temporary bank manager until a replacement can be hired.”

  Tawny turned into NEES’s parking lot and parked the car. “That’s great. Think they’ll name you?”

  “No, but that’s okay. When I heard you quit, I was shocked. It didn’t make sense, and then when NE Event Solutions called for a reference, I figured you’d just had enough of the banking world. That wasn’t it, was it?”

  Tawny’s stomach revolted with the memory of Leduc’s hands on her. “No, nor was it sour grapes for being passed over for your old position.”

  “Tawny, I don’t know how tuned in you are on the events that have been going on lately here.”

  “I heard about the incident with Emma. Is there more?” She dreaded hearing the answer. Her gut told her the truth, and that it was her fault for running.

  “We’ve had several female employees come forward with both verbal and physical sexual harassment complaints. We’ve also had one from a male employee.”

  Tawny banged her head against the backrest. Should have reported him.

  “After talking to the entire staff, we’ve got a good picture of what went on around here, including why you were passed up. Mark confessed that Leduc told him he got the job because women didn’t belong in management.”

  “That’s what he told me, as well as what women are good for. Do you need a statement from me as to what happened?” She checked her watch. She was late, but did it really matter?

  “If you don’t mind, we would appreciate it, but that isn’t why I’m calling. I’d like, with the full board’s approval, to correct one of his mistakes. We want you back, Tawny, as the head loan off icer.”

  Tawny felt her eyes pop open. She licked her lips as she searched for a response. “Really?” Could this be fate’s way of putting her life to rights? “I don’t know what to say.”

  Jane laughed. “Well, I’m hoping you’ll say yes. You were one of the best employees I’ve ever worked with. I realize there’s the new job to think of, and if you do accept, you’ll need to give notice.”

  “Thanks—”

  “Don’t say no, not yet anyway. Why don’t you meet me for lunch and I can give you the details and then you can answer me?”

  “Yes, definitely, to lunch. Meet you at Paddy’s at one?”

  Her former and possible future boss agreed and signed off. Could it really be this easy? Did she lose it Saturday so that she’d be primed and ready to accept this new offer?

  No, you idiot. You lost it Saturday because you miss Dave, and whether you want to admit it or not, you’re in love with him, her inner voice whispered.

  “You’re right. I do love him. Not that it means anything. He’s a player—already moved on—and . . .” And she could see how he’d let her secret out of the bag. Perhaps that was part of fate’s plan. Hopefully hearing how Leduc treated Tawny had helped other women at the bank come forward and speak up against him.

  Saying yes to Jane seemed like a no-brainer. She’d be back on track, following the plan she’d originally set out for her life. If Saturday had gone differently, she’d have to be honest and say she didn’t know if she’d return to the bank. As it was, her little (loud) meltdown did take place, and unless she wanted to return to the job market and possibly work for George, she’d better say yes. But first, she needed to face the music.

  The brisk walk across the parking lot reminded her autumn was upon them, and soon it would be time for Cherry and Jason’s wedding. She’d have to face David then. She didn’t know how she’d make it through the day, loving him and seeing him with another woman. “Suck it up, buttercup. You knew going into the relationship who and what the man was,” she said to herself as she pulled the doors open and stepped inside NE Event Solutions for the last time.

  Of course the first person she’d see had to be Stacy, whose smile beamed from ear to ear. There’s one person who won’t be saddened to see me leave.

  “Beautiful morning, isn’t it, Tawny?”

  Tawny murmured a response and headed for the interior doors.

  “Oh, how could I forget?” Stacy gave her a pathetic doe-eyed look. “Aunt Luanne said to send you straight to her office when you arrived. Have a great day.”

  Tawny didn’t bother stopping at her office as she headed straight to Mrs. Spinelli’s. Maybe they had already packed her desk up for her?

  Tawny gave a quick rap on the opened door.

  Her employer’s head came up. “Tawny, come in and close the door behind you, please.”

  Oh man, she was being nice. “Sorry, I’m late. Had a phone call on the way here.”

  “No problem.” She took a sip of her usual diet soda and held it up to Tawny. “Would you like one, or maybe some coffee? And help yourself to the cookies. New recipe the daughter-in-law is trying out. They’re quite addictive—mini ricotta cakes.”

  “No, thanks.” If she downed any more caffeine this morning, her heart would race to its death.

  Mrs. S sat for several very long seconds. “Are you okay?”

  Not what she was expecting at all. “I’m better, thank you, and I’m so, so extremely sorry about Saturday.”

  Mrs. S waved off her apology and came around to sit in the chair next to Tawny. “From what I’ve hear
d, I think I owe you an apology. I didn’t mean to make you think the job was contingent upon you being in a steady relationship, but looking back at what I said, I can see how you would interpret it that way. So I’m sorry.”

  Tawny snagged one of the cookies, more so she’d have something to do with her hands than from being hungry. “I didn’t mean to pass David off as my boyfriend, well, not a serious one. It just sort of morphed into that assumption and then things got crazy and I was afraid to tell you that we weren’t together anymore. Everyone loved him so much.”

  “Including you?”

  “Yes, I mean no.” Tawny let out a small sigh and fought the burn at the backs of her eyes. “He’s a friend, and the charade got a little carried away.”

  Mrs. S took a sip of her soda and snagged another cookie. “I’m going to gain ten pounds in one day at this rate. Tawny, call me an old romantic fool, but I’m not buying it was a charade. It might have started out as a friend doing another friend a favor. I’ve been around long enough and to enough weddings to recognize when a man is in love with a woman and vice versa. You two are perfect for each other.”

  Tawny looked up at the sharp-eyed lady and saw the sympathy. “He obviously doesn’t think so, as he’s moved on already.”

  “Oh.”

  Such a small word with such a huge meaning.

  Tawny forced a smile. “Anyway, I really am sorry about Saturday. Regardless of what is going on in my personal life, I shouldn’t have allowed it to creep over into my professional life. I have some client files I’d like to update. It shouldn’t take long. I can have my office cleaned out within an hour.” Tawny stood to leave, extending her hand to Mrs. Spinelli.

  “Why are you cleaning out your desk?”

  “What do you mean, why? Because I embarrassed the company during an event and interrupted a wedding,” Tawny said, her voice wavering on unshed tears.

  Mrs. S pulled Tawny back down to her chair. “Well, yes, there is that. However, you’re not the first to snap during an event. Long story, and I’ll share it with you one night over cocktails. From what I’ve heard, you had some help reaching your boiling point Saturday. We’ve put a lot of extraneous pressure on you, but you did not embarrass the company, nor did you ruin an event. Actually, the bride called me personally this morning on her way to the airport.”

  “What did she say?” Probably that Tawny put the “cray” in “crazy.”

  Mrs. S patted Tawny’s hand. “She was ecstatic. Everything was perfect and she’ll be sure to recommend us to all of her friends and family. She also wanted me to remind you to call her hubby in two weeks, and something about a groomsman looking forward to meeting you. Do I dare ask about that last part?”

  People were strange and amazing, and Tawny would never get them, but she was very thankful. “I’m not sure what to say, except she did say something about her family being nuts.”

  “Aren’t we all? Listen, I think you’ve become a great asset here, and it has nothing to do with Globus America and Mr. Castro’s business. I’d like you to stay with us, but I sense you’re not sure if this is the right fit for you anymore. Do me a favor? Go home, rest, refresh, and take a couple of days to put everything in perspective. Don’t do anything rash. If, after a couple of days, you still feel this isn’t right for you, we’ll talk.”

  Tawny stood when Mrs. S did, and on impulse she hugged the woman. “Thank you, Mrs. Spinelli.”

  “Call me Grandma Spinelli. We’re family here.”

  Dave sat across the table from Jorge and Katia Torres and wondered when was the last time he’d felt this terrified. Not only would his actions and words change his life forever, they could possibly get him killed.

  “Sir, ma’am, I’ll get right to the point. I’d like to ask your daughter for her hand in marriage, and I’d like to have your blessing.” His heart raced, pounding in his chest, and ears sounded like the lead horse in the Kentucky Derby.

  The elder Torreses looked at each other, doing that thing long-married couples do, almost as if with a look they could read the other’s minds. Something he hoped he’d have with Tawny one day.

  “No,” Katia responded, crossing her arms over her belly.

  “Why? Why Tawny?” Jorge asked in his soft and gruff manner.

  Dave had thought long and hard about that very question for a couple of weeks, yet it wasn’t until she’d told him to get lost that he realized how deep his feelings for her went. “She grounds me.”

  He saw the look pass between the parents and knew he’d lost them.

  “It’s hard to explain, but when Tawny is with me, she fills those empty spaces in me. I was lost before her, wandering through life—enjoying it—but mostly existing. She’s the other half of me, and I believe I’m the other half of her. I can make her happy. I’ll never cheat on her, and I’ll love her until my dying breath.”

  Dave held still as the two of them did that mind-meld thing again. After several long minutes, Jorge got up and left the room. Dave looked to Katia Torres, knew he was not the one she’d choose for her daughter, and tried to figure out how to win her over. He’d ask Tawny either way, with or without their blessing, but he knew how important it would be to Tawny for her parents to approve.

  “Do you promise to support her dreams?” Katia asked.

  “Yes. Whatever she wants to do, I’ll stand behind her and cheer her on.”

  Jorge returned and sat back in his seat at the table. He took one look at his wife, who gave a slight head nod, and opened his hand. Katia picked up the ring and smiled.

  “This was my mother’s. She hoped one day Tawny would wear it and it would bring her granddaughter as much happiness and love as she found with my father.”

  It was more than Dave had hoped for. “I wish she could be here to thank. Since she’s not, I’ll say it to you. Thank you for your blessing and this gift.”

  As he walked to his truck, he gave Cherry a quick call.

  “Five o’clock at the gazebo, and good luck, Romeo. You’re going to need it.”

  A quick glance at his watch told him he had just enough time to run home, shower, and change. A man did not propose to a woman like Tawny in jeans and a T-shirt. It was still early enough in the day for most people to be at work, which allowed Dave to make it home in record time. Jason popped his head out the door as Dave ran past.

  “Hey, Fubar. Left something on the table for you to help. Let us know when we can pop the cork,” Jason yelled.

  Dave waved in acknowledgment and disappeared inside his upstairs apartment. He headed straight to the bathroom and set the ring on the counter before stripping and hopping in under scalding-hot water. Thanks to his upbringing, he was in and out of the shower in five minutes. Growing up, if he stayed in too long, his mom would turn the hot water on in the kitchen, which doused him with ice-cold water in the bathroom.

  “Crap.” He stalled while drying off. “I better call Mom first.”

  He finished drying off and pulled his tux out of the bag. Once he was dressed, he picked up the ring and called his mother.

  “Hi, Mom.”

  “David, is everything all right?”

  “Yeah. Why wouldn’t it be?” He held the ring up to the light. The diamond was small and round, with even smaller diamonds surrounding it. He gave it a quick breath of warm air and rubbed it on his T-shirt.

  “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because you called last night and you never call me during the day.” His mom’s voice was filled with suspicion. The lady was good. Even when he and the guys were kids, she always knew when they were up to something they shouldn’t be doing.

  “Actually, there is something I wanted to tell you. I’m going to ask Tawny to marry me today. I hope you’re okay with that, because she’s the one for me.”

  A loud squeal pierced his right eardrum. “Hey, everyone, my baby boy is getting engaged today,” she shouted to whatever unlucky souls happened to be nearby. At least they’d still have their hearing, Dave thought.

/>   “Mom. Mom. MOM,” Dave had to yell to get her attention. “I’ll take that as a yes. I’ve got to go. Love you, and thanks.”

  He pocketed the ring and strolled to the door, only remembering Jason’s words at the last minute. Sitting on the table was a long black box. What the . . . ? Dave strolled over and lifted the lid off, smiling as he saw the contents—twelve long-stem red roses. Leave it to Cupid to think of flowers. A small envelope lay on top. Dave took it out and found a blank card. He scrawled a quick note and put the card and ring inside the envelope, laid it on top of the flowers before he closed the lid, and headed out the door with what he hoped would convince Tawny he was the real deal.

  The drive to the gazebo outside of the Casino took no more than twenty minutes, yet it could have been hours. Every light turned red for him. Every person in front of him drove like they were on a sightseeing mission.

  Tawny beat him there, so he parked next to her car, grabbed the box, and said a little prayer. He rounded the corner of the Casino and stopped. Tawny leaned with her elbows propped on the railing looking out over the water, with her sweet rounded bottom sticking out. But that wasn’t what got his attention (well, not all of it). What he zeroed in on was the wistful smile he could see from here.

  She must have sensed him or seen him because she turned at that moment and their eyes met. Did she run and jump into his arms? Only in the fantasy running through his brain. His girl wouldn’t make this easy.

  He found he didn’t mind and strolled down the hill to her. She arched one brow and crossed her arms, lifting her lovely curves upward.

  She titled her head. “You’re not who I was expecting. Still, why am I not surprised to see you? Today has been a day filled with surprises and revelations.”

  “Good ones, I hope.”

  “You know what? They have been. I thought I was going to get fired because I lost it during an event on Saturday. Turns out the bride had a soft spot for crazy. So instead of getting fired, I got a couple of days off and an invitation to stay. I was also offered my job back at the bank. Well, not the same job, but the promotion Leduc denied me.”