“Not if I see you first”
Kit saluted him and ran across the street towards Jasmine’s shop. J.J. turned and walked down the street in the rain towards the Inn, still grinning like an idiot.
CHAPTER 18 - Hat Trick
Sitting at Gillman’s the following Friday, Kit and Jasmine examined the events of the past week.
Kit was still dodging the Barnaby bullet and had managed to avoid him without much effort. If he’d really been so desperate to talk to her, he knew where she lived. She couldn’t put it off forever, but she also felt that Barnaby was dragging his heels a little with regard to whatever he had to say. Perhaps it wasn’t so important after all? She’d met his mother, Mary, at the market and heard that he wasn’t going to stay the entire two weeks as planned, and was returning home to Silicon Valley Saturday morning. Another time, another place, Kit thought with a smile; and she couldn’t be happier about that.
She and Jasmine also discussed the perplexing and devastatingly handsome Mr. Jeffrey Jones. And after relaying her entire encounter with him, her friend was nothing if not convinced about what she thought. “He’s in love with you” she concluded.
“Who? J.J.? No!” Kit said firmly.
“Why did he seem so upset about Jeremy and Barnaby then?”
“I have no idea. But according to you, I now have three men in love with me? Do you know how ridiculous that sounds?”
“What can I say, you’re on a roll”
“What can I say; I think you’re the one who’s on something”
They both laughed.
“So what are you going to do now?” Jasmine asked eagerly.
“A wise woman once told me to do nothing” Kit smiled and took a sip of her diet coke. She’d closed the Iron curtain for now and was vowing sobriety for the time being.
Jasmine looked glum. “That may have been a wise thing to say at the time; but there’s certainly no entertainment value in it”
“This isn’t some perverse version of the “Dating Game” in your eyes, is it?”
Jasmine answered her with a grin. “No, it’s better. You can actually see the three guys competing for you. They’re not behind some screen.”
Kit rolled her eyes. Guys didn’t compete for Kit Davidson. Jasmine was living in an alternate world if she believed that; and Kit was not going to visit her there. “Well if you don’t mind, I think I’ll pass on all three for now and just keep on with my painting” she told her emphatically. “I’ve spent my whole life waiting for the phone to ring; believing the whole “I’ll call you” routine and thinking some guy will eventually feel what I feel for him. So now, I’m just going to let nature take its course, put romance out of my mind, and not worry about whether I have a date for New Year’s Eve or Valentine’s Day”
“If you don’t, you can always count on me as your date”
“Ditto”
“But if you had to choose” Jasmine beamed, “I know which one I’d pick, if I were you”
Kit raised a brow. “Oh. Which?”
“The one that makes your eyes sparkle and your face flush when you talk about him”
Narrowing her eyes, Kit scrutinised her friend. “And which one would that be?”
“That’s for me to know and you to find out, Cleopatra.”
“Cleopatra?”
“Yeah, I think you’re the Queen of Denial at the moment”
“Oh you don’t know squat-diddly Jasmine Peabody” Kit laughed. “I want romance about as much as Hugh Hefner wants FDA approval pulled on Viagra”
“I know I want you to be happy”
“I am happy –without a guy in my life” Kit exclaimed sincerely. Reflecting on what she’d just said, she nodded her head in agreement with herself. Yeah, she was happy.
Jasmine clapped her hands excitedly. “I’ve got it!”
“What have you got? And do I want to know?” Kit asked.
“I’ve been pondering what to sing tonight and now I have the perfect song. Wait here.” she said, getting up from the table.
“Wild horses couldn’t drag me!” Kit shot back at her.
“Yeah but they may stampede after hearing me sing” Jasmine laughed back.
Rushing towards the stage at breakneck speed; after a few moments, Jas broke into a spirited and completely out of tune version of “It’s Raining Men” and Kit couldn’t help but smile.
It certainly was the perfect song; but she had no intention of getting wet!
CHAPTER 19 - Great Minds think alike
The swell of the ocean was awe inspiring and Kit couldn’t help but sigh at its perfection. The sun twinkled on the waves as they made their foaming way to the shore and the sky was almost a periwinkle blue. Capturing it would be difficult, she thought with dismay, but she would try her best to catch its elusive beauty.
Hearing a car door slam close by, Kit sighed. Craig’s Cliff was no doubt a favourite with the tourists, and avoiding them was almost as difficult as keeping your eyes on “Trucker Joe’s” face when he thrust his crotch in your direction.
When she heard footsteps headed her way, Kit was already packing up her gear to make a move. It was a stupid idea to try and do some work on a Saturday, it was best to leave it for a Monday or Tuesday when the visitors had departed Brandon Bay en masse.
“Hope I’m not interrupting you” said a familiar voice from behind.
Kit smiled without turning. “I was just packing up to leave.”
J.J. moved to her side. “How’s it going Kit Kat?”
“Great. And how could it not be with a view like this” she replied with a sweeping arm at the ocean in front of them.
“I must say I’m impressed with your Brandon Bay. I can see why Charles is so taken with the place” he said looking out to sea with his hand shielding his eyes from the sun.
Looking at J.J. in profile, Kit was stunned to find him even more attractive than she remembered. His turning up out of the blue when she least expected it, was becoming a habit that could become addictive; if she let it. Did he purposely seek her out, or was it pure luck that they kept bumping into one another? “Quite a coincidence meeting you up here Mr. Jones; one might think you’re following me” Kit jested.
He gave her a guilty grin. “It’s not a coincidence. I simply asked Fred at the diner where someone would go if they wanted the best view of the sea; and if they had the inclination to paint it”
“Oh, are you taking up painting?” she smirked.
“Nope. But I was hoping to take my favourite artist to lunch though”
“Sounds great. Help me pack up and I’ll follow you with my car”
After loading up Kit’s hatchback, they drove in tandem to a little café on the outskirts of town. Taking a seat on the outdoor patio, they basked in the warm mid-September sun.
“This place is cute; must be new” she stated, stretching lazily in her chair.
“Glad you like it” he shot back somberly, watching her catlike movement with interest. “I discovered it with Charles on our way into the wine country last month. As far as I’m concerned I’ll take one of their burgers over five-star dining any day. Just wait and see. Their burgers are to die for”
Kit leaned forward with her elbows on the table, “Now how did you know I was a burger and fries kinda girl?”
“I didn’t. But I’m burger and fries kinda guy myself”
“Well, don’t we make a fine pair then” she grinned.
Jeff gave her a slight smile back and changed the subject, “Charles found a house today; he’s making an offer this afternoon”
“Fantastic. Where is it?”
“Up in the hills overlooking the sea. Redwood Drive, I believe”
Kit let out a whistle of appreciation. “Pretty pricey up there”
“He can afford it. He’s going to do a few renovations and then throw a huge party when it’s done –you’re invited by the way”
“Thanks. Can I bring someone?”
J.J. played with
his napkin, “A date?” he queried, not looking her in the eye.
She shrugged. “Well if Jasmine counts as a date, then yeah, a date”
J.J. exhaled in understanding. “Oh, a girlfriend”
Their drinks arrived and Kit emptied her glass with a straw in moments. “Man, I was thirsty” she said with an exhausted sigh.
“I can see that. Want another coke?”
“Please”
Their burgers were placed in front of them momentarily, and Kit gasped at the generous size of them. They both messily dove into them with abandon. It was nice not having to eat like she was on a date or out to impress. She’d always hated pretending she wasn’t hungry so that some guy wasn’t imagining a future with Jabba the Hutt. In fact, she was so comfortable that she began stealing J.J.’s fries from his plate, and he took great joy in slapping her hand away when she did so.
Finishing their meal with a warm and milky latte’, Kit gave a huge sigh. “That was so good, wasn’t it?”
Jeff gave her a crooked smirk. “What I managed to scoff down was very good, before someone started stealing what didn’t belong to them”
Kit gave him a kittenish pout, “Don’t you know things are always more desirable when they’re not yours?”
“They sure are” he uttered with a pensive stare.
A small silence ensued and Kit noticed J.J.’s change in mood. “So how are things at McIntyre and Jones?” she asked, shifting topics.
His face tensed and he gained a look of resignation, “The usual; all about the bottom line and nothing else. I keep hoping it will change. But the board is full of my father’s cronies and well, … It’s just that … well, I just wish that …”
“Yeah? Go on” she probed at his apprehension in spilling.
“I just wish we didn’t have to publish some of the things we do; and that we did the type of magazine that doesn’t automatically become tomorrow’s garbage” he blurted out.
He looked so miserable, Kit wanted to reach out and comfort him so badly, it hurt. He was being way too hard on himself. “Does your father know how you feel?”
“He’s somewhat preoccupied with wife number four right now”
“Oh?”
“They’re currently on their honeymoon; cruising the Greek Isles”
“But if he knew how you felt-”
“It wouldn’t matter” Jeff sighed. “These days the publishing business is not about giving the facts; it’s about dishing the dirt. That’s where the money is. And my dad knows it, as well as I do. I’m afraid I’m destined to publish material that doesn’t deserve to see the light of day”
“For sure, some of the stuff M & J print is not fine literature; but America Now is a great magazine” she stated emphatically, touching his arm.
“Is that the one you fact checked on?”
Kit nodded.
“Well, now you know why you were let go” he added with a sad smile.
Kit thought about that. She hadn’t pondered “the why” of why she lost her job; only the inconvenient ill-timing of it. “So are you shutting down America Now totally?”
“Not yet. It was my baby, so to speak, so I’m doing everything I can think of to save it. We’re reducing circulation and cutting costs as much as we can –but it’s only a matter of time”
“I’m sorry J.J.” she frowned with compassion. “It doesn’t seem fair that all those horrible trashy rags at the supermarket do so well, and something of quality gets tossed by the wayside like that”
Jeff cringed at her remark. “I guess you have to give the people what they want” he said forlornly.
“I don’t think that’s the case. I don’t think that people really know what they want unless somebody tells them. We all go through life being told by the media how to look, how to feel, what car to drive. Don’t know what to eat –watch Giada; don’t know what to wear –Vogue or Elle’s for you. Got ice to sell, get Jennifer Anniston to pitch it –and Eskimos will be lined up round the corner”
“Maybe we should put Jennifer Anniston on the cover of America Now?” he commented sarcastically.
Kit slapped the table loudly. “Why not?”
J.J. looked at her doubtfully. “I’m not going to compromise my magazine for the sake of sales Kit”
“Who says you have to compromise. Maybe Jennifer has something important to say about the environment or politics or something equally worthwhile?”
Narrowing his eyes at her, J.J. tapped his chin in thought. “Give the people what they want, but wrap it in a glamorous and irresistible way?”
“Exactly. It’s still the same America Now; just packaged in a more eye-catching manner. Half the problem is getting someone to pick it up at the magazine stand. Once they read it, the quality shines through and readership will go up –I’m positive. Believe me, it’s a great magazine –my job was to read it, so I know that for a fact. It just needs … tweaking. Perk up the cover shot and change the graphics to something less staid and … wa-la”
J.J. smiled at her enthusiasm; although at this point, pessimism rather than optimism was more his mood. “It’s not a bad idea. I’ll look into it on Monday; couldn’t hurt to run it by my team, see what they think. Right now, any idea or fresh approach is more than welcome.” He stopped and said seriously, “Thanks for caring Kit Kat”“What are friends for?” Kit chuckled, pretending to buff her nails on her shirt and added, “And you thought I was just a pretty face”
“Nooo, you’re definitely much more than that”
“A woman of substance?” she joked.
“Something like that.” J.J. gave her an appraising look and cleared his throat. “So, … made out with anyone special lately?”
Kit pretended to look offended, but she knew by now that no topic was off limits between them. She decided to turn the tables on him and asked with a grin, “Why do you want to know? Is your love life so lacking in excitement, that mine seems fascinating to you?”
“My love life may not be quite as active as yours, but it’s just fine, thank you very much” he said a little stiffly.
“Oh, is that right. Then I’d very much like to hear about it” she nagged. “We talk about mine altogether way too much”
Crossing his arms he asked, “What exactly do you want to know?”
Kit took a moment to think up a really good question. “So tell me J.J., are you really the hot stuff the water cooler girls make you out to be?” she mocked, leaning towards him.
J.J. also bent forward, close enough that she could feel his breath on her face, “You want to find out Kit Kat. Just try me?”
Kit drew back quickly and laughed shakily. J.J. was an incorrigible tease and way too sexy for his own good. “No thanks, I’ll take their word for it; wouldn’t want to get burned by you, Mr. Hot Stuff”, she then added, “Besides, I’m hardly your type”
“What do you know about my type?” he said sitting back in his seat once again.
“Like everyone else, I’ve seen the pictures in the paper” she said slowly, “Don’t you usually go for the tall skinny model types, who’d probably blow away in a stiff breeze”
“Contrary to what you think, I’m a little more particular than that”
“What do you want in woman then?” she asked propping her elbows on the table and her face in her hands in anticipation.
“Oh nothing much” he said nonchalantly “She just has to be kind; considerate; a sense of humour is a definite must; honest; loyal; and hopefully as beautiful on the outside as she is inside”
“Nothing much, huh?” Kit wilted. His dream woman was apparently Barbie with a PHD. “Well I hope you find your paragon of virtue J.J. But remember, sometimes what exists in your head, doesn’t always exist in reality”
J.J. looked out into the distance, “Oh she’s out there alright, she just doesn’t know I exist” he added with regret.
CHAPTER 20 - Go for broke
Charles Rydekker’s new house was a nineteen-fifties Alexander style
bungalow belonging entirely to another era. Since buying it a month ago, he had meticulously renovated it to resemble his childhood home, grass-cloth wallpaper and all. It was mod and funky and very “Mad Men”. Kit fully expected June Cleaver to exit the kitchen at any moment, hors d’oeuvres in hand, and wearing a frilly apron.
Kit felt right at home in Jasmine’s Jackie ‘O’ inspired little black dress that fit like a glove. The fact it didn’t fit like O.J.’s glove was a testament to her happiness; she hadn’t needed a visit from Ben and Jerry for quite a while.
Back to Square One (Brandon Bay Babes) Page 11
