“I guess I was hoping that maybe I did” he said seriously. “Get a load of me though; my hands are shaking like leaves” He held his hands out and they were indeed shaking.
Kit eyed him apprehensively, “What’s got you all shaky?” she asked hopefully.
“You” he replied simply, holding her gaze.
“Hey Kit” Barnaby stuck his head in between them.
“Go away” they both turned and said in unison.
Barnaby staggered back. “What do you mean, go away?” he said in annoyance.
Kit took the reins. “I’ll handle this” she said to J.J., “Barnaby at this moment, your presence is not welcome. So please, for the love of God, go away and give us a minute here!” she yelled. When he didn’t immediately move, Kit started making shooing motions with her hands, and he finally got the message.
“Finally” Jeff said with relief, his confidence seeming to increase and his nerves subsiding with Kit’s dismissal of Barnaby. “The coast is clear. No Jeremy, no Barnaby, no …”
“Trucker Joe?” Kit finished haughtily.
J.J. looked sheepish. “Hmm. Hoped you’d forgotten about that comment”
“I must be part elephant, because I have very good memory” she remarked with a smile.
Obviously her smile encouraged him, and he asked with a hopeful grin, “So from what I can tell, I guess I’m the last man standing. To the victor go the spoils?”
Kit raised her eyebrows, not willing to let him get off so easily. “Am I the spoils in this scenario?”
“Am I the really the victor? Or is there anyone else from high school I should know about?” he questioned with a smirk.
“You know what J.J.? -Bite me” she said, getting off the barstool and walking off.
“Oh that’s mature” he said rolling his eyes.
Kit headed for the door, and he got up and followed her.
“Are you following me?” Kit threw over her shoulder as she stomped towards the elevator.
“Yes I am” he stated matter-of-factly.
“Why, do I have toilet paper stuck to my shoe?” she said angrily pushing the down button repeatedly.
“Don’t be ridiculous. That’s not it, and you know it” he shot back.
Kit turned on him. “Do I? Then why? Why the sudden interest J.J.? I haven’t seen you in a month. If you weren’t here tonight, I doubt if we would ever have crossed paths again.”
The elevator arrived and Kit got in, and J.J. followed. Kit pressed the button for the garage. She didn’t know where the hell she was off to, but the need to flee was paramount. She gave him the evil eye from her corner of the box.
“I didn’t know” he said uneasily, not looking at her.
“Didn’t know what?” she barked.
Suddenly his hand came out and pushed the stop button. The elevator ground to a halt.
“What the hell are you doing?” Kit yelled at him.
He faced her with a determined stare. “I didn’t know that … , whoa …” Jeff slid down the wall. “I don’t feel so good”
“Oh for crying out loud” Kit said, helping him to the floor and pushing his head between his legs. Sitting beside him, she rubbed his back in a circular motion. “Of all the stupid …”
Breathing deeply he tried to answer, “I didn’t know that you and … Barnaby were not …”
“Not what?” she asked softly.
He raised his head and looked at her. “I thought you were a couple”
Kit looked dumbfounded, “Well, we’re not”
“I know. I found that out tonight” he tried for a smile and ended up looking pained. “A little bird told me.”
“Wouldn’t have been a little pink bird that’s growing out a mohawk, would it?” Kit asked pushing her hair out of her face in frustration.
“As a matter of fact; yeah. She told me you were crazy about me” he said searching her eyes for the truth.
“Well that little bird just may be extinct by night’s end” she replied pursing her lips, and sitting back against the wall of the elevator. “How are you feeling?” she added in concern.
Leaning back next to her, J.J. gazed at her with a smile. “I’ve been better”
Kit chuckled. “Why on earth did you push that button?”
“I was afraid if we tried to have another conversation, Barnaby would turn up again. This was one place he can’t bother us. But then again…” he added looking around worriedly as if Barnaby would magically appear.
Punching him in the arm, Kit teased him, “Stupid Mr. Jones, very stupid”
“I was also afraid you’d walk out and I’d never have a chance to …,” he began seriously.
“Chance to what?” she cut in.
“Kit” he said swallowing hard. “Play twenty questions with me?”
She raised her brows at him. “You know I’m not fond of that game anymore J.J.”
“Please? It helps my claustrophobia to keep talking”
She gave him a dubious look. “Okay, go ahead” she reluctantly answered. “But I’ll get it in ten” she smirked knowingly at him.
“Okay” he replied. Taking a deep breath, he started, “Are you over Jeremy?”
“You know I am. I told you”
“Just answer the question Kit Kat”
“Yes” she said dully.
“Are you over Barnaby?”
“Well I was technically never under Barnaby” she joked, but on seeing his stern face added an annoyed, “Yes”
“Are you seeing anyone else?” he asked anxiously.
She threw him a dirty look, “Are you?”
“I’m the one asking the questions here” he responded.
“And I’m the one who may or may not answer them” she replied huffily.
“I’m not seeing anyone Kit” he said in all seriousness.
“But your Uncle –“
“My Uncle has quite the imagination. I’m not the player everyone thinks I am, not even close …, never was”
Before Kit could ponder his response, he spoke again, “You didn’t answer my question”
She waved the question away, “Oh. No. I’m not seeing anyone”
Jeff sat up a little, his confidence starting to rise, and his phobia receding. “So, was Jasmine telling the truth?”
Kit looked at him with a frown. “Jasmine always tells the truth; it’s what I like most about her. So I guess the answer’s yes” she added grudgingly.
“Crazy, huh?” he asked slowly, with a broad smile.
“Yes. You definitely do make me crazy” she replied distantly.
“That’s not what I meant”
“Isn’t it? You’ll have to be a little clearer with your wording Mr. Jones. Being in the publishing business, I would have thought you’d know that”
He grinned, tongue in cheek, “Oh. You misunderstood my question?”
“Yes, I did” she replied snootily. “And that counts as a question”
“Oh that counts as a question huh?”
“Yes. And that’s another one” she said pointing at him with a laugh.
Jeff rolled his eyes. “You think you’re pretty smart, don’t you?”
“Yes I do. And that makes seven my friend”
“Crap” he swore, running his hand through his hair. “Okay” he added, calming down. “Answer me this. Are we still friends?”
Thinking about it, Kit replied surely, “Yeah. I think we can be”
“Can we be more?”
Kit licked her lips as J.J. moved in closer. “Define more?” she said carefully. It was starting to get way too hot in this elevator.
“Okay. I’ll re-ask the question as long as I’m not penalised”
“Go ahead” she waited expectantly. His face was getting closer and closer.
“Is it possible to go back to the day when I left you in Brandon Bay? After the night of fireworks? Can we get back there Kit Kat?” he said urgently.
“Is that supposed to be one quest
ion?” she asked, her breathing rapidly speeding up.
“Who cares, answer the damn question” he murmured, his lips almost touching hers.
Kit drew back a little. “No. We can’t go back J.J.”
He exhaled sharply and leaned away from her, the hurt clearly showing in his eyes, “No?”
Kit smiled sadly at him. “I’ve learnt that you can’t ever go back. It doesn’t work. The past is done and can’t be recaptured no matter how we try.” At J.J.’s bleak face, Kit added, “But we can definitely start over”
“Starting over sounds good” he said exhaling and moving in again.
“You have one more question Mr. Jones, better make it good”
“I’ll try” he said, his mouth so close she could feel his breath on her lips. “Will you kiss me Kit Kat?”
“Do you have to ask?” she replied, her lips parting in anticipation and her arms making their way around his neck.
He stopped short and pulled back. “Wait a second, was that a yes?”
“Yes J.J., oh yes” she sighed. Yes indeed.
HEAD OVER HEELS – COMING SOON
PREVIEW - Read the first two chapters
When Jasmine Peabody meets Barnaby Calder she’s unaware of who he is. All she knows is that he’s a completely obnoxious jerk. The fact that he’s the guy who’s been in love with her best friend for eons, is something that triggers warning bells in her head. An emotionally unavailable Mr. Wrong was not what she was looking for in a mate. But when it comes to love, falling ‘heed over heels’ may not be something Jasmine wants; but sometimes you don’t always get what you want!
CHAPTER 1 – Playful in Pumps
Jasmine pulled out her compact and took another look at her reflection. She’d gotten herself ready in half the time it usually took her. She was determined to have a great time tonight at the Rydekker house warming party, and not even a rushed makeup job or her Mustang’s battery dying would spoil her evening. She’d had to take a cab; yet another delay to add to her lateness. She hoped her best friend Kit wouldn’t be too angry with her; she’d told her that the she had to wait for her shop’s closing time and get ready before she could make her way there. A quick glance at the cab’s dashboard clock told her she was an hour later than the eight o’clock arrival she’d planned.
As she walked up the driveway, she could hear the music playing through the open door and she sighed; Frank Sinatra! Her choice of dress couldn’t have been more perfect. It was almost an exact replica of Marilyn’s Seven Year Itch white halter number; but in the palest pink. She had decided to go a little more conventional in the hair department for the party, and opted to sport a short blonde pageboy wig; it hid the fact that she’d been growing out her Mohawk perfectly. It went with the Marilyn vibe like white on rice, and she noted with the house as well. Charles Rydekkers’ new abode was a fifties Alexander model; just the type she imagined the Ratpack would congregate at.
As she entered the party, it was in full swing. As she predicted, she was a showstopper. Usually it was due to the Mohawk and not quite so complimentary, but this time when all eyes turned on her; it was with complete admiration. Her parents, Joseph and Marlene Peabody would be proud; not that she could care less what they would think. But growing up with a silver spoon certainly came in handy when needed; she could pull off a soiree like this with her eyes closed.
“Jasmine, or should I say Marilyn; so nice to see you” Charles Rydekker commented, taking in her attire with more than a little hesitation on her ample chest.
“Nice of you to have me Charles” she said in a breathy voice; if she was going to play the part, why not go the “whole hog”.
“The bars over there; help yourself” he said warmly, pointing towards the back of the living room. “But be warned, I’ll be looking for you later”
Jasmine grinned. “I’m sure you will” she replied, thinking with dread that he could be looking for wife number four.
As she made her way through the throng, she looked around for Kit. Where the hell was she? She’d come to this shindig with the knowledge that her BFF would be there; but so far she was nowhere in sight. Tamping down her irritation, she spotted an empty barstool calling her name. Oh well, might as well get a drink, she thought glumly. No use looking like a lost sheep amongst the wolves. And there were certainly wolves aplenty; from what she could see; Charles Rydekker included. This could be fun and she needed to keep her wits about her; but one drink certainly couldn’t hurt.
Propping herself up on barstool, she sighed heavily. “What can I get you beautiful?” said the blonde, buff bartender, grinning at her with interest.
Jasmine grinned back with wide-eyed innocence, “I was wondering, do you have any pink champagne?”
He looked baffled, “Well I'm not sure, I can check; hang on just one minute” He left the bar in search of her request. Jasmine was pleased as punch. She touched her blonde wig in reverence; maybe blondes did have more fun. They certainly seemed to get men to do their bidding, at the very least. The fact that the bartender was employed to do her bidding seemed to have conveniently slipped her mind.
“I’m pretty sure it tastes like the regular stuff” said a voice from the barstool beside her.
“Excuse me?” she asked turning to face the voice. Nice profile, she thought. Pity he was nursing a glass full of scotch, and not his first from the slur in his words.
“Pink champagne tastes like the regular stuff” he replied gruffly, turning to her with a lopsided smirk.
“Oh, I just want it because it’s pink, I don’t care what it tastes like” she said brushing off his comment with a smile. Getting a better look at her bar companion, Jasmine whistled inwardly. Wow, he was a cutie-pie; even if he’d had one too many. Maybe tonight’s party wouldn’t be a total fiasco with Kit MIA after all.
He snorted. “Quite the connoisseur, aren’t you?”
She frowned at him with a look of disdain, “And you’re quite the party pooper; aren’t you?
He immediately backtracked. “Sorry; just not in the mood for a party, I guess”
“Strange that you would come to one then, isn’t it?” Jasmine said with sarcasm; re-evaluating her previous assessment of her neighbour; he was no longer a cutie-pie, just an obnoxious drunk.
The bartender returned from wherever he was searching, “Sorry, no pink champagne. Maybe you’d like to try a nice rose’; it’s sort of pink”
“That would be lovely” she said sweetly.
The rude man beside her snorted. Jasmine raised one eyebrow at him until he noticed her staring him down. “What?” he remarked.
“Maybe you should lay off the hard stuff for a while Slick; your mood may improve. Who knows, you may even be fit for human society” she replied haughtily. Oh darn, she sounded like her mother; that was just the sort of thing she’d say; though usually behind people’s backs.
“You know what Blondie” the jerk said, “You may be right”. He pushed his scotch glass away and took a sweeping glance over Jasmine and all her worldly goods. She could feel the blush go over her as his blue eyes took her in.
“Oh bartender” she spoke through gritted teeth, “A ginger-ale for my friend here, please; apparently his wagon has arrived.”
“Sure thing” the barman responded, quickly snapping the tab on a can and pouring it over a tall glass of ice. “There you go, sir”
“Thanks” the surly barfly barked. He smirked again at Jasmine. “Now about improving my mood” he said leaning closer to her, “How about hitching yourself to my wagon and we go somewhere and work on that”
“Sorry Slick” she smirked back, getting off the barstool, rose’ in hand, “I don’t do charity work”. As she walked away she threw a glance back at him; his jaw had dropped open in astonishment and what Jasmine believed to be a little awe. Good, she thought smugly, the rude SOB.
It was eleven o’clock when Jasmine decided that it was probably time to go. It looked like Kit was a definite no-show. There would ce
rtainly be words said tomorrow when she got a hold of her. The party was starting to disintegrate into a group of misfits who pretty much had nowhere else to go on a Saturday night; her included. She noticed Slick eyeing her from across the room from time to time; but she ignored his solemn stare. The man was impossible; what the hell was his problem?
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