Back to Square One (Brandon Bay Babes)

by Calbane, Noni

  “Jasmine, there you are” Charles cornered her on the way to the little girls’ room. “You’re not leaving, are you?” He leaned towards her in a predatory way.

  “No, nature calls” she said honestly.

  “Oh” he replied, obviously a little put off by a woman who pees.

  Jasmine almost laughed in his face; Charles was in no way a ladies man or a serious threat. He’d just had a little too much to drink and was quite taken with his charms. The fact that most ladies weren’t enamoured by his rotund persona, didn’t seem to faze him in the least. Still, she had to give it to the man; he’d managed to accrue three wives over the years.

  A sudden movement to Jasmine’s right had her arm being pulled rather roughly by an unknown assailant away from her host. “Ready to go?” the thug said quickly, moving them both towards the door.

  “You?” she retorted, turning around and wrenching her arm out of his grasp. “You know what Slick, I don’t know who the hell you think you are, but I’m not going anywhere with you”

  He frowned at her, “I thought I was doing you a favour. That guy had you cornered”

  “That guy was harmless” she replied with a roll of her eyes. “Look friend, I don’t need a knight in shining armour to ward off the dragons, I can handle anything that comes my way”

  “Can you now?” he put his hands on his hips and looked at all five-foot-three of her.

  “Yes indeedy, I can. So … don’t get your knickers in a knot on my account; because nobody messes with me” she then grinned wickedly, “unless I want to be messed with”

  He shook his head at her in exasperation. “Look Blondie, I don’t think you quite realise it, but every guy has had his eye on you this evening; hoping he’d be the lucky one to take you home”

  “Really?” she said in amazement; well that was news to her. She noticed him getting an eyeful, but others?

  “Yeah, really” he leaned in and whispered in her ear, “You’ve got a body made for sin and think it’s wise for me to take you home before you get yourself into trouble”

  “For sin you say? So, can I ask, who made you the Pope?” She stepped back from his close proximity and crossed her arms over her chest. His eyes immediately noticed how it pushed her girls up even more pertly. “And just how do I know I’d be safe with you? You seem to be in the mood for a little sinning yourself.” she added, following his gaze.

  “Believe me, I am in no way interested in doing the horizontal mambo with you, Blondie. That’s why I’m the perfect guy to escort you home” he remarked crossing his own arms across his chest. “I wouldn’t touch you with a ten foot pole”

  Jasmine looked him up and down in wide-eyed innocence, “You got a ten foot pole Slick?”

  He cleared his throat and she laughed heartily. The guy almost seemed human when he was uncomfortable. “You know what? I might just take you up on your offer Big Boy. Not because I think my virtue is in any danger from anyone here or even you; but I came by cab and you’ll save me the ten bucks fare getting home”

  “Well okay then” he said in agreement. “Let’s go” He took her elbow and she stopped short.

  “Just hold on a moment; I don’t go anywhere with strangers. What’s your name?”

  “My friends call me … Slick” he grinned. When she didn’t budge, he added, “My name’s Barnaby. Barnaby Calder”

  Jasmine scowled at him.

  “What?” he asked grumpily, “now my name is pissing you off too?”

  “Yeah; it certainly is” she said glumly as he looked on in confusion.

  CHAPTER 2 – Sneaky in sneakers

  “You’re awfully quiet”

  “How would you know? You don’t even know me” Jasmine replied, gazing out the car window as they sped along the winding road to downtown Brandon Bay.

  She was still in shock. Jasmine couldn’t believe it. So this guy was Barnaby Calder. The Barnaby Calder.

  Kit certainly hadn’t done him justice in the “cute” department. He was six foot two of scrummy. Throwing him a sidelong glance, Jasmine blew out a long breath. He was a hottie; that was for sure; even if he had the personality of a wet blanket.

  So Slick was in love with her friend, Kit. What an odd turn of events, that they both had her in common. He was the guy Kit had grown up with. The guy Kit hadn’t seen since high school and had recently encountered again; the guy who had declared undying love to her way back when, and seemingly still felt the same way.

  Jasmine had no business being with him; not when Kit had told her of the sparks that flew the night they got reacquainted. It didn’t matter that he insisted he wasn’t at all interested in her, and she thought him a complete and arrogant jerk. The fact remained that he had no idea that she knew Kit; and Jasmine wasn’t quite sure what would happen if he did?

  Taking another quick glimpse at him, she shook her head. She frankly couldn’t see him with Kit; no way, no how. It just wasn’t possible. But then again, maybe he had hidden attributes she just didn’t know about. Ten foot pole? She almost giggled at the thought and had a hard time keeping her eyes above his waist. Perhaps she could do a little detective work on Kit’s behalf; find out if Mr. Barnaby Calder was still feeling the love for her friend Kit or not. He’d certainly tried his best earlier in the evening to get friendly with her; but maybe it had been just the scotch talking.

  “So … Slick” she started with a smile, “why so glum at the party?”

  He looked her way. “Oh, you still here” he joked, “I thought I lost you on the highway five miles back”

  She tried to cover her tracks. “Guess I’m a little tired. Sorry for not talking”

  “No problem Blondie”. He cast her a glance, “Just give me directions when we’re getting close to your place. Otherwise, I actually prefer you with your mouth shut.”

  “O-kay” she said slowly. “You’ve now just encouraged me to know the story of your life” When he was about to protest, she continued, “You may not like the sound my voice; but I’m most certain you like your own”

  He chuckled. “You sure do have a mouth on you. What do you want to know?”

  “Why so glum at the party?” she repeated.

  He exhaled. “If you must know I was hoping to see someone there”

  When he didn’t elaborate, she prodded, “they didn’t show?”

  “No, she was there all right” he said flatly. “She left with another man”

  “Oh” Jasmine said softly. So Kit had been at the party; but she’d evidently left him high and dry. She wondered who it was she’d left with. “The man. Anyone you know?”

  “Jeffrey Jones” he said with venom. “When he turned up, she threw her arms around him and they ran out of there like they couldn’t get away quick enough”

  “Is she your girl? Is that why you were drinking yourself into a scotch induced stupor?”

  He turned on her, the anger clear in his voice, “Kit Davidson was never my girl. And I’d be out of my cotton-picking mind to even think that she could be, … although,”

  “Although, what?”

  His grim line of a mouth hinted at a smile. “She did try to kiss me recently”

  “Tried?” Jasmine asked innocently; but she knew the story. “Did she miss or something?” she kidded, trying to find out his side of the tale.

  “If you must know, I pushed her away” he said with shame. “It’s not that I didn’t really want to kiss her; it’s just that … Oh, hell I don’t know” He added regretfully, “Maybe I should have shown her what she’s been missing all this time”

  Jasmine pondered what he’d told her. She remembered Kit visiting her the day after the non-kiss happened. Kit had foolishly tried to act on the spark she’d felt between them. Barnaby had pulled away from her, telling Kit he didn’t want her anymore. As Jasmine suspected, his reaction was pure macho bravado; he’d wanted to hurt Kit for her indifference all these years; and now he was paying for it.

  He shook his head sadly. “Even
if we had kissed, she still ran off with another guy tonight”

  Yep. Paying for it badly. “Seems you got it bad Slick”

  He raised his eyebrows at her. “I guess I do”

  “Pull over” she said quickly.

  “Why?”

  “Because, here’s where I get out” she replied, pointing at the row of neat little houses coming up on the right.

  He pulled his BMW over and Jasmine’s hand went for the door. “Thanks for the ride” she politely said, hoping for a quick getaway.

  “Hey” he said quietly, and she turned to face him. “You know, I could really go for a coffee”

  Jasmine looked at the time on the dashboard in front of them. “Unfortunately, everything is closed by now. Guess you’ll have to do without”

  “You could invite me in” He gave her a meaningful look.

  She leaned in and whispered in his face, “I don’t drink coffee” It was a lie, she was a coffee fiend, but he didn’t have to know that. Why was he coming on to her again? Was he doing this as some sort of unconscious retaliation for Kit’s leaving with another guy?

  “Maybe some tea and sympathy then?” he asked with a wink. “I’d be happy to settle for anything you have to offer”.

  She smirked back, “I don’t settle Slick”

  Barnaby chuckled. “Oh come on Blondie, what’s the harm. You gotta admit, there’s something going on here” he added, with a hand gesture going back and forth between them.

  Pushing open the door, Jasmine made a move to get out. “You’re out of your mind; and the only thing going is me” she said disgustedly, swinging her legs out of the car.

  “Wait” he said quickly. “I’m sorry … I just thought …”

  She stood leaning in through the open car door “Well, you thought wrong Buster” He opened his mouth to speak again, but she continued and cut him off, “You’re an arrogant, obnoxious jerk Barnaby Calder. This evening you have not only insulted my intelligence; you’ve manhandled me, implied that I’d go home with any Tom, Dick or Harry; and now you have the gall to come on to me; even though you just told me you’re basically in love with another girl!”

  “Blondie, listen …” he said with his hands up in surrender.

  Jasmine narrowed her eyes at him. “And that’s another thing, stop calling me Blondie” she spat angrily. “In fact,” she went on, putting her hand on her head, “You like blondes so much, maybe you should take one home this evening” With that, she ripped the wig from her head and threw it at him.

  Stomping away from the car, she resisted the urge to turn back and get a load of his face. She bet it was priceless. Jasmine grinned like a fool all the way up to her front door. She heard the beamer drive off behind her as she stuck in her key. Turning around, she saw the taillights fade as it went round the corner. Crap, that wig cost her two hundred bucks; but then again, it had been worth twice that much to get back at that SOB. Arrogant jerk!

  ******

  Damn! The phone was ringing! Didn’t her head just hit the pillow?

  “Yeah?” she said, yawning and looking at the clock. Cripes, two-thirty!

  “Jasmine, it’s me”

  “Kit, what’s wrong?” she replied in a panic.

  “Nothing’s wrong” she giggled.

  “Kit?”

  “Jasmine, you’ll never guess what happened” she sighed back.

  She snorted with annoyance, realising that it wasn’t an emergency. “At two-thirty, I don’t want to guess. Just tell me”

  “J.J. and I, well, we’re a couple” Kit said breathlessly.

  “You and the incomparable Jeffrey Jones?” she questioned, sitting up in bed in a tizzy.

  “Yep”

  “Details?” Jasmine queried.

  “I don’t know how it happened exactly. One minute we were fighting, the next we were making out in his Lexus” she said giddily.

  Smiling at her friend’s happiness, Jasmine weighed in, “I guess I can’t really be angry with you for standing me up then; although I was pretty upset at the time”

  “I’m sure you made the best of it” Kit commented.

  “Hmm” Jasmine pondered. Should she tell her about meeting Barnaby Calder?

  “What’s up Jas?”

  Darn; Kit could read her like a book. “I met Barnaby at the party. He’s certainly not what I imagined” she said slowly.

  “Yeah; he’s a great guy. I’m really going to hate hurting him. He and I really need to talk and clear the air”

  “A great guy?” Jasmine rankled, “why he’s the most stuck-up, obnoxious prig I think I’ve ever met. And believe me, coming from Knob Hill society I’ve met some doozies in my time”

  Kit giggled at her. “Seems like he made quite the impression”

  “Yeah. A bad one”

  “I must admit Barnaby has changed since high school. He never used to be so … intense” Kit remarked matter-of-factly.

  “Intense?” Jasmine guffawed. She could think up a few more choice and colourful words to describe the jerk better. “By the way, I can safely say he was more than a little peeved that you left the party with J.J.”

  Kit sighed loudly at the mention of Jeffrey Jones’ name.

  “Don’t tell me, I know”

  “Know what?” Kit asked.

  “I knew J.J. was the one from the very beginning. I could tell by the way you looked when you talked about him” Jasmine grinned, then asked the question foremost in her mind. “What I don’t understand is how you could possibly have had sparks with Barnaby Calder. The man is a Neanderthal”

  “My sparks with Barnaby were nothing compared to the fourth of July with J.J.” Kit uttered sweetly.

  “Oh, mush” she retorted sarcastically. “When do I get to meet this dreamboat?”

  “Come for breakfast with us tomorrow and you can meet him”

  “Okay, just tell me when and where” Jasmine replied.

  As Kit filled her in on the breakfast details, Jasmine couldn’t help thinking; Barnaby Calder didn’t stand a chance again Jeffrey Jones. Kit was head over heels for him. Must be nice to feel that way, Jasmine thought sadly. She had once; but that felt like a lifetime ago. Maybe it was time to let the past go and try again. Of course, she’d need a man for that; and the good ones certainly didn’t grow on trees.

  Could her heart take another beating? Was Mr. Right out there or was the world filled with Mr. Wrongs? Only time would tell; maybe tomorrow Mr. Right would walk through her shop door? It was a thought worth wishing for.

  “So I’ll see you tomorrow?” Kit continued.

  “Um, yeah” Jasmine replied catching the last of the conversation. “Tomorrow”

  *****

  Jasmine walked down the street swinging her arms as she went. That went extremely well. Not only was Jeffrey Jones gorgeous and charming, he was most definitely returning Kit’s feelings two-fold. She had a good feeling about those two; no, not just good, a great feeling. Wearing a fit and flared sundress with little pink hearts on it, she smiled at no-one in particular and almost skipped as she made her way to her shop.

  Patting a stray dog on the head as she passed Fred’s diner, she took a quick peep inside. Towards the back of the diner, she saw a man engulfed in a newspaper. When he lowered it, a scowl crossed her face in an instant; Slick Calder had clearly found a place to have coffee. Damn the man, just seeing him again got her knickers in a knot; he was insufferable!

  She quickly crossed the road to her shop, opened up and raced inside. Whew! Here’s hoping he wasn’t the sort to browse the shops in town; although she hardly thought that her shop, Jewellery by Jasmine would hold much interest for him. Knowing he was just in town for the weekend to visit his parents gave her some relief. According to Kit, he now lived and worked in Silicon Valley; so with any luck, he’d be leaving town soon and she wouldn’t have to see him again.

  Unlocking the display cases in the front of the store, she heard the bell on the door chime. “Be with you in a second�
�� she called out from her bent position. When no-one responded, she stood up and her face drained of colour.

  Barnaby stood in the entrance with her blonde wig swinging around on the tip of his finger. Wearing a white t-shirt, low slung jeans and sneakers, Jasmine’s heart skipped a beat as his laughing blue eyes penetrated her from the doorway.

  “Lose something?” he said with a smirk, tossing it across the room. Jasmine caught it easily. “Thanks” she said snappily, quickly regaining her composure under his snarky stare. “This thing cost me a fortune, it would have been a shame to have never seen her again”