Back to Square One (Brandon Bay Babes)

by Calbane, Noni

  She continued unlocking the cases without looking at him. Feeling his eyes on her every move, she confronted him with a glare. “Anything else?”

  “No” he said walking deeper into her domain. “I must say though, I did think of keeping her as a remembrance of our time together or possibly holding her for ransom”.

  She looked at the blonde pageboy wig in her hands for a moment, then put it down on the counter. Jasmine quickly ran her fingers through her short brown hair; wondering what he thought of her elfin Audrey look. She was certainly no Marilyn this morning!

  “Is that right?” she asked, putting her hands on her hips. “So what stopped you from entering a life of crime as a kidnapper?”

  “I discovered that it was the girl wearing the wig and not the wig itself that was of more interest and of infinitely more value” he grinned. “Also, I much prefer talking to someone who can talk back”

  She looked at him dubiously, “Pretty words Slick; what happened to preferring me with my mouth shut?”

  He walked towards her and the display case stopped him coming too close; Jasmine was undeniably glad for the separation. It was amazing how much smaller her shop felt with his presence in it. “You do have a mouth on you Blon…” he shrugged, “guess I’ll have to come up with a new nickname for you”

  “How about Not Interested?” she said with an innocent blink.

  “Like I said, a mouth” he commented, smiling like the Cheshire Cat. “For someone so little you do make a whole lot of noise”

  “If you must know, I’m not usually so vocal. In fact, I’m usually the calmest, nicest and happiest person you could meet” She wagged a finger at him, “You, Barnaby Calder, bring out the worst in me”

  “Likewise I’m sure, Jasmine” he said, holding back a laugh.

  “Who told you my name was Jasmine?” she asked curiously. The sound of her name on his lips was oddly arousing. But no, this guy had Mr. Wrong written all over him; and in permanent ink.

  “Well, it makes sense. This is Jewellery by Jasmine, and here you are”

  “I could just work for Jasmine, ever think of that?” she protested.

  He narrowed his gaze at her, “So you’re not Jasmine?”

  “No, I’m Jasmine” she admitted reluctantly with a roll of her eyes. “I just hate you making assumptions about me. Like I said, you bring out the worst”

  He put his elbows on the counter and leaned forward at her, “If only we’d use our powers for good instead of evil, think of how great we could be together”

  “Just what are suggesting?” she asked with a good dose of scepticism.

  “A truce” he said holding out his hand to shake hers, “I like you Jasmine; you don’t play games and say what’s on your mind. It’s unusual and might I add, very refreshing. I’m thinking we could be friends”

  “Friends?” she said looking at the offered hand as if she’d be shaking hands with the devil. He quickly lowered it upon seeing the horror on her face. “You baffle me, Barnaby Calder. That’s the last thing I expected you to say”

  “Good. I’m usually considered an open book to everyone I know. I kind of like being a man of mystery to someone”

  “Well, I don’t like mysteries; I’m more of science fiction kinda girl”

  “Why not take a chance” he smiled, “I make a great friend; I’m loyal, trustworthy and can keep any deep, dark secret you may have hidden”

  Jasmine snorted at his description; one thing she wouldn’t be doing was emptying her closets of skeletons in front of him!

  “Come on Jasmine; what have you got to lose. Let’s be friends” he stuck his hand out again, this time closer to hers.

  She looked at his hand again with suspicion. “How do I know you don’t have one of those buzzers on your hand, and I’m going get the shock of my life?”

  He turned his palm face up, “No buzzer Jasmine, no tricks; nothing up my sleeve. I just figure it would be better to have someone like you on my side, rather than against me”

  Jasmine looked at him intently. The penny suddenly dropped. “You know, don’t you?” she asked seriously, her eyes boring into him.

  “Know what?” he replied in bemusement, but she noticed the flicker of panic in his eyes.

  “You know that I’m Kit’s best friend”

  He took a step back and looked away from her.

  “Don’t deny it Slick. It’s written all over your face” So that’s why he had the sudden urge to get all buddy-buddy!

  “All right, I won’t deny it. Yeah, I know” Turning back to face her, he continued coolly, “You could have let me in on that little tidbit of information when I was spilling my guts to you last night about her. You and Kit must have had a great laugh at my expense”

  “To tell the truth, I haven’t said a word to her about you; except for the fact we met at the party” she frowned back at him.

  “You haven’t?”

  Shaking her head at him, she noticed he was visibly relieved, but still on edge. “So this “friends” business was just a ruse to do what exactly? Get close to Kit, or make sure the best friend didn’t tell her about what happened in the car last night?”

  His face filled with colour. “A little of both, I guess”

  Jasmine glared at him. She’d discovered his ulterior motive, but the guy actually seemed to be ashamed; could it be the arrogant jerk had a conscience? “So what now?”

  He shrugged in defeat. “I guess the ball’s in your court”

  “Oh yeah. I got your balls right where I want them” she wickedly grinned.

  He cringed at her remark.

  Jasmine laughed loudly. “Oh you should see your face” Swallowing her giggles, she cleared her throat. “Don’t sweat it Slick. Your secret’s safe with me. I suppose I can’t blame a guy for trying to get lucky; you just tried it on the wrong girl”

  His demeanour loosened up a little. “Thanks Jasmine. I appreciate it” he said nervously.

  “Doesn’t mean I think what you did was right. If you’re so in love with Kit, you shouldn’t be trying to pick up other girls at parties”

  “If I saved myself for her, I’d be a twenty-seven year old virgin” he murmured under his breath.

  Jasmine put her hand on his arm, “What did you say?”

  He looked down at her hand; embarrassed to look her in the eye. “What I mean is; that is to say” He shrugged and let it all out in a stream of words. “Aw hell, I’ve been in love with Kit Davidson my entire, pathetic life. I’ve tried to forget her; even been engaged once; but it always comes back to her.” Barnaby raised his eyes and the pain in them was clearly evident. He smiled a little sadly, trying to cover his tracks; but Jasmine knew how he felt –unrequited love sucked; she knew that from personal experience.

  Continuing he added, “Hey, I’m not excusing my behaviour; but you can’t expect a guy to hope and wait his entire life to be noticed by the girl of his dreams. It gets lonely being in limbo like that” Catching how serious he sounded, he joked, “I’m strong, but I’m only human. In other words, I have needs”

  Taking back her hand, Jasmine pondered what to say. The guy in front of her was in serious trouble; she knew for a fact that he was about to get his heart damaged by Kit all over again. He may rub her the wrong way in all the wrong places, but no-one deserved to suffer from a broken ticker; not even Barnaby Calder. Was there any way to soften the blow?

  “You still want to be friends Barnaby?” she asked grudgingly.

  “Hey, you called me by my name” he said in surprise.

  “Slip of the tongue” she answered glibly. “They say you can never have too many of them”

  “What, tongues?” he chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.

  “No, friends” she shot back with an eye roll.

  “I think that would be very nice Jasmine” he nodded.

  “Okay, then that’s what we’ll be” Jasmine let out a long breath. “Now I have a shop to run and work to do, my friend. So get th
e hell out!” she said suddenly.

  “Charming as always” he laughed as he made his way to the door. “I can already tell being friends with you will never be boring, that’s for sure”

  “Take a hike Slick” She stuck her thumb towards the door.

  “See you later, Mouth” he waved back, went out the door, passed her store window and ambled down the street.

  COMING AUGUST 2013