Ground Floor: Toys and Games

by Jorja Lovett

“Kelly’s on her break, Mr Kelsey. She won’t be long.” Without looking in his direction, she reached up to stack the boxes on the top shelf. She’d put the stockings on after all.

  “Call me Jamie. And your name is?” He couldn’t help himself. The pretty blue eyes deserved a name to go with them.

  “Jen. Jen White. Kelly’s my sister.” With cautious steps she climbed back down the ladder.

  “You can tell her I stopped by. With the stock. I hope you’re enjoying the job a little more since I last saw you.” There was an air of sadness around her that he couldn’t explain, and since she’d brightened his day from the beginning, it bothered him.

  “Yes, sir. I mean, Jamie. Thanks.” She lowered her lashes as she called him by name, showing an innocence not usually seen in a woman of her age. These days too many twenty-somethings were all about flaunting their sexuality, not hiding from it. It intrigued him. It unnerved him.

  “Right. I should go.” Like a love-struck floppy-haired fop in a British romcom, he made no attempt to leave.

  “Two visits in one day, Mr Kelsey? The other departments will be getting jealous.” Kelly returned to snap him out of whatever the hell it was he thought he was doing.

  “Let’s keep it between ourselves in that case, or they’ll all want a personal delivery.” He hoped a flirty wink in the supervisor’s direction would prove enough to halt the gossip spreading. Not that there was anything to talk about. After all, he’d sworn off women until he’d earned his place in the family business.

  Chapter Three

  “That’s us for the day.” Kelly shut down the computer and closed the till drawer.

  Jen carried on stripping down the boxes and pricing the stock, not caring about the time.

  “Did you hear me? It’s knocking off time.” Kelly shrugged on her overcoat and handed Jen’s bag to her over the counter.

  “I can finish this if you want?” Once she’d gotten into the swing of things, Jen realized the work took her mind off her problems. Maybe she should take up a hobby to stay busy when her thoughts and memories kept her from sleep.

  “You don’t get overtime you know.” Another glance at her watch and Kelly made to leave.

  “I know. I just want to finish what I’ve started.” What did she have to go home to anyway? A well-meaning, if over-bearing mother who didn’t believe her daughter should spend a minute alone in case depression finally got the better of her. And a recount of the day’s events from her sister, and now, supervisor. Some peace was worth an hour’s free labor.

  “In that case just make sure you leave before Mr Kelsey locks up for the night.” Kelly headed on to catch the bus. Jen would have to get the later one but at least she would miss the rush hour crush.

  “I will. See you later.” She turned back to the boxes and the welcome brain numbing routine.

  * * * *

  “You’re still here? They did tell you this wasn’t a live-in position didn’t they?” A familiar voice startled her some time later, and sent her pricing gun clattering to the floor.

  “Yes. I volunteered to finish up here. I’ll be on my way soon.” Since Lee, she hadn’t spent much time in male company. That had to be the reason her palms grew sweaty and she acted like a complete loser when Jamie Kelsey came near her. She still hadn’t recovered from his last visit, showing up with his clothes in disarray and setting her all flustered.

  “No rush. I’ll be here for a while myself. What’s with all the fluffy bunnies and clucking chickens?” He pulled a floppy-eared pink rabbit from the box.

  “It’s Easter soon. I suppose it’s for a promotion of some sort to get customers in over the holidays.” She shrugged her shoulders and carried on pricing.

  Jamie snorted. “I’m sure my father isn’t promoting anything. It’s more likely the suppliers have extra stock they’re looking rid of. Still, I might have an idea for this stuff. Could you help me carry it out? The trolley’s down in the loading bay somewhere.”

  Not about to say no to her new boss, Jen dutifully packed up the stuffed toys and followed him across the shop floor. For a minute she thought he was taking the piss when he led her to the side window.

  “Maybe I should go now.” She didn’t hear anyone else around and she wasn’t comfortable being on her own with this man. Not when his blond hair flopped over his eyes like that, and he chewed his lip when he was deep in thought.

  “I don’t want to keep you. I’m just trying to figure out how to boost our profile a bit without my father thinking I’ve sold my soul to the devil.” He opened the door leading out onto the display of fake flowers which had probably been there since the store was built.

  Jen blew the dust off the faded pink plastic petals. “It does have a look of the funeral parlor about it. It wouldn’t take much to liven the window up, I’m sure. Just dot a few stuffed animals around, and you could borrow a few items from around the store.”

  Jamie slipped in behind the glass to position the toys. “Hmm, I don’t think I’m particularly creative. If you take pity and help me I’m sure I could find my way to paying you some overtime.”

  The money would definitely come in handy if she ever wanted her independence. Seeing him staring blankly at the empty space, she pushed it as far as she dared. “Double time?”

  He narrowed his eyes at her before breaking into another beaming smile. “Only if you stay until it’s done.”

  “You’re on. Now we’re going to need to write a list.” A bit of fun was long overdue. It might not have been everyone’s idea of a good time, but a little creative burst took her far from the world of hospitals and sickness which still haunted her thoughts.

  She breezed through the halls making demands of her new personal assistant with glee, enjoying the control she had for once in her life. They filled a shopping basket with bits and pieces from every department until she had everything she needed.

  “You know this is just for the window, right? Not craft time at the local playschool.” He pulled out a set of poster paints and a square of red and white checked fabric.

  “Trust me.” Totally forgetting her place, she patted his cheek the way she’d always done when she’d teased Lee. She snatched her hand back, burnt with guilt at the touch of another man on her skin.

  “My career is entirely in your hands, madam.” He made a sweeping bow which went some way to putting the smile back on her face.

  “In that case we should really make a start.” The sooner they did this, the quicker she could get away from temptation.

  With both of them squeezed into the tight space, contact was inevitable.

  “Sorry.”

  “Excuse me.”

  It was like some sort of absurd courting dance as they brushed against each other and sprang away again. Every time Jamie bent down to arrange the cuddly creatures, the tail of his jacket skimmed against her leg and distracted her from the summer scene she was trying to paint. The rasp along her skin was almost intimate to someone who’d spent the last months isolated from the world.

  Jen wanted to scrunch herself into the corner to escape him and stop the awkwardness but eventually she was forced to stretch across to add detail into the far side of the glass. She reached above Jamie’s head to add some flowers and insects to her picture, their bodies so close they were virtually touching.

  “Where did you learn to paint like that?” His voice sent her paintbrush off on a tangent, turning her cartoon ladybird into a black smudge.

  She released the shaky breath she’d been holding. “I used to dabble a bit in school.”

  He stood so they were at eye level and only the width of a paintbrush apart. Thankfully he took a step back so she was able to breathe in again. “Did you study at art college?”

  “No. Unfortunately real life interrupted my plans.” If Lee hadn’t taken ill perhaps she might have gone down the art college route, but she didn’t regret a moment of time she’d devoted to taking care of him. She had the rest of her life to make plans. Sadly, he d
idn’t.

  “I’m sorry to hear that. Maybe that’s something you could look into in the future?” Jamie was only trying to be polite, she was sure, but she didn’t want to have such a personal conversation with him. The nature of her past relationship was private, sacred, and she wouldn’t divulge any details to just anyone. Not everyone would understand.

  “Perhaps.” She hadn’t really thought beyond her job here. Baby steps.

  Jen cleaned her brush, stirring it vigorously in the pot of water in her hand. She needed to finish up and get out of there before she got too comfortable with the man beside her.

  Unfortunately, her exuberant brush cleaning resulted in spilling the contents of the pot out onto Jamie’s shiny black shoes.

  ”I’m so sorry.” She bent to wipe away the puddle of muddy brown water. So did Jamie, bumping heads with her on the way down.

  “Ow!” He flinched and rubbed his temple.

  “Ouch!” Jen half laughed and mirrored his action.

  Crouched in the window, tending their wounds, they smiled at each other. The brilliance of Jamie’s eyes and the dimple in his cheeks wasn’t lost on Jen. He was a handsome guy, and so, so charming. The laughter stopped and something in the atmosphere between them changed. There was a charge, an electricity in the air which Jen was sure if she reached out to touch him would send sparks flying.

  “Well, this looks great.” Jamie broke the connection first and got to his feet.

  Jen blinked away the attraction and followed suit. She stood back to admire their work, satisfied they’d advertised their merchandise and created a seasonal showpiece. Well, it looked cute at least and the kids would love it. “I doubt we’ll win any prizes, but it will do the job.”

  “One small step at a time. The next daring plan is to introduce virtual shopping, so if you’ve any expertise there…”

  Even if she had any computer expertise she doubted she would take up the opportunity to work closely with him again. He was too easy to talk to, comfortable—and it frightened her. It was too early to even think about another man, and yet she was undeniably attracted to him. She was still trying to get her emotions in order after Lee, and she certainly didn’t need Jamie Kelsey whipping them up into another frenzy.

  “Sorry, I’m a bit of a technophobe. You’ll have to manage that one on your own. I have plenty of practice making a cuppa though, if we’re allowed to use the canteen out of hours.” Her rumbling stomach was a sign the measly ham sandwich and bottle of water she’d had for lunch clearly wasn’t enough to sustain her. If she knew her sister as well as she thought she did, there was bound to be a packet of chocolate biscuits hiding somewhere too.

  “I can do better than that. I have the keys to the restaurant.” Jamie patted his pocket and made the move to relocate from their exhibition space.

  They took the rickety lift to the top floor, keeping their distance as much as possible in the small space. It was difficult to escape the awkward silence as they smiled at each other and waited for the ding. Jamie wrenched the doors open to intense darkness and Jen waited until he found the light switch before she ventured out.

  “Tea, coffee, or hot chocolate?” He made a beeline for the barista machine and Jen wondered if this was another example of his forward thinking. Jen remembered coming here with her mother when she’d been little and the table side service that had made her terrified of spilling something over the crisp white linen tablecloth.

  “Always hot chocolate.” It would quench her thirst and give her a chocolate hit at the same time. She pulled one of the upturned chairs from the table and sat down while Jamie fussed around the hissing silver contraption.

  “Help yourself to a snack.” He pointed to the tray of crisps and packets of shortbread next to the till, but Jen didn’t want to look like a complete pig by going on a junk binge.

  The two steaming mugs he carried back to the table had chocolate streaks around the sides but she wouldn’t refuse a free drink simply because the presentation wasn’t up to scratch.

  “I feel like I’m an accessory to breaking and entering or something.” There was definitely a naughty vibe of doing something she shouldn’t being here with Jamie.

  “There have to be some perks to being the boss’ son.” He clinked his mug to hers in a toast and took a sip, leaving a film of chocolate froth on his top lip.

  “I heard you’ve enjoyed your position here to the full.” Jen arched an eyebrow and alluded to his playboy reputation. She could see why many had fallen victim to his charms if tonight was any indication.

  Jamie winced. “My reputation precedes me. I hold my hands up to some, let’s say, immature behavior. I’m concentrating on my career these days.”

  “Ah, you need to show daddy you’re a big boy now, is that it?” The teasing came as naturally as breathing now he wasn’t encroaching on her personal space.

  “Something like that. We could make this place great again if I don’t screw it up this time.” A flicker of pain sparked in his eyes and in that moment she felt a connection with him. They both needed to prove themselves, if simply for their own sakes.

  “I have faith in you.” She reached across the table to take his hand, not thinking twice about the action until a bolt of something familiar started where his skin met hers and zapped through her entire body. Jen jumped back in her seat. This wouldn’t do at all.

  “I should really get home before they send a search party out for me.” She gulped down the rest of her hot chocolate, willing to put up with a scorched mouth as punishment for forgetting the danger he presented.

  “I can give you a lift if you want?” It sounded like a genuine offer to help her out and she had no idea what time the buses ran at this time of night.

  “I’d be grateful if you could.” How much trouble could she find herself in during a twenty minute drive?

  * * * *

  She found out when she took her seat next to him in the front of the car. As soon as they closed the doors, the air was thick, heavy with anticipation.

  “Where to, m’lady?” Jamie latched his hands onto the steering wheel, the rigidity in his arms a contrast to his easy grin.

  “I live just off the Castlereagh Road. If that’s not too far out of your way?” Jen kept her eyes on the road ahead, doing her best not to look back to that handsome face.

  “Not at all. It’s the least I can do after you helped me out. So, you have someone waiting up for you?” Jamie’s question immediately drew her attention back to him.

  “No. Yes. Er, just Mum and Kelly.” She stumbled over her answer as she fought to interpret the question. Was he asking simply to make polite conversation, or was he enquiring about her relationship status?

  Either way, it was an uncomfortable topic to discuss. She wasn’t ready to go into details about her private life with anyone, let alone a man she found herself attracted to and made her question her loyalty to Lee’s memory.

  Jamie’s sigh brought her back from the brink of the despair that was always waiting to catch her unawares.

  “It must be nice to have your family close.” There was a hint of something sad in the tone of his voice and the faltering smile.

  “Well, there are times I need them and times I wish I lived on a desert island. But I guess you know that working so closely with your father.” She’d only met Mr Kelsey during her interview and he came across as quite a nice man, if a bit stern at times.

  “I think we would probably get on better if I did live on a desert island.” Jamie’s jaw tightened as his daddy issue raised its head again.

  “What about your mum?” Mrs Kelsey had never been mentioned in any of their conversations to date.

  “Dead. Your dad?”

  “Dead. I guess we have something else in common besides our hot chocolate addiction.” Jen couldn’t imagine how she would’ve gotten through life without her mother’s support. Poor Jamie only had his dad who he clearly didn’t get on with.

  If she wasn’t already freaking
out about being so close to him she might have had the urge to hug him.

  “Yeah. Maybe we should start a support group for grieving children who eat inordinate amounts of chocolate to cope with their loss.”

  “Hmm, but then we would have to share our chocolate stash.” Jen screwed up her face at the very idea.

  “Good point. We’ll make it a private club. Very select. Only two members.” The look they shared started off as a cheesy grin, but gradually morphed into that same smoldering connection they’d shared earlier.

  An oncoming car, it’s horn blaring, provided the much needed distraction for them.

  “Shit!” Jamie veered the car back into the lane, narrowly averting disaster.

  Jen gulped and braced herself on the dashboard.

  “Sorry,” he mumbled as they crossed back into safe territory.

  “No problem. This is me here, anyway.” She pointed to their two-up two-down, terraced house on the corner.

  “Thanks for all your help tonight.” Jamie reached across to place a kiss on her cheek. The burn where he touched her started on her skin and burrowed deep inside until she thought she’d internally combust. It was all she could do not to open the door and run away from the claustrophobic interior of the car.

  Chapter Four

  Jamie had intended to be the one to open up the store. Of course, his father was always one step ahead. “What on earth is going on in the window display? I didn’t give anyone permission to go decorating willy-nilly.”

  God forbid anyone should show a little initiative around here. “Maybe the Easter bunny paid us a visit during the night.”

  “Cut the crap, son. What are you playing at?” The older, greyer version of himself peered at Jamie across the desk.

  “Attempting to attract customers. The Easter holidays start next week. I thought we could, perhaps, do an offer in the toy department to get parents and children in through the doors. Buy one, get one half price deals on selected lines. Just for one week of course.” Jamie got his idea out all in one breath before his father could stop him.