by Cary Hart
“Ditto!” A sweet sound torments me from the kitchen.
I rub my palms over my face, because this is the last voice I wanted to hear this morning. This is the sound I was trying to get a break from. If I don’t hear it at work, I hear and see her in my dreams. Remembering the dream I had just a few hours ago, I adjust my cock and holler back. “What in the hell are you doing here so early, Nat?”
Rounding the corner with a coffee in both hands, she comes to stand in front of me. “Still take it black?” She offers the cup with a nervous smile.
“Oh shit,” I reply.
“No feces, just Folgers.” She smirks. “Do you want the coffee or not?”
“Depends. Have you watched ‘Nine to Five’ lately and if so, which character do you associate with the most?” I take the coffee from her hand and inspect it for rat poison. “What is this stuff?”
I begin to get a little nervous, sweating at the brow, wondering if she really is trying to poison me. I would poison me. I’ve been a dick all week by trying to hide her meetings and sticky note reminders that Daisy had left her.
“OH, that’s just sugar.” She looks up at me, batting her lashes, takes the cup and licks the goddamn edge of the fucking mug. “Oops! My bad, wrong cup…that’s mine.”
“Can you put that tongue away?” I don’t mean it. That tongue could stay out all day and replay the image branded in my mind.
“Sorry.” She blushes, then turns and heads toward her office. “Oh, and by the way, the next time you try to screw me over can you make sure I actually enjoy it?” She disappears into her office and storms back out with the missing sticky notes and attempts to throw them at me, but they stick to her fingers.
I creep my way over to her, not really sure what she is going to do, and giving myself some time to come up with an excuse. Really there isn’t any excuse for the way I’ve been acting. “Sweetheart—” I start to plead.
“Don’t sweetheart me. I’m not part of your Alphabet Gang.” She looks pissed.
“My what?”
“The Alphabet Gang, all the girls you screw, you shorten their names to just the first letter…” She fidgets. Her lack of confidence is now obvious.
I can’t help it, I bark out a laugh. “And you know this how?”
“Katrina, the personal shopper from the mall, is ‘K’ and Tatiana, the interior designer of the Oakwood Project, is ‘T.’” The look of jealousy on her face turns me on more.
“Nat, those women—”
“I don’t care, Colin. What I do care about is why you would try to jeopardize my career?”
“I don’t know what you are—”
“Don’t even try to play that game with me.” She steps closer now, so close we are almost touching. “You know exactly what I’m talking about.” She pokes me in the chest. “And I want to know why. What did I ever do to you?”
“What did you ever do to me?” I’m pissed now. I back her up to the doorframe and let her have it. “You fucking stole my career! I confided in you about my family. I told you how important that scholarship was to me and…” I’m poking my finger into her chest now. “…you stole it away and ran.” Defeated, I hang my head.
“Colin,” she breathes. “I’m sorry. Look at me.” She ducks her head to see my face. “I’m sorry.”
“Fuck!” I quickly turn my back on her. Then just as fast I have her pinned against the doorframe, smashing my mouth to hers. At first she pushes against me, but I feel like being an ass and continue the assault on her lips.
“Colin, please stop.”
I hear the words and I don’t want to listen, but maybe I don’t want to be a dick after all. I never take what I know they don’t want to give, but Nat is different. I know her. “Is that really what you want?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know?” She begs for me to make the decision for her.
“No, you don’t.” I continue on, opening her lips with the tip of my tongue and dive in for a taste. “Mmmmm.”
She smiles against my lips and breaks the connection.
“Did I just moan?” I mutter.
“I believe you did, Mr. Palmer.” Nat rests her hand on my heart and for the first time since she ran…it beats.
**********
Natalie
I can’t believe that just happened. I’m destroying my new beginning, my fresh start, with one single kiss. Soon to be titled the kiss of death, when I fill Lexi in later.
“Hey, why is everyone here so early?” Daisy comes walking in and Colin freezes. “Did I interrupt something?” she questions, raising an eyebrow knowingly.
“Natalie had something in her eye and I was just looking to see if I could get it out.” The lie rolls easily off his tongue.
“Umm, yeah! So, it seems to be better.” Shaking my head, my eyes begin to water. “I’m just going to go touch up my makeup.”
This can’t happen. This won’t happen. Colin Palmer will not make me fall for him.
I came here from a lucrative architecture engineering job in NYC, where I designed buildings! Big buildings! Buildings that companies spent millions on. That was Natalie Russo, that was who I was, until my fiancé stole it all. Taking credit for the designs saying, “You are too green, no one will take you seriously. Let’s just put my name on it and see if they sell?” This is not going to happen again. I will not get wrapped up in this work relationship drama.
There’s a knock at the door.
“Can I come in?” Daisy speaks gently when she should be furious with me. I don’t want to let her in. If I do, I’ll have to tell her. He kissed me and I let him.
“Sure thing. I’m just finishing up.” Who’s the liar now?
Looking in the mirror, I smile. It’s fake, but it’s still a smile. I reach for the handle, the door seeming heavier than when I came in. It’s probably the regret. I’m not looking forward to this conversation. She knows and she is going to call me out on it.
“Natalie, can we talk for a minute?” Here it comes.
“Daisy, I know what you are going to say.”
“You do?”
“Yes, nothing is going on with me and Colin. We had a history—”
“He’s spoken a little about it. You guys were best friends growing up?”
“Yes, he was there for me during all the rough patches and in exchange I gave him the escape he needed from his family, except when things got…complicated…he bailed.” Glancing in her direction, I notice she doesn’t really seem upset. She doesn’t know that I’m about to shatter her world. “But that is not what I needed to tell you.” I take a deep breath and continue. “Daisy, Colin is screwing around on you. I know of two women for sure and you deserve better, we deserve better. Hell, he can’t even remember their names so he shortens them to the first letter. They think it’s cute, but it’s degrading. Anyone can see it. Daisy, I should have told you last week when—”
“I know.” She cuts me off, looking more amused then irritated.
“You know, but why do you…”
“I’m not dating Colin.”
“I thought you two…you guys seemed to know…”
“A lot about each other?” she finishes for me. “We do. I was brought on a little over a month ago. They were in desperate need of help. My hours are ridiculous and I was told that I needed to be available at all times. I learned a lot by picking up their dry cleaning and fetching coffee, and I also learned that if they want something done off hours, I should be rewarded with treats. OH MY GOD…speaking of which, there is this yummy bakery from his hometown and they have the best blueberry lemon scones. They are to die for.” She rubs her belly as it growls.
“Sounds like you could use one now,” I giggle, knowing there is a box in the kitchen with a couple of baked goods from Lexi’s shop. She sent them over for me to make brownie points with the office.
“Don’t tease me like that. I would cut a bitch for one of those things.”
“Well, put the plastic-ware away. Lexi, the owne
r of the shop, is my best friend.”
“NO WAY!” She lets out a hushed scream.
“Yes way!” Thank God for Lexi. She always knows how to make the situation better.
“Well, what are you waiting for? Feed me.” Shooting me the biggest smile I have ever seen, she pulls me from the bathroom, down the hall to the kitchen. She pours herself a coffee from the pot I made moments ago, and waits for me to open the box.
“What was it you liked again?”
“Real funny, Nat.” she picks up the plastic knife sitting on the counter. “You think I’m playin’? I get hangry.”
“Typically, when we come in the office early, it’s to work, not to socialize.” Ferris’ voice booms, sounding irritated.
“Mr. Hampton, Natalie brought us some treats.” Daisy says as she quickly jumps off the counter.
“I don’t run five miles every morning to indulge myself in a sugary breakfast.” He points over to the box, then glances at the coffee pot, then back at Daisy.
I don’t know what the big deal is. There is enough for another cup.
“These are treats from The Sweet and Savory in St. Helena. Apparently, Natalie here is best friends with the owner.”
He doesn’t respond. I guess he doesn’t have to, but it does seem to peak Ferris’ interest. He walks over to the table, opens the lid and peeks inside, I would bet mentally calculating the calories and sugar grams in each treat.
“Is this a blueberry lemon scone?” He looks over at Daisy, while asking me.
She doesn’t look at him, but instead grinds up the beans to brew a new pot of coffee, probably wishing that was his head inside the machine. If she was willing to cut me, I’m sure she is willing to do prison time if he eats her treat. The tension in here is thick, and I’m not sure what to do.
“Yes, it is. There is only one left and—”
“And it’s yours.” Daisy cuts me off, turns around and slams the coffee into his hands. Luckily it has a lid or we would have experienced coffee incident 2.0.
“Thank you, Miss Daniels,” he spits out, irritated.
“Not a problem, Mr. Hampton. Let me get that scone for you.” She reaches into the box, removes the highly coveted good and serves it to him on a paper napkin.
Immediately, right in front of her, he takes a bite. Then another and another. His eyes close for a brief moment while he hums out his satisfaction. Daisy and I look at each other with our mouths hanging open. I can’t believe what I’m watching and she is in shock from her scone being attacked. Something seems to shift within Ferris. He stops, licks his lips and throws the remainder away.
“Seriously?” Daisy blurts.
“That was good and worth the extra gym time tonight.” Ferris wipes his hands off on the wet towel in the sink. “Too bad her talents are wasted in that Godforsaken town.” Picking his coffee up, he takes a sip before he finishes. “Speaking of Lexi…they will be here next weekend for the Legend’s Ball. Since Marco and I are pairing up for a project in Santa Barbara, we decided to invest in the community. This event would be the perfect opportunity to make a memorable first impression.”
“That’s wonderful. Lexi said she would be coming up.” I chime in, but immediately wish I wouldn’t have said anything so he would go back to his office and I can find out what just happened from Daisy.
“That’s nice, but spare me the details. I just need you to be there, with a date.” His irritation is growing by the minute.
“I’m not sure I can find a gown or a—”
“Miss Daniels, get with Colin and find out who he uses as a personal shopper. Ms. Russo needs a dress before next weekend and she will be too busy in and out of meetings all week to find something. Charge it to Hampton Enterprises, sparing no expense.” He barks out the orders before I can even finish my sentence.
“Thank you, but I—”
“Ms. Russo, this is not up for discussion.” Ferris raises his hand as he leaves the kitchen, leaving Daisy and I standing there wondering what just happened. It’s not even seven a.m. yet. My coffee is cold and Daisy looks like she is either going to kill or cry.
“Daisy, you okay?”
She says nothing, just stares toward his office.
“Daisy?”
“Hmm?”
“You okay?” I ask again.
“Yeah, I am. Just a little sad he ate my favorite scone.” She shakes her head. For a second I thought she was going to cry about it.
“Daisy, do you want to grab dinner and a drink after work?”
“Really?” Her mood takes a turn for the better. You would have thought I just told her I was taking her to Disneyland.
“Yeah, really. I’ve had a hard few weeks and being back in Santa Barbara isn’t easy for me. Besides Lexi, I really don’t have any friends and, well, I could use another.”
“YES! I would love to go.” She throws her arms around me and gives me a hug. Not used to someone needing a hug from me, I freeze, but that passes. Giving in I hug her back.
“Great! It’s a date!” I pull back and start to fix myself another cup of coffee. “But first we need to kick Friday’s butt.”
“Let’s do this! Let’s make Friday our bitch.”
“Whoa! What happened to peace, love and unicorns?”
“They went out the window when Ferris ate my scone.”
We both chuckle and begin to tackle the day.
**********
Colin
“Fuck Friday!” spinning around in my chair, I look around wondering what the hell I’m doing. I should be returning calls, checking inventory, anything but this.
I can’t get her out of my head. Everything from this morning keeps playing over and over and over again.
Nat called me out on my bullshit. I tried to make her look bad. I hid the reminders, I had Daisy send out the wrong calendar. I did anything and everything to get her to leave, but she didn’t run. Not yet.
I was pissed at her for taking my scholarship. Hell, all she wanted was a fucking degree in art therapy. Wanted to help kids deal with their shit instead of holding it in. Tell me how this is even close to that?
BUZZZZ!
“Colin, can I get the name of the personal shopper you use? I need to find Natalie a dress by next weekend,” Daisy calls over the intercom, interrupting my thoughts.
“What’s next weekend?”
“The Legend’s Ball. Now, can I get the number?”
“Sure, I’ll forward you her contact.”
“Thanks. Ferris has me running here and calling there. I haven’t even had time to find myself a dress yet.”
“I’ll get Natalie a dress.” What? Did I just say that?
“No offense, Colin, but last time you tried to help, it fell back into my lap. Natalie thought I messed with her schedule.”
“I promise, D…”
“Don’t call me D! It’s Daisy, say it with me. Dai—”
“Who the hell pissed in your Cheerios?”
“Ferris! He ate my scone. My blueberry lemon scone from that bakery in St. Helena.” She pauses, but I can tell she isn’t finished. “He ate in in front me and threw half of it away.” She sounds more like someone just killed her favorite childhood pet than ate her favorite food.
“Daisy, you are overworked. Take the weekend off. I’ll cover with Ferris. Go find a dress then hit the beach. Sounds like you need to meditate or whatever that shit is you do that you call exercise.”
“Yoga and it’s not shit. It’s calming. Which I would be right now if I had time to do it.”
“Then do it. Go to the beach and get your yoga on. I’ll find Natalie a dress and I promise you, I won’t screw it up.”
“You mean it?”
“I do. Now, why don’t you cut out early and get a head start on your weekend?”
“Thanks, Colin. I think I’ll do just that. I’ll check with Natalie and see if she is ready to go.”
“Natalie?” I ask, wondering what she has to do with Daisy’s weekend plans
. Nat doesn’t surf, or do any sports for that matter.
“Yep! We are going for dinner and drinks after work. I’m so excited. I’m making a friend!”
“I’m going to cut you off right there. Before you forget, I have a dick. That makes me a dick. Meaning, I really don’t care.”
“Whatever! Pretend all you want to Colin. I know you are a softy.” I can almost hear her smile over the phone.
“Bye D.” I get in one last dig, patting myself mentally on the back.
“I’ll let that one slide. Since you are helping a girl out…oh and Colin?”
“Yeah?” I say, wondering what she is going to ask of me now.
“Thanks, for everything.”
“No problem. Now go!” I order.
CLICK!
“What did I just get myself into?” I run my hands through my hair, wondering again what I’m doing. First I had her pinned to a doorframe attacking her mouth and now I’m buying the girl a damn dress.
Turning around to face the window, I look around outside. I tell myself I’m checking out the progress, but I know that’s not the truth. If it were, my eyes wouldn’t be scanning the parking lot.
There she is.
I watch Daisy and Nat walk to their cars, wondering what brought her here. Why leave New York? Last I heard she was doing well for herself, engaged and living the dream life.
What happened, Nat?
Just as if she heard me, she turns around and looks at me. Her head cocks to the side out of curiosity. Probably creeped out by the fact I’m now standing by the window watching her and not caring that she knows. Then out of nowhere, she smiles.
I suddenly realize that I was never mad at her for taking my scholarship. I wasn’t even guaranteed the damn thing. I was pissed because she ran before I had my chance to escape, leaving me alone.
Chapter 9
Natalie
As I pull up to the bar, a feeling of excitement crashes over me. I haven’t been out with a girlfriend since Lex lived in New York with that douche canoe of an ex.
