by Jamie Carie
Tyson said, “We’ll get you in front of Jordan. He’s a good man. He wouldn’t mess with you. If he said you could have the job, then he’ll give it to you.”
The other black man said, “Now Tyson, you know coach won’t like it if we don’t get to practice on time. Especially after last week. Let Jake go. His record is so clean it squeaks.”
“But she’s a damsel in distress, man. Coach’ll understand.”
“Yeah, like you haven’t used that excuse three times already this month. Let’s go. Jake, you got her?”
Jake nodded. “Go on. I won’t be long.”
The elevator, so large before, seemed crowded now with Jake in it. Number 14—Jake Hart. If only Sasha could see her now. Maddie thought she should get his autograph for her or something, but that seemed lame, especially since he was so serious and quiet.
“So, you don’t like basketball, huh?” He leaned against the back railing of the elevator with an elegant ease that made Maddie’s heart speed up.
Maddie blushed. “Sorry. I haven’t been a big fan in the past, but honestly, I’ve only been to one game and that was last weekend when this whole mess started.” She paused and then said with soft wonder, “I have to confess, during the first quarter something strange happened to me. I was really getting into it. They are in quarters, right?”
Jake let out a laugh and nodded, then pressed his lips together into a smile. “Yeah.”
Maddie couldn’t stop staring at his face. She probably appeared star-struck, a look he must be used to from women. She looked down at the buttons on the elevator, feeling like a traitor. Her husband was barely cold and here she was staring at her best friend’s crush. She deserved the laundry job.
Trying to keep talking so that she wouldn’t stare, she continued. “Well, I was really starting to enjoy the game, feeling the whole atmosphere and excitement of it. So,” she shrugged, “who knows. I might turn into a fan after all.”
They both realized the elevator doors had stood open for some time and were now closing again. Jake leaned across from behind her to hit the open button, brushing against her back with his long arm. She barely suppressed the squeak of startled excitement leaping from her throat.
“Let’s see if we can find Jordan for you.”
CHAPTER FIVE
It was as if she held a magic charm in her hand.
The receptionists, two of them, so pretty and smiling, welcomed them into the foyer, offered coffee and gazed, dazzle-eyed, at Jake. They listened attentively to Maddie’s short version of the story and then buzzed Mr. Tyler. Like a well-oiled machine, Jordan Tyler came out, apologized for being absent earlier, the gross misunderstanding, and gushed thanks to Jake for lending his talented helping hand.
As she started off toward Jordan’s office, Jake leaned down to whisper something into her ear. Her whole spine tingled in anticipation as he brushed back her hair with a hand and leaned in, his breath warm, her neck tense in anticipation. “Your shirt’s unbuttoned. You might want to fix that.” He stood back up, winked at her and was gone, a long-legged stride headed for the elevator and his home—the basketball court.
Maddie felt her face turn degrees of red. Glancing down, she noticed that the cami had come unbuttoned and was askew, showing more cleavage than was acceptable for an interview. Looking back up, she saw that Jordan had stopped, turned, and was staring at her, a patient smile on his face. She couldn’t fix it now and draw attention to it. It was bad enough that it might look like she and Jake had just fooled around in the elevator. She pulled her jacket closer together, put her chin up, and followed Mr. Tyler to his office. Better to just brazen it out for now and look for an opportunity to fix it later.
Nodding and smiling, she caught up with him, sighing in relief to see that his office was empty. She sat down, pulled her resume out of her bag, the bag she’d bought Brandon when he’d gotten the job at First Old Bank of Indiana in Muncie, and squelched the turmoil of emotions that were rollicking within her.
“I thought you might like to see it,” she stated nervously as she slid the short document across his desk toward him.
“Thank you, Maddie. And again, so sorry about the mix-up this morning.” His voice quieted. “My wife and I are going through a divorce and it has been rather unsettling at times.”
Maddie nodded, squashing the words “I can see why that would be the case” between her teeth. Instead she said, “I’m so sorry. This must be a difficult time for you.”
It was what so many had said to her after the funeral and just popped out before she had time to judge whether or not it was appropriate.
Jordan just smiled and nodded. “We are both in a difficult personal time, are we not? But, that doesn’t mean our work has to suffer. Have you seen the building? There is even a daycare across the street if you need one. You could have lunch with your son every day.”
Maddie nodded her thanks, wondering suddenly how Max was doing at her mother’s. Her mother meant well and tried to be a good grandmother, but she was so worried Max would hurt himself. She chain-smoked with the litany “Max, be careful. Max, don’t do that.” Or “Good lord, Max, you’ll kill yourself climbing up that high.” It was the last one that sent a spike of anger through Maddie’s spine. She didn’t want her child growing up like she had—half convinced she wouldn’t see her next birthday. Maddie had written out her final will and testimony on her dad’s fancy stationery at age nine, signing away all her stuffed animals, Barbies and the forty-three hard-earned dollars in her ceramic piggy bank. Every time she caught herself saying something like that to Max, she changed tactics and applauded him instead. It had been tough breaking that pattern, but she was determined.
She shook her head, feeling some of the hair in the coil at her nape start to slide. A big section came completely undone and piled on her shoulder. Oh, great! Her new boss was someone she desperately wanted to impress. She had to get this job! Maddie quickly reached up to fix her hair, not realizing the effect on the unbuttoned cami until Jordan’s eyes glanced there. Looking down, she did a mental groan. Would something please go right today?
Forgetting the hair, she just let the rest of it fall, gave it a quick shake to settle it, hoping it looked halfway decent, and concentrated on the interview. “Tell me about the position. I am so…eager.” God, help! “That is, excited to hear about it.”
Jordan turned in his chair, found some papers on one corner of his desk and pulled them out.
“As coordinator for the Racers Foundation, you will be one of three team members in charge of managing the relationship between the foundation and the various charities we sponsor.”
“I’ve been reading about the charities. The foundation is so generous.”
Jordan nodded. “We have several reading programs for the kids, sponsor the Make-A-Wish Foundation, our own school, the Racers Academy for kids at risk, the Halloween party fundraiser, golf outings, several meet-and-greets throughout the year and so on.”
“It sounds wonderful,” Maddie said, and she meant it.
“Good. I have a feeling you will be perfect for this job. Now, the first thing is some paperwork to fill out.” He slid a thick envelope over to her. “You will find our official offer with your full compensation package—salary, benefits, that sort of thing—inside here. Look it over and if you have any questions just come back to my office. I should be here all day today. I’ll be glad to help.” He stood. “Let’s go have a look at your office.”
The job was hers? It was that easy? She had her own office? Maddie rose, nodding, trying to keep her knees from knocking together.
They went a few doors down the hall and then Jordan paused, waiting for her to catch up. He turned the knob and smiled. “Frank McKlesky hasn’t picked up his things yet, but we boxed them up and left them downstairs at the main desk so you should be all set. He was more than relieved that you decided not to press charges.”
Maddie just nodded. The man had lost his job over it, a job she was taking
, and she just didn’t feel she needed to punish him further.
The office was small and spare but had tons of potential, with tall ceilings and long, graceful windows. The only furniture was the desk, a lovely piece that looked like an antique in the Cabriole style. Maddie walked over to it and ran her hand along the leather top, admiring the ball and claw cabriole legs, imagining a velvet-cushioned bench as her office chair.
“You like the desk?” Jordan asked with a smile.
Maddie glanced up at him, pressing her lips together in a smile, trying to suppress her glee. “Oh, sorry. I have a thing for antiques. This is a really lovely piece.”
“Don’t apologize. After all that you have been through, I am happy to have something for you that you obviously appreciate.” He looked around the room as if just noticing how bare it was. “Feel free to order furniture and decorate it any way you like.”
“Thank you.” She couldn’t wait to get started.
Jordan took her to the window and showed her the view of downtown Indianapolis, looking over Pennsylvania Street, then he motioned her to follow him back out. “Let’s introduce you to your co-workers.”
He led her to two other offices down the hall. Randy Bentley was a middle-aged, slightly overweight and balding man with glasses and a big, friendly smile and handshake. “Frank was working on the Halloween party fundraiser,” he informed Maddie. “Do you like to plan parties? That’s about all there is to it.”
Maddie nodded, memories of her last party flickering in her mind. They’d run out of ice, didn’t have enough food and several of Brandon’s friends had turned up intoxicated and obnoxious, staying the night because they lacked a designated driver. She wouldn’t exactly call it a raving success.
Pushing those memories aside, she nodded and stated, “It sounds very exciting.”
“I’ll get you all the information and Frank’s contacts. He was working with the caterers last week, as I recall.” Shaking her hand again, he boomed, “Great to have you on board, Maddie.”
In the next office sat a petite, pretty woman with short, blunt-cut dark hair and dark-rimmed glasses. She had on bright red lipstick that was pretty on women like her with creamy translucent skin. She wore a black dress that looked designer and fit her curves perfectly, high-heeled, black boots, the shiny kind that a woman had to wrestle up her leg, and gold jewelry, which completed the impact of success, confidence and wealth. Maddie was suddenly very glad of Sasha’s help with her wardrobe.
The woman waved them in, talking on the phone and rising from her chair, motioning for them to sit down. Maddie listened as she articulated what she wanted from someone, flipping through papers and rattling off numbers. She sounded like someone who knew what she was doing and did it well.
Hanging up, she smiled and reached for Maddie’s hand. “Katherine Hutchins. So good to meet you, Madeline. I heard what happened with Frank and can still hardly believe it.” She shook her head, dark-brown bob waving back and forth. “He was a little strange, but we had no idea he would snap like that. You weren’t hurt, were you?”
Maddie shook her hand, took the offered seat and smiled. “No, thankfully, my shoulder seems fine.”
“Good. Now, I plan to show you the ropes and ease you into this. I understand you’ve been out of the workplace for some time and I want to reassure you that I’m here to help in any way I can.”
Maddie felt a rush of appreciation. “Thank you. I’m sure I will need some guidance. But I am very eager to get started.”
“Excellent.” She turned to Jordan and smiled. It was such a different smile than the one she had given Maddie that Maddie found herself staring.
“Jordan, why doesn’t she just shadow me today? I’m covered up, but I’m sure I can squeeze in some training as we go.”
Had her voice taken on a silkier tone?
Maddie watched as Jordan Tyler fumbled for a response, seemingly mesmerized and unable to speak. Finally he managed, “That sounds wonderful. Thank you, Kat.”
“Anything for you.”
She said it like a caress. Was this the reason for his divorce? Maddie forced the shocked look from her face. Kat just grinned and waved him from the room.
“Now,” she stated, staring at Maddie thoughtfully, “you’re much too pretty to be left in uncertainty, so I will tell you. Jordan is taken.” She smiled again, perfect white teeth showing as only a predator knows how to smile. “By two women presently, but that is soon to change. He is too old for you anyway.”
Maddie could feel her eyes widen. “I, um, that is, I haven’t any designs on Mr. Tyler.”
“Good. Perfect. Now. Let’s see what we can come up with for you to do while I make a few calls.” She sat down and turned her laptop around so that Maddie could use it. “Look over my calendar and the files on the Halloween party. Frank was having trouble with the caterer, if I recall, and we’ll need to make other arrangements for that. Also, there is a press release about a meet-and-greet that we need to write up and send off as soon as possible. Can you write?”
Maddie thought back to her college English classes and nodded, but a bubble of panic was rising. “If you have a template, some examples, I’m sure I can manage it.”
“Fine. And Madeline…” Maddie looked up and into Kat’s startling blue eyes.
“What I’ve told you is confidential and a test. If you pass, you will find I can be a very good friend.”
Maddie swallowed. Everyone seemed to want to be her friend for one reason or another. The only problem was they all seemed to have ulterior motives. “Yes, ma’am,” she murmured.
Katherine shook her head. “Please, no ma’ams. Just call me Kat. All my friends call me Kat and I think you and I are going to be very, very good friends.” She smiled again and Maddie didn’t like it.
She didn’t like it one bit.
CHAPTER SIX
Jake rode down in the elevator in something of a daze. He stepped out, making his way to the practice court, blinking and wondering what was making him feel like he’d just been punched in the stomach.
It wasn’t like he hadn’t been out with a pretty woman lately. He dated pretty women fairly often; he had taken out the lovely model, Maria Saberio, Saturday night after the game. He shook his head as if to clear it.
Practice was already in session when he entered the court. He brushed off the disgruntled look on his coach’s face as he shed his warm-up suit and jogged out onto the floor. The ball came at him like a bullet with the phrase, “Where you been, Jake?”
Jake ignored Toshner, dribbled inside and sunk a basket. He was feeling on.
“Watch out,” another player laughed, “Jake’s gotten himself all hot and bothered.”
His friend, Ricky Ballard, took a shot, missed, and Jake jumped for the rebound. “Who is she?” Ballard asked, laughing.
“Up in corporate. Pretty thing, all long legs and killer—”
“Tyson.” Jake shot him a warning glance.
“Interesting.” Ballard stole the ball and shot. “Where was I? How come you always get so lucky?” This time he made it, over the half-court line. There was some brief hand slapping as a couple of his teammates ran past, then the pace quickened and they all got serious.
A couple of hours later the team showered and regrouped in the media room to study the video from the last game. Jake sat next to Ballard, near the assistant coaches and toward the front.
Ricky Ballard leaned close. “So, come on. Who is she?”
Jake shrugged. “I just met her, man. Maddie something. She needed some help getting in front of Jordan Tyler.”
Ballard’s bushy eyebrows lifted. “Really? That’s it?”
Jake jerked his head toward the back. “You know how they are.”
“She was pretty, though? A new employee?”
Jake breathed deep, once. “Yeah, she was real pretty.”
“Hey, if you’ve got a thing for her, tell me now. You never know. I might run into her, and my charms are legendary.”
Jake laughed. “Yeah, I know.”
“Well?”
“Well, give me some time to think it over.”
The replay started on the big screen so both men quieted down to watch. There were lots of notes to take, replay after replay to watch. Professional ball was as mental as it was physical. The smart guys knew best how to play the game.
As the second quarter wound down, the video ran into halftime and the team dispersed to stretch and take a lunch break. Coach Brown let the film run, everybody pretty much ignoring it as they reached for something to drink and eat from the spread of catering in the back of the media room.
Suddenly Tyson’s voice broke through the chatter. “Hey, Jake, isn’t that your new girl?”
All eyes turned to the big screen and a hush settled over the team as a group of horribly costumed, mostly overweight dancers made their way to the middle of the court. There, on the far side of the line, stood Maddie Goode. Jake was sure of it.
Shock rippled through him as she strutted and shook her hips, the leotard looking too tight, a black bra showing through, a determined smile pasted on her face.
The men started laughing and Jake felt his face turning a shade of red.
Someone whistled. “Your girl sure got some curves, Jake.”
“She isn’t my girl. I just helped her find her interview,” Jake growled.
“Awww, come on, she’s smokin’ hot. She got the full package, man.”
Jake turned away, his stomach churning. There she was, big as life on the screen in front of them, the camera zooming in on her face. A spotlight-grubbing floozy disguised in a nice suit had momentarily blinded him. Jake couldn’t believe he’d considered asking her out. He should have known better. He knew what women were all about—the money. He’d made that mistake a long time ago and it still stung when he thought of his longest relationship. Thankfully, he had seen what Maddie was really made of before it had come to making another big mistake.
