“And telling you I was going to come clean last Friday after our date will no doubt sound like a good story, but it’s true. I was going to. I knew keeping my identity a secret could backfire. Which it did.
“I had other opportunities, sure, but I still didn’t know if you’d believe me when I said I wanted to get to know you because I like you, not because you work for Jackson and Jackson. I like you Keely Jones. I like you.”
Keely listened to him speak, feeling her heart beat faster and faster with each word. Moisture threatened to spill forth from her eyes when he said he liked her. Could she honestly believe him? Deep inside she wanted to, but words were words. He could easily be trying to ease his guilty conscience.
“Do you realize what position you put me in at work by not telling me who you were? You lied by omission and it made me look incompetent. I’ve lost credibility with my employer. I’m being watched because they don’t trust me. Edward believes I lost the McDaniel account on purpose.”
Darren nodded. “For that I’m truly sorry. You were totally caught off guard. I know the rumors have been brutal.”
Keely blinked, taking a deep breath. “The rumors have been bad, but losing my boss’s confidence is worse, Darren. Any promotion I might have received is now beyond my grasp.”
“I’m sorry. I know that doesn’t sound like much, but I truly mean it.”
She could see the sincerity in his blue eyes. Still, one other thing nagged at her. “Did you put Jama up to calling me?”
“What?”
“Jama called me. Wanted to have lunch. Obviously from your reaction, you knew nothing about this.”
“No. I didn’t know.”
She nodded, sucking her bottom lip between her teeth.
“Do you forgive me, Keely? Will you still at least be my…friend?”
A pregnant silence fell between them. She wasn’t in a forgiving mood at the moment. She couldn’t forget what he’d done. “I don’t know if we can be friends, Darren, without our relationship causing a problem for others. We work for competing agencies.”
“I know Jama doesn’t have a problem with me seeing you.”
“Why would she? I can be a valuable asset to Wright and Associates. And that is where Jackson and Jackson would object to our relationship. It could get sticky.”
“Then leave them and come to work for Wright and Associates.”
Keely laughed, but stopped when he didn’t crack a smile. “You can’t be serious?”
“I’m dead serious.”
She shook her head, turned and walked down the stairs from the balcony.
“At least give it some thought,” he called, running to catch up with her once they reached the atrium. “I don’t want this to be the end.”
Outside the theater, she stopped and studied him. She didn’t want this to be the end for them either, but she couldn’t risk her job. She had to support herself. She didn’t have the luxury of relying on family. Or a husband. That thought weighed heavy on her mind for a moment and she regretted even thinking it.
Taking a deep breath she shook her head. “I’ve worked hard to build a career with Jackson and Jackson. Why would I want to leave?”
To be with me was on the tip of his tongue, but instead he said, “Jama would never make you work with a client like Prescott just to keep his business. She cares more for her executives than that.”
For an instant, she looked shocked that he knew about her dealing with Prescott. Seeing the struggle in her eyes, he decided to cut his losses while he still could.
“You take care, Keely Jones.”
She swallowed and nodded. “You too, Darren.”
She turned and as he watched her walk away, a lump formed in his throat making it difficult to swallow. His chest tightened almost as if a hand had reached into his soul and clenched his heart for the second time in a week. Damn, but this wasn’t the way things should have turned out.
Chapter Ten
Keely worried for the next two weeks over her decision not to pursue a friendship with Darren. Every time she thought she’d convinced herself she’d made the right choice, she’d think up a counter point and question her reasoning all over again. Or the gris-gris would turn freezing cold against her chest, driving her crazy.
She tried calling Lucinda in New York, but she couldn’t reach the woman after her speedy tour of Europe. Lucinda had promised to call when she got back in the U.S., but hadn’t. Keely hoped that didn’t mean anything was wrong. She didn’t think she could handle losing Lucinda too.
Finishing her jog with Duke, Keely turned quickly hearing a whistle. Looking up, she saw Darren squatting down, calling to the dog. Duke glanced sideways at her with woeful eyes as if he were asking permission.
“Go ahead,” she relented, taking off his leash. She swatted him on the hindquarters and he lumbered across the green space, picking up speed.
“So you miss him too?” she said softly to herself as she watched the dog lick Darren on the cheek. Her voice caught in her throat and her eyes began to sting. She turned away, unable to watch them any longer.
Blinking, she forced the tears to stay away. She’d become so emotional lately she didn’t understand it. Her stress level had lowered. Things at work had improved. Prescott had heard about her dating the competition and decided she was a risk, so he’d requested to work solely with Edward and Tate. If another client had done this she’d be upset, but it had been a relief to all of them. She just hoped she’d be able to regain her employers’ trust in time.
Getting a bottle of water out of her car, she leaned against the side and watched Darren get reacquainted with the dog. Duke flopped down, rolled onto his side and stuck his legs up in the air, anticipating a tummy rub. His tail thumped the ground.
Keely took a long swallow of the cold water, not taking her eyes off of Darren. He looked good in his shorts and snug fitting t-shirt. Her pulse still raced from her workout, but his nearness prolonged the tempo.
Why can’t you go out with him? Jackson and Jackson never said you couldn’t have a personal life. No, but they didn’t want their employees getting cozy with the competition either.
She couldn’t risk it. Not now. Her career had already taken a dangerous spiral. If anything else were to happen, her name would be synonymous with Mud.
Besides, Darren had kept his identity a secret. He’d basically lied to her. She’d walked into that one blindly. How could she ever trust him to be honest with her? If he lied once, he could do it again. A second time and it would be shame on her.
UGH! All this mental anguish was getting her nowhere. She finished her water and tossed the plastic bottle in a nearby recycling bin.
Darren stood and headed in her direction with Duke following along beside him.
She groaned, trying to smile. She wasn’t sure she was ready for a conversation with him.
“Hi, Keely.”
“Hey. How’re you doing?” She mentally gave herself a high-five for sounding chipper.
“I’m good,” he said. “Duke looks well. So do you.”
She nodded. “Thanks.”
“How are things at work?” he asked, sounding hesitant.
“Better actually. And for you?”
“Couldn’t be better.”
Uncomfortable with the chitchat nature of the conversation, Keely pushed away from the car and opened the back door. Duke scooted behind Darren.
“Would you look at him,” she said.
Darren glanced down and grinned. “It looks like he doesn’t want to go home.”
“I know. Cantankerous dog. I’ve had more trouble out of him the last few weeks.”
“Really?”
Keely nodded, hearing the sound of hopefulness in his voice.
“Maybe you need to do something about it.”
She looked him in the eye. “Like what?”
“Give me a chance, Keely. I won’t hurt you again. I promise.”
“You can’t promise me that, Darre
n.”
He shoved his hands in his short’s pocket and rocked back and forth on his heels. “Okay. Then let me say I will try not to hurt you again.”
She shook her head. “I can’t. There’s too much at risk.”
“Like what?”
“My career, Darren. I’ve worked hard to get where I’m at for my age. It’s harder for women to succeed than men, and you should know that. Look at what Jama’s accomplished. And she’s made sacrifices too, hasn’t she? Everyone in the industry knows what Ted Hamilton did to her agency when he left. She’s struggled and survived. She’s got moxie.”
He nodded. “But it’s what she’s wanted most out of life.”
“Exactly. I’m no different. I want the same success.”
“Then I want you to have it. I’m not going to stop you. Just do it with me in your life.”
He made it sound so simple, but she knew it wouldn’t be. She’d be risking everything she’d worked toward. And she wasn’t sure she wanted to do it even for love.
He stepped closer, a little too close, but he still looked hopeful. “Is that a yes?”
She smiled, feeling her defenses slip.
Wuss.
She backed up afraid he’d try to kiss her and found herself against her car. She didn’t like being backed into a corner.
“No. As much as I’d like to say yes, I can’t, Darren. I’ve worked too hard for my independence. I’ve made a name for myself in this town. I’m not ready to give that up.”
“I’m not asking you to give up anything,” he protested.
“But you are,” she countered.
He shook his head. “I’m not going to argue with you. But we can both have our careers and still see one another.”
He stepped forward and placed his hand at the nape of her neck and pulled her to him. His lips brushed lightly across hers.
When he stepped back she saw regret in his tempting, blue eyes.
She swallowed hard, afraid she’d give in to her feelings.
“Good-bye, Keely.”
Good-bye? Her insides knotted. Surely he didn’t mean that?
His words hung heavy in the air as he walked away from her. A part of her wanted to stop him from going, but the career-oriented side of her prevented the words from spilling forth when she opened her mouth. Running after him wasn’t an option. Her pride wouldn’t allow it. She’d been doing fine before he tumbled into her life, and she’d continue after he slipped away.
A frustrated sigh escaped her lips and she closed her eyes, then opened them again quickly when a stinging, frosty sensation burned her chest.
The gris-gris.
Instinctively, she reached for the chain. The coldness spread so quickly she couldn’t touch it, yet she couldn’t leave it in place either.
“LUCINDA!” she groaned, opening the passenger side door. She dug in the glove compartment and found a stash of yellow fast food paper napkins. With deft fingers, she unlatched the chain and removed it from around her neck. Then wrapped it in the napkins before tossing it into the compartment so she didn’t have to look at it again.
Duke watched the episode without making a sound, and he didn’t protest when she urged him to get into the backseat of her car.
She drove them home in silence, thinking of what she’d like to say to Lucinda when she saw her again. Duke howled as they pulled into the drive. A shiny white Cadillac SUV with gold trim was parked near the house.
Keely parked, then spotted Lucinda sitting in the swing on her front porch as if her ranting had conjured the woman to appear. Getting out of the car, she put Duke in the fenced backyard and retrieved the wadded napkins from the glove compartment before she finally headed to the porch. She noted the five suitcases and medium-size trunk near the door. It looked like Lucinda planned to stay a while.
“Just the person I wanted to see.”
“I’d say so.” Lucinda didn’t bother to get up. Instead, she patted a spot beside her and stopped the swing’s movement with her feet. “Come. Tell me what you been up to.”
Keely hugged her. Then she sat beside her. “My life’s a mess, Lucinda, and it’s this gris-gris’s fault.”
“Tsk tsk,” Lucinda clucked, taking the wadded napkins. She opened them and looked at Keely. “Why’d you take this off?”
“You never told me it would give me frost bite.”
A mischievous grin spread across the Cajun woman’s regal face. “You’ve been dishing out a cold heart. No love can be found when you treat others this way.”
“What?” Keely shook her head in disbelief and crossed her arms.
Lucinda’s rich laughter filled the air. “Come child, let’s go inside and light a candle or two. We need to talk.”
Keely hesitated. “I don’t want to hear any more of your voodoo, Lucinda. I’ve worn the gris-gris like you asked, and what do I have to show for it?”
“Indeed, what do you have?”
“Nothing. I almost lost my job because I went out with Darren. He lied to me, Lucinda.”
“Tsk. Tsk. Are you going to let a little career conflict prevent you from pursuing a relationship, child? A relationship you want, whether you’re willing to admit it.”
Keely frowned and pursed her lips together. “Lucinda, I know you dabble in voodoo, but do you also see the future? What makes you so sure I want a relationship with Darren?”
“Come inside, and I’ll tell you.”
Keely unlocked the front door for Lucinda to go inside while she struggled with the heavy luggage. “How long are you planning on being here?”
“As long as it takes, dear.”
“What’s in the trunk?” Keely asked once she’d trudged through the door with it.
Lucinda smiled. “Bring that one over here. We’ll need it.”
“I get the feeling I’m not going to like this,” Keely mumbled to herself.
“I have perfect hearing so don’t go mumbling, thinking I don’t know what you’re saying.”
Keely smiled tightly, lugging the trunk into the middle of the room.
In a ceremonial production, Lucinda opened the trunk and removed items Keely could only assume were going to be used to try and straighten out the mess that was otherwise known as her life.
The woman draped a thin black shawl over the trunk and arranged incense, candles and even a flawless crystal orb in a semi-circle facing her.
Keely arched a brow and sat down.
“When did you become such a pessimist, child?”
“I’m not a pessimist. I just don’t believe what I’m seeing. A crystal ball?”
“It’s not for telling the future. One of my fans sent it to me as a light source. See how it shines. The clarity is amazing.”
Keely nodded, waiting for Lucinda to settle on the other side of the trunk.
“Now, since you are a non-believer let me start over. Give me your hand, child.”
Keely stuck out her left hand.
Lucinda pointed her painted nail along Keely’s lifeline. “As I told you before, we were meant to walk this earth with another. Even Noah brought the animals into the Ark two by two. Life will get very lonely for you, ma Chérìe, if you persist in going it alone.”
“I believe after meeting Darren that he is your Vous Deux. Your soul’s mirror.”
“But how? You didn’t speak with him other than to be introduced.”
“Your mama told me.”
“Say what?” Keely pulled her hand back. “Lucinda, my mother is dead. I don’t find that in the least bit funny.”
“Who’s joking?” Lucinda smiled sweetly, holding two fingers up side by side. “Vous Deux. We are like twin souls, your mother and I. Even though I live in this world, and she lives in the hereafter.”
Keely covered her face with the palms of her hands. “Enough.”
Lucinda struck the tip of a match. The scent of sulfur hung in the air until the smell of burning incense replaced it. When Keely removed her hands from her face, she continued.
“Now whether you believe any of this or not, you did believe enough to wear the gris-gris. No?”
Keely nodded.
“Then you must continue wearing it. Go on, put it back on,” Lucinda instructed, handing the amulet to her and discarding the yellow napkin. “Wendy’s. Tsk. Tsk. Do I need to look at your diet as well, child?”
“They have good salads,” Keely defended.
“But the preservatives. I’m sure it still wasn’t as fresh as growing your own vegetables?”
“Give me a break, Lucinda. I’m a career woman. I don’t have time to grow a garden.”
“Very well. But I will show you before I leave. And your neighbor, Mr. Brubaker, he can help you.”
Keely rolled her eyes. Yeah right. I can see Mr. Brubaker agreeing to that.
“Stop that. It’s disrespectful.” Lucinda frowned and cleared her throat. She reached for Keely’s hand again.
“You spent time getting to know Darren, didn’t you?”
Keely nodded.
“You enjoyed his company. No?”
“Yes. Yes. And Yes. I enjoyed myself. But that still doesn’t change the fact that he lied,” Keely’s voice rose as she spoke. “He lied and made me look like an idiot. My co-workers are still whispering about me behind my back.”
“That is unfortunate. But there’s no need to shout. You are frustrated. That is good. You are also a strong woman. And you know the truth. You did nothing wrong. Trials and tribulations are part of life. We must endure them in order to appreciate what we receive. If you did not have to fight for what you want, then it wouldn’t be worth it.”
Lucinda lit a candle. “Do you want Darren?”
“Want him? In my life? That isn’t an option. My career goal is firm. I must stick with my plans.”
“Tsk. Tsk. That isn’t good. There must be change in your life if you are going to grow as a person. What does Darren want?”
“He thinks we can have a relationship and I can continue with my career goals, but I can’t do that and work for Jackson and Jackson. They were not happy about my dating him in the first place.”
The Good Luck Charm (The Good Luck Series) Page 7
