“He came to fix the filter.” She pulled her hair back into a ponytail and got ready for bed. “It’s not like I can take a fifty-gallon tank in for repair.”
“That makes sense.” Anthony let out a loud sigh. “I hoped it was someone else.”
“Like who?” she asked the question, though she knew the answer.
“Nothing with Mr. Hottie?”
“Anthony, we’re working together. It’s not professional for us to be involved personally.”
“We work together and we’re involved personally. I mean, I’m in your apartment right now. Is that appropriate?”
“Probably not while I’m your manager, but I didn’t have a lot of time to make arrangements before I left.”
He chuffed. “Fine then, no more doing your shopping for you. You can go back to looking like a runt, wearing the same suit in a different color every day.”
Time to backpedal. He had shown her how certain clothes could make her seem taller, but she didn’t think she could choose things on her own without making a mess of it. “You know I appreciate you. I’m not trying to be rude.”
“Well, you are. But you won’t be my manager for much longer anyway.”
“No?” Breeze perked up. She’d been trying to get Anthony promoted for six months.
“No. Linen Closet made me an offer. I told Glen, and now Nancy is taking me to lunch next week. Gave me the we-don’t-want-to-lose-you-to-another-company speech. So until you get promoted, we’ll have the same title.”
“Congratulations, Anthony. Christy and Glen have both said you are doing a great job filling in for me. I told you you’d be promoted this year. Wrote it on your review, if you’ll recall.”
“It probably means we won’t be in the same store anymore. Unless you transfer me in when you get your promotion. I’ll be back to being your assistant, with a bigger paycheck.”
“I’d work with you anywhere.”
“Thanks, hon. How’s Las Vegas?”
“That was yesterday, and I didn’t even have time to hit a casino. There have been stock issues with Kicks. Managers worried about the twenty-four-hour guarantee to have the right sizes. I did a few conference calls, and I think it’s all under control again.” She lay back on the bed, catching sight of the bedside alarm clock. Seven-thirty. All this switching time zones wreaked havoc on her internal rhythms.
“Good. Now let’s try this again. Who’s been in your apartment? Because a fish guy isn’t going to hang up clothes I watched you pack.”
Breeze sat up straight. “What are you talking about?”
“This black skirt. I packed it myself. And these navy heels too.”
“I changed some stuff after you left.”
“Liar, liar, pants on fire. He’s been in your apartment? What is going on?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I’m talking about this pink dress. Which I packed in the suitcase Logan brought you two weeks ago. The suitcase, which is right here, back behind your coats. He’s been here. Now spill.”
“No.” Damn it. Damn him. Damn, damn and double damn.
“Come on, girl. It has to be good. I’ve seen him and the way he looks at you, and now you have him doing your bidding. Fantastic. What’s he like?”
“Anthony, no. I’m not telling you anything. If you breathed a word and it got back to Glen or, God forbid, Nancy, I’d never forgive you.”
“You are with him. Honey, I’m so happy. You really needed to get laid. I mean, seriously. You’re wound up so tight.”
“I’m not discussing what may or may not have happened with you.”
“You’re still holding out on him? What are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking I’d like to keep my job. I’m thinking I’d like for the management team to see me as a professional and not a mattress.”
“Okay, okay. I get it. But as soon as the project is over, lock him in a room and go at it. Unleash your inner slut. You need to loosen up, have some fun.”
“I’m hanging up now. Not a word, Anthony. Please.”
“It doesn’t sound like there is anything to tell. Yet.”
“Good night, Anthony.” She turned off the phone and set it on the nightstand, falling back onto the pillows.
Although a good friend, Anthony loved to gossip. Would he be able to keep it in for eight days until she got home?
The phone chirped beside her and she grabbed at it quickly. She’d left messages every day this week for her parents. Still nothing. Logan’s work number showed on the display.
“Have you decided about LA?”
“Good evening to you too.” She smiled and rolled to her side, pressing a hand against her aching lower back.
“Hi. Sorry. I need to know.”
“Judy decided I should attend the event with her. In case there are any store-level questions from the media.”
“Okay.” He let out a long sigh. “Then I’m not coming to Arizona tomorrow.”
“Okay.” A yawn escaped her. Good thing, because it covered her voice enough to hide the panic. They’d hit his three week mark, and now he was backing away.
“Can you sound a little disappointed?”
“I’m tired, Logan.” And she didn’t want to sound desperate and needy. Though she’d been looking forward to a foot rub all week. She got up from the bed and shuffled to her bag, pulling out a bottle of ibuprofen. She popped two tablets and washed them down with a swig from the water bottle on the desk.
“I know, but I won’t see you for another week. Two weeks, Breeze.”
“If it makes you feel better, you wouldn’t have any fun with me tomorrow.” She grinned, realizing he was the one who sounded disappointed.
“Sure we would.”
“No, you’re not following me. It’s not that I don’t want to see you.” She hit the lights and climbed into bed. “I have my period. No fun for you.”
“Ah. We could do other things.”
“I don’t think so.” She pressed speaker and set the phone on the nightstand, snuggling into the pillows.
“No, I mean outside of the room. Look at cacti and rocks.”
“I like inside sports better.” She grinned, memories playing out behind her closed eyes.
“How tired are you?” She heard him shift in his chair, the leather rasping, reminding her he was still at work.
“Too tired for fun.”
“Too bad. Do you want to know why I can’t come this weekend?”
“Tell me.”
“I’m playing golf with the vice president of brand marketing.”
“A golf game.” Put everything in perspective.
“If I get a position with brand marketing, I won’t have such a connection with the retail side. You’d be more comfortable working for Nitrous then.”
“I have a job.” Though she liked that he wanted her to work for Nitrous. Not to mention the Nitrous offer he’d left her was amazing. And with as hard as Mendelssohn’s worked her, she was almost open to a change.
“I know, but the director of retail really wants you to come on board. You can write your own ticket.”
“Logan.” She injected a warning into her voice, but she wasn’t even sure of what.
“Fine. How is Arizona?”
“Hot salsa. Really hot. Next week I’ll be in California and you won’t get to quiz me.”
“Sure I will. San Diego, Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles. That is a lot of ground to cover.”
“You forgot Fresno.” Not bothering to hide her yawn, she stretched her aching muscles.
“Are you falling asleep?”
“Trying to.”
“It isn’t even eight. You’re working too hard.” He sounded concerned, not annoyed like he used to. She knew it was too early to be in bed, but she was too tired to care. “What are you going to dream about?”
“Sleep. I dream about sleep.”
“You should dream about me and you and my pool.”
&nb
sp; “You have a pool?” She conjured up the image. “Oh, that is a yummy thought.”
“Yeah. I had the best dream about it last night. Want to hear it?”
“You dreamed about us?” Oh, that had to be a good sign.
“Don’t you? We were—”
“Stop. I’m going to have my own dream.” One where the real world didn’t exist. No rumors, ramifications or fear.
“Am I in it?”
“Usually.” She swallowed and decided it was okay to let him know she wanted him too. “You’ll call, right? Even though you’re not coming?”
“When you get home, can we do my dream in the pool?”
She giggled, possibilities spinning through her mind. “Will I like it?”
“You’ll love it.” She imagined the smile that went along with his low chuckle.
“Good night.” She clicked off the phone and snuggled beneath the covers. Her dreams would be so sweet tonight.
“Have you talked to my mother?” Breeze tapped her toe, staring out the airport window and the plane being loaded with baggage. She held her cell phone to her ear, listening to her grandmother take a long drag from her ever-present cigarette.
“I got home last night,” Daphne answered. Breeze knew she’d been on a cruise. She and her boyfriend of the month constantly traveled.
“I know, I thought she might have called you.” Like she always did, parenting her parent.
“Rachel’s pretty busy these days.” She let out a hard breath, so filled with smoke Breeze could almost taste it.
“With what?”
“How is the Nitrous project going?”
“Good. You—”
“You’ve gotten all your frequent flyer miles? For the hotels and the flights?”
“Yes, but—”
“Make sure they give you a comp day for every three you worked. And get it in writing. Otherwise, you’ll never be able to cash it out at the end of the year.”
Breeze grit her teeth. She knew exactly how to get the most out of traveling for work. She’d been taught by the best.
“Unless you want to take a few days off. We could take a short trip together.”
“That would be nice.”
“But you should probably keep at it, keep your hours up. Don’t let them overlook you for a promotion again. This project should make you a shoe-in if you stand up for yourself.”
Stand up for yourself. Good advice. “What aren’t you telling me? About my mother?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
But she did. Breeze felt it. Something was wrong. She’d been calling her parents the entire trip, and they never answered or returned her calls.
“Focus on work. It’s all you can control.”
“Something is going on. I want you to clue me in.”
“It’s not my place.”
“Like hell it isn’t.” Breeze took a deep breath, adrenaline coursing through her body. “What’s going on?”
“There’s nothing you can do about it, so there’s no need to worry. You’re done in a few days, right?”
“I fly home tomorrow night, after the launch party.”
“Call your mother when you get in.”
“She’s not returning my calls.”
“Breeze, get on the plane, concentrate on making this project a showcase for your hard work. Earn your promotion.”
The sinking feeling in her stomach intensified, knotting and twisting until she wanted to scream. It was bad, whatever it was, so bad no one wanted her to know.
“Do I need to come home? I mean, should I see them in person? Is it that bad?”
“Of course not. You’re just being dramatic. Though if you want to visit your parents, I know Rachel would love the help.”
“Is she sick?” Breeze swallowed hard, her throat burning, eyes heavy.
“Stop it now. You don’t have time for this. Your mother is in perfect health. There’s nothing you can do.”
“But…” But what exactly? “I’m sure whatever it is is better than what’s running through my mind. Please tell me.”
“It’s not my place. And there’s nothing for you to worry about. Now get on that plane, get to work and make us all proud.”
Breeze took a deep breath and ended the call with her grandmother. Her hands shook as she dialed again, a plan forming. She stared out the window, watching the plane she’d be boarding any minute to wing her way back to Los Angeles and Logan.
Tomorrow real life began. And choices needed to be made. A balance she didn’t know how to find on her own.
She waited all four rings until her parents’ machine clicked on, and didn’t have to fake the tears as she uttered the words sure to make them finally acknowledge her.
“You’re a very eloquent speaker.” Judy sipped her white wine spritzer and stared out at the crowd.
“Thank you.” Breeze resisted the urge to check her phone again.
“Nitrous thinks so too. What have they offered you?” Judy kept her eyes on the crowd as if she hadn’t just crossed the line.
“Excuse me?” No way could they know about the offer Logan had delivered. She hadn’t even called to discuss it with the retail director.
“Don’t be coy, Breeze. They’ve made it known they’re very happy with your performance. They’ve followed you around the country, I’m sure making lucrative offers. Unless—” Judy turned, staring so hard Breeze narrowed her eyes to keep the glare from burning her retinas, “—has Logan Chandler been following you or the project?”
Dear God in heaven. “I don’t know what you mean.” Breeze forced a calm expression, the one she’d practiced in the mirror as a kid, the one that made her look exactly like her grandmother. She’d been avoiding Logan all night, not wanting to give him the opportunity to talk her out of what she planned to do.
“Let’s not play games.”
“Nitrous has hinted there could be positions available if I were interested, but they can’t give me my own department store. I want to be a district manager in five years.” She sipped her water, proud of the nonchalant tone she nailed.
“We’ll work towards that. I’d like to offer you an amazing opportunity. Heading up our new stores program.”
“New stores?” She’d helped open a dozen stores, having to be out of town for months at a time. “I don’t understand. Would I have a store manager position after an opening?”
“Not yet. But eventually, when you’ve had some more experience.”
Which meant they still thought she was too young. And nothing she could do would make her age overnight. A month ago she would have taken the assignment with a smile. But she’d matured, learned to look at her life as more than her job. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the kind of maturity Mendelssohn’s was after.
“I’m glad you’re interested and won’t be giving your notice tomorrow.”
“Of course not. I have ten days of comp time coming. I’d be crazy to quit now.” She smiled wide, scanning the room for a distraction.
“You’re actually going to take the time off?”
“I’m going to take a few days, get things in order. It was a long time to be gone.” She spotted Kellen Jackson, flanked by Logan. Not the best alternative, but it would work.
“You’ve been away longer on new-store openings.”
“Yes, but I had more than six hours to plan for those trips. And my grandmother could help with the day-to-day things like the mail.”
“How is Daphne?” Judy and her grandmother had been good friends, until their friendly rivalry had gotten in the way.
“Scouting her retirement community for her next traveling companion, I’m sure. Speaking of, do you think it would be totally unprofessional to ask Kellen to take a picture with me? It will drive Daphne crazy to find it on her e-mail tomorrow.”
“A little, but with all the people taking photos with him today he’ll hardly notice. Come on,” Judy said, taking her elbow as Breeze dug in her purse for her c
ell phone. “If a picture of you with her fantasy boy toy will drive her crazy, then both of us in the shot will really make her twist.”
Kellen didn’t mind at all as a passer-by snapped the photo with the digital camera on Breeze’s phone. Though she didn’t really pay much attention. Too much of her energy was caught up in the way Logan stared through her, his arms crossed against his broad chest, stretching his shirt across his shoulders. He didn’t say anything, but he didn’t need words. His body language was loud enough.
Under the guise of e-mailing the picture, Breeze made for the veranda. She needed privacy and to check the message on her cell phone.
Chapter Fourteen
She hadn’t checked in to the hotel where the launch party was being hosted, but here she was, in a sparkling blue dress the same color as her eyes. Never again would he go two weeks without seeing her. And the last week she’d been nearly impossible to get on the phone. Even today she was busy. He hadn’t seen an obvious opening as she chatted up the press, Judy the ever-present thorn in her side.
“Who’s the girl?” Kellen asked, sipping his drink.
Logan curled his toes in his shoes and arched an eyebrow. She looked great, but he didn’t like the intensity of Kellen’s stare as she snuck out of the party. “Breeze Cohen. She coordinated and trained the staff at Mendelssohn’s for the roll out.”
“She’ll do.” Kellen drained his drink and clinked it against the glass-topped table.
“For what?”
“Me, tonight.” Kellen smoothed back his long hair, though it was held in a ponytail at the nape of his neck.
“I don’t think so.”
“Why not? You already tagged her?”
“She’s not like that. And besides, she has a boyfriend.” Though she seemed content to ignore him.
“Not tonight.”
“Kel, leave her alone. She’s here because she worked hard on the campaign.”
“Then I need to thank her properly.” Kellen took a step and Logan grabbed him by the arm.
“I said no.” He met Kellen’s steely gaze head on and wondered if he was as transparent as his friend.
“Is she yours?” Logan didn’t move, didn’t blink. He couldn’t betray Breeze’s confidence, though a few words might save her from Kellen’s advances. “And you won’t tell me.”
For Kicks Page 16
