by Karen Baney
“Here’s the deal,” she started, cutting to the chase. “We need a functioning simulation by a week from Friday for a presentation to the Air Force on the following Monday. Today is Tuesday. And it’s half over at that. That gives us eight business days.”
“You’re kidding,” Jake said.
Niki frowned at him. “What I’m looking for here, is ideas on how we can get this thing done in eight days instead of the four weeks we asked for. If you’re not on board with that Jake, there’s the door.”
Jake shifted in his chair.
“It’s a lot,” Doug said. “We’re going to have to narrow the scope if we hope to have any chance of success.”
She nodded.
“He makes a good point,” Russell said. “I think we have to look at pulling some of the functionality. What’s the bare minimum we can deliver to meet the deadline and keep all parties happy?”
Niki felt some of the weight lift from her shoulders. That was exactly what they needed to do.
“I can help with that,” Kyle said. “And maybe we can get Alan in here. He knows the spec inside and out.”
“Go for it,” she said.
Two hours later, the team, including Kyle and Alan, identified the critical features. Then Niki divided up the responsibilities and sent the team off to get started. As the room emptied, Kyle remained seated.
“We’ll make it,” he said.
“I’m not so sure. And I hate playing this game when I know the Air Force is expecting full functionality. Are we faking it?”
He considered her words for a minute. “I think if we are open and honest about what we’re delivering and what we’re not, it’ll be fine. They sat in your meeting this morning and listened to you tell us what we were facing. I think the most important thing is to show some reasonable progress.”
She erased their blue scribbles from the whiteboard. “Do you think that will be enough? That they’ll give us the extra time?”
“I think they want to see something tangible. From their perspective they were promised something over a month ago. They have yet to see enough to give them any level of comfort that Helitronics can deliver what they’ve promised. While they understand setbacks, they also won’t throw good money after bad. They need to get the next generation CSAR helicopter out to the field in order to stay ahead of the enemy. I think if we give them something tangible, they will have more patience.”
Niki sighed. Gathering her things she followed Kyle from the room. She stopped when she reached her cube. She noticed her purse on her desk. Had she been so distracted she hadn’t even bothered to stow it out of sight on the floor?
Lifting the lid of her laptop, she composed an email to Brian to provide the paper trail of their plan just in case. Twenty minutes later, after hitting send on one of the longest emails she’d ever written, her stomach growled. The clock on her laptop read 4:00 p.m. She missed lunch. She picked up her purse from the floor, remembering her car was still stranded somewhere on the side of the road. She needed food. She needed to get her car fixed before all the shops closed. And she needed to start on a heap of coding.
The car had to come first otherwise she’d be stranded here. Taking her purse, Niki walked down the hall towards Kyle’s cube. No sign of him. She checked Alan’s cube, then the simulator room, then the break room. He was nowhere.
Standing at Doug’s cube, she asked, “You seen Kyle?”
“Not since the meeting.”
“Darn it. He has my tires and I gotta get my car fixed before I can get some lunch and get back to work.”
“Here,” Doug said, tossing her his keys. “Go get yourself some food. Maybe he’ll turn up by the time you get back.”
He told her where he was parked. She thanked him and took off to the nearest drive-thru. She placed her order and was out of there in ten minutes.
As she pulled into the Helitronics parking lot, she saw it. Her car. She drove by slowly. The tire was fixed. After she parked Doug’s car, she walked around back to check the license plate. It was hers. She wasn’t hallucinating. How?
She looked in her purse for her keys. They were gone. Had she given them to Kyle this morning in her confusion? Or left them in his truck?
Niki was still trying to figure out how her car magically appeared fixed by the time she got through security and back to her cube. She set the bag of fast food and her giant diet soda on her desk before returning Doug’s keys to him. When she stepped into her cube again, she saw it—her car keys and a note. The note simply listed the parking space number and said her car was all fixed.
Kyle.
As she munched on the burger, she considered this uncharacteristic act of kindness. This was not the same Kyle that put bugs in her food or toilet papered her house. Not only had he tried to help her this morning, but he took care of her tires, and he somehow managed to get her car here. When? How? The one question she couldn’t understand at all—why?
She finished her late lunch and pushed her confusion aside. She would thank him later. She needed to get into this code. Putting her headphones in, she selected her loudest fast paced playlist and started the music flowing. Her fingers flew across the keys with amazing speed. Her mind was open. She was thinking clearly, able to solve the logic problems dancing on the screen before her.
Niki had no idea how long she’d been working until a gentle knock on her desk drew her attention. She paused the music and popped out her headphones as she turned to greet her visitor.
Kyle nodded towards the keys—right where he left them. “Just wanted to make sure you found your car before I took off.”
Glancing at her clock, the time read a quarter till seven.
“Yes, thank you,” she said. “How much do I owe you? I can bring a check tomorrow or get some cash out.”
“Nothing.”
Was he crazy?
“That tire was shredded. It’s not like they could have repaired it. How much do I owe you?”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Look,” she said getting irritated, “I don’t like owing people. Just tell me.”
He shook his head and turned to leave. His voice floated over the cube wall as he walked towards the entrance. “You don’t owe me anything. Just accept it, stubborn woman.” His chuckle trailed his words.
Who was this man? Maybe he was an impostor. Maybe the real Kyle was still out there in world somewhere and this guy looked enough like him that he could fool Marcy.
Naw. Marcy wasn’t easily fooled.
Either way, he was confusing Niki. How could the brat that shoved her into the pool in swim class turn around and fix her tire and not want paid back. It didn’t make any sense. None at all.
Turning her attention back to the code, she put her headphones back on and went to work. An hour and a half later she caught herself yawning. Eight o’clock. She should head home. She could pack up a few things and stay at a hotel tomorrow and for the next week. That way she’d not lose the two hours commuting back and forth each day. And she could work as late as she needed to.
When she packed up her things, she saw all the other cubes were empty. The other guys must have left already. She waved goodbye to the security guard as she walked out to her car.
About a mile down the freeway, her phone rang. It was a number she didn’t recognize.
“Hello.”
“Niki? Hi, it’s Trevor.”
“Hey,” she said, glad he called. “I hate to do this to you, but I’m gonna have to cancel for Saturday. This big project at work just shifted into overdrive this morning. I’m just now headed home.”
A few seconds of silence. Maybe she should suggest they meet after the big deadline.
“No problem.” His tone of voice didn’t make it sound like it was no problem.
“Look, I still want to go out. I’m just gonna be tied up for the next week and a half.”
He sighed. “I’ve been thinking about you all day. I don’t want to wait that long to see you
.”
So much for no problem.
“Can you meet me for a coffee tonight?” Trevor suggested.
“It’s kinda late, don’t you think?”
“It’s just after eight. They’re open until eleven.”
Niki thought for a minute. It would be nice to vent about this awful day to a fellow engineer—a sympathetic soul.
“Come on. I really want to see you.”
“Alright. Though, I’m warning you, I might not be the best company.”
“No worries. When will you be home, so I can pick you up?”
She told him how much longer she thought she’d be before hanging up. Trevor seemed like a nice guy and she hated to cancel on him, so it looked like it would all work out in the end. Though, she had to admit she hadn’t thought of him even once since—was the BBQ really only yesterday?
When she pulled into the driveway, Trevor was already there waiting. She hit the button for the garage door and pulled in. When she shut off her car, he opened her door for her.
“Ready?” he asked.
She pointed to the house. “Just let me change real quick.”
“You already look great. Come on.”
She hesitated. “At least let me drop off my laptop in the house. I don’t want to leave it in the heat.”
“Okay. I’ll be out here waiting.”
In less than a minute, she unloaded her stuff onto the counter and hurried back outside. It was nice having someone’s attention, she thought as a smile spread across her lips.
As she got in his car, Trevor asked, “So what’s going on at work?”
She started the tale of her day, keeping it vague, on the way to the coffee shop. She didn’t finish until they were seated sipping their iced coffees.
“Sorry to go on so long,” she said.
“No problem. I get it. Besides, I could listen to you all night.” He gave her a heart stopping smile.
She smiled back. It was so nice to feel like someone wanted to be around her.
When they finished their coffees, they talked for another half hour or so. Sensing the hour growing late, she suggested they leave.
Trevor drove her back to her house. She was surprised when he stopped the car.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I thought I would escort you to the door. Isn’t that what gentlemen do?” His voice sounded offended.
Had she just ruined the first good date she’d been on since college?
At the front door, she stood there a minute, not sure how to end the date. She thought about a hug. Or maybe “I had a nice time.” Undecided, she turned to unlock the door.
Trevor turned her back towards him and rested his hands on her waist.
“I had a good time,” he said, letting his gaze fall to her lips.
Subconsciously, she wet her lips with her tongue. In the soft glow of the porch light, his hazel eyes grew heavy with desire. He dipped his head slightly, moving his lips to consume hers.
At first the kiss seemed tentative. She felt awkward. It had been a long time since she’d been kissed. Then he pressed her closer, allowing his hands to roam across her back. As he deepened the kiss, a fire ignited in her. She responded with fervor.
Frightened by her own desires, she pulled back. She struggled to regulate her heart and breath.
“I need to go,” she said.
“Niki,” he said, his lips nuzzling her ear. “I don’t want to go yet.”
Her heart beat rapidly within her chest. It had been a really, really long time since she’d been kissed like that. She didn’t want him to leave either.
“Can I come in?”
Her brain told her she should say no, but her desire overruled. She unlocked the security door and then the inner door and led Trevor inside to the great room.
The dark house added to the secluded feeling.
Niki dropped her keys on the counter. When she turned around, Trevor was inches from her. He pulled her to him, kissing her heatedly. She wrapped her arms around his neck and returned the kiss, enjoying the heady feeling. As he started to explore her body with his hands, she stepped back, falling over the edge of the couch. She landed with a thud, unintentionally pulling him with her.
“Trevor…” her voice died on her lips as he began kissing her neck.
A little groan escaped her lips giving him courage. She directed his lips back to hers. As he started to unbutton her blouse, reality hit her. This was going way too fast. Her eyes flew open just as the light flashed on.
As she looked over Trevor’s shoulder, she saw the one face she least expected. And it boiled her blood in a far different way than what Trevor’s kisses had.
“Kyle!” she screeched. What was he doing here? In her house?
As she scrambled to sit up, Trevor seemed undeterred—until Kyle spoke.
“Niki, Trevor,” he said, standing still. He looked from her to her companion.
As Trevor sat up, Kyle’s eyes traced a path down her neck to her gaping blouse. Niki quickly clutched the two sides together.
Trevor’s voice was angry when he spoke. “What’s he doing here?”
She shook her head. Crossing her arms over her chest, she asked, “Just what are you doing here, Kyle?”
“Apparently, chaperoning the two of you.”
The nerve! Niki swore.
“What is your deal? I’m a grown woman and this is my house. If I want to make out with a man, I sure as—I don’t need your permission.”
Standing to her feet, she marched toward him. “Do whatever it was you came to do and get OUT!”
Trevor came up behind her and looped his arms around her waist.
Kyle turned up one lip in a disgusted frown. “I can’t.”
Niki went from livid to whatever was beyond that. “Why not?”
“You’re blocking me in. I need you to move your car.”
“What are you talking about? Trevor parked in the street.”
Kyle frowned. “Not him. You.”
“Did you find them?” Marcy asked as she opened the door from the garage. “Oh!” she gasped as she saw the scene before her.
“I’m here to pick up my bike,” Kyle said. His glare bored holes through Niki.
She reached around Kyle to where her keys lay on the counter. She picked them up and tossed them to Marcy. “Can you oblige your brother?”
When Marcy and Kyle returned to the garage, Niki turned her attention back to her date.
“What’s with you two?” Trevor said as a frown formed on his face.
This date was going downhill fast, and for once it was her fault.
“Nothing. He’s my roommate’s brother. And I happen to work with him. That’s all.”
Trevor snorted. “Really? You two fight like a married couple.” Then he turned on his heel and stormed out the front door.
The sound of Trevor’s car starting was quickly followed by the loud rumble of Kyle’s Harley. Of course he would pick tonight to finally get the blasted thing out of her garage.
Niki locked the security door and front door. Leaning against it, she closed her eyes trying to figure out what just happened. A perfectly good date, turned into passionate bliss, only to be ripped out from under her. Could her life get any more complicated?
“You okay?” Marcy asked softly.
She let out a long breath. “Not really.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“Not really,” she said pushing off from the door. She walked down the hall to her room, with Marcy following. She pulled her suitcase from her closet and began packing a few items.
“Please tell me you’re not moving out of your own house?”
“No. I’ll be staying up in Scottsdale for the next week or so. I’m going to be pulling some major hours and it’ll just be easier to be close by.”
“Probably a good idea. Kyle said you had a rough day.”
She stiffened at the mention of Kyle’s name. “That’s putting it mildly,
” she muttered under her breath.
“I’m going to hit the sack,” Niki said as she finished packing. “If you’re not up when I leave, I’ll see you a week from Saturday.”
“Okay. Don’t overdo it, Niki. No project is worth it, okay?”
“I won’t.”
“I know you. You probably will.”
Niki threw a pillow her direction. “Thanks, Ma.”
The sound of Marcy’s laughter lingered after she shut the door to her own room.
She flopped into bed, heart still racing. Maybe Kyle hadn’t changed. It seemed he was still finding ways to ruin her life.
Chapter 16
“Can I get your phone number?” Niki asked before Kyle left her cube.
“Why, looking for a date?”
“I don’t date cl—”
“Clients. I know. But won’t Trevor get upset if you have my number?” Kyle said wryly.
Why did he insist on getting under her skin?
“I doubt it, seeing as you ran him off.”
Kyle smiled, obviously pleased by that bit of news. “You can thank me later,” he said, reaching for a sticky note and pen.
“Put both your home and cell on there.”
“Pushy, aren’t we?” Then he flashed her a charming smile—that one she’d like to knock off his face.
After working all weekend long, she was in no mood for Kyle Jacobs. She was still mad at him for the whole Trevor thing. And, they lost some good time this weekend when she couldn’t get in touch with him for a few questions. Though he answered them first thing this morning, she wasn’t taking any more chances.
He handed her the note and pen. “Try not to abuse it.”
“Don’t count on it, Jacobs.” She turned her attention back to her laptop.
“You’re cute when you’re mad.”
She jumped up from her chair and looked him in the eye. “You haven’t seen mad yet.”
“You’re not still mad at me for the Trevor thing are you?”
“Trevor thing? That was the first decent date I’ve had in years. And thanks to your big brother antics, it’ll probably be the last.” Narrowing her eyes, she said, “Don’t you have some work to do?”
