A Dream to be Loved Kandi Jaynes (6 page)

"I figure we both already know you shouldn't have so I decided not waste my breath. And despite the reputation I have around here, not even I could refuse such gorgeous roses. So I decided to simply enjoy them for their natural beauty and not ruin it by making a scene."

"Did you get the chocolate as well?"

She slid into her chair and drew her knees up propping her feet on the open drawer. "Yes I did, but I'm not going to thank you for it. That was just plain mean," she said, grinning. It was strange, but somehow talking to him on the phone was easier than face to face.

"Mean? Why was it mean?"

"Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to give that much chocolate to a woman who lives alone? With no one to hold me accountable for how much I eat, don't be surprised when I call in sick tomorrow with a chocolate hangover."

She closed her eyes and listened to the deep throaty laugh. His voice became soft and sensual. "I would hate to think I was responsible for making you sick. Maybe I should come over and spend the evening with you so I can make sure you're safe."

Kate felt color flood her cheeks. She hadn't meant for that to be an invitation. "I'd be safer alone with the chocolate." She also hadn't meant for that to be out loud.

"Why do you say that?"

She swiveled slightly in her chair twirling the phone cord around her finger when a movement caught her eye. A group of men stood by the window leaning on the fence, eating popcorn, and watching her. "Oh no," she groaned.

"What's wrong?"

"I've just become the floor show."

"What?"

"I really have to go."

"I'll call you this evening."

"There's no need for that."

"Yes there is. I'll talk to you later, Kate."

She hung up the phone glad her desk was too far from the window for anyone to have heard her end of the conversation. Looking at her watch she noted there was still enough time to grab lunch. She pulled her purse out of the drawer and walked toward the group. "Is there something you need?" She opened the door.

"Not really," one of the men replied. "We were just enjoying the show. I take it from the smiles and giggles you were talking to the person who sent the flowers."

"I'm hungry, if you'll excuse me I'm going to get something to eat."

"Oh, come on, Kate, tell us who they're from. Are you serious about him? Is he from around here? Give us something."

"What I'll give you is dull tooling from now on if you don't leave me alone. Did you ever think maybe they're from my grandmother to thank me for helping her move last month?"

"Yeah, right. Women don't blush and get all doe eyed and giggly over a grandmother."

"Doe eyed and giggly?" Kate's stomach knotted as she heard Drake's voice.

"Hi, Drake. We were just trying to find out who sent Kate flowers and the box that made her blush," Smitty offered, "But she won't tell us. She was just feeding us some line about them being from her grandmother."

Kate gave Smitty a look that would have withered most people, but he had known her too long to be afraid of her. "I'm going to lunch." she grated as she pushed past the crowd.

Watching her leave, another member of the group spoke. "Wow, maybe it finally happened."

"What?" Drake inquired.

"Maybe she's finally met someone that broke through. In all the years we've known her, she has never had a boyfriend that we know of. When she started here some of the guys asked her out, but she always turned them down, telling them she didn't want the complication of dating someone from work. Later we got to know some of her friends and found out she just doesn't date at all. If she has found someone, I hope for his sake he deserves her."

Drake's brows furrowed. "What do you mean?" he asked carefully.

The man laughed. "Kate is very well liked around here. She has always fit right in. More times than we can count she has gone out of her way to help any number of us. Professionally and personally. She doesn't get offended when one of us is in a bad mood and says something we shouldn't. She's definitely not some floozy a guy could just mistreat and get away with it. You might say if word got out some guy hurt her there would be a very long line of men wanting to know his name."

"I'd be first in line," Smitty said.

Drake looked up at the man he'd seen Kate yell at that first day. He had never considered himself a wimp, but he wouldn't leap in front of a moving train to try and stop it either. He glanced at Smitty again and considered himself duly warned.

Steve looked at Drake. "We wouldn't let him go first. There wouldn't be anything left for the rest of us if he did." The men all laughingly agreed as they went their separate ways.

Instead of being worried, Drake felt his feelings for Kate grow even stronger. He'd heard the way some of the men talked about other single women in the building. It often wasn't very flattering. He knew others were well liked, but it was obvious Kate had earned a special place in the shop.

*****

As Kate was getting ready to leave for the day, Mr. Denison stopped by the cage, leaning on her desk. "Hi Kate. How are you today?"

"I'm fine thanks. How is your day going?"

"Not bad for a Monday. Did you have a nice weekend?"

"Yes."

He picked up a pencil and studied it. "So how did your dinner with Drake turn out?" He asked casually. A little too casually.

"It went well I guess. I think I managed to answer most of his questions about the tool crib."

"I've known Drake a long time. What do you think of him?"

"He seems to know his stuff. The people in production really like him. I think they like the fact he's trying to learn how things are done and is genuinely asking for input and not just coming in and trying to take over. People tend to respect that."

Bill studied her for a moment. "That's nice to know, but I didn't ask what everyone else thinks of him. I asked what you think of him."

Kate started to fidget not sure how to answer. "I think I really don't know him that well. I think from what I've seen, he'll be a good asset to the company."

Bill looked at the roses. "Nice flowers."

"Yes."

"Any special occasion?"

Her response was guarded. "Just a thank you."

He grinned. "My dear, a note or a phone call is a thank you. A small arrangement of spring flowers possibly, but a man doesn't send two dozen dark red long stem roses and a gift unless he means business." He chuckled when she blushed and patted her shoulder adding, "Drake is a good man."

She had started to suspect before, but now she knew. "You set me up." her disbelief obvious.

"Now my dear, Drake did need to talk to you, and you have to admit, it would be difficult during work hours. I didn't see any reason why the two of you couldn't discuss work over a nice dinner." He gave her a quick wink. "I didn't have anything to do with the flowers though. That was strictly Drake's doing. By the looks of things, you made quite an impression."

"You set me up," she repeated, still stunned. If her friends had tricked her into a date or someone in production had set her up with somebody as a joke, she wouldn't have been so surprised. Bill, however, was the CEO of the company. And he had set her up with a VP!

A buzzer rang in the shop signaling the end of the shift. Kate, still in shock, picked up her purse and walked toward the door. "Kate." Bill called after her. "You forgot your flowers." He stood up and chuckled as he left through the back door.

Chapter Four

That evening Kate fixed herself a quick supper and soaked in the tub for an hour. She slipped into a nightshirt and curled up on the couch in front of the TV. The kitchen door opened and Sue yelled her name. "I'm in here," she answered, not bothering to get up.

Sue came strolling in a minute later with a satisfied smirk on her face. "Should I ask who the roses are from, or would you like me to guess?"

"Give me a break I've been harassed enough for one day."

"Okay I won't harass you about the flowers. I do have to wonder though, how he found out about your white chocolate fetish. It usually takes years for a man to learn even the simplest personal details about you. Yet Drake found out your biggest weakness on the first date. How exactly did that come about?"

Just then the phone rang. Kate rolled face down on the couch and groaned. "I don't suppose you'd be willing to answer that and say I'm not home."

"No, I wouldn't."

"Okay, then I'll let the machine get it."

Sue jumped up and grabbed the phone. Kate listened to the one sided conversation. "Hello. Hi, Drake, this is Sue. I'm fine. Yes, she's here, I'll get her for you." Sue held the phone out. "It's for you. I'd love to stay, but I know if I had a guy like Drake is on the line I'd want a little privacy so I'll leave you two alone."

Kate sat up and took the phone. She held her hand over it and took a deep breath as Sue scooted out the door. Bringing the phone to her ear, she said, "Hello."

"Hi, Kate."

"Hello, Drake. Is something wrong at work?"

"Not that I'm aware of. The reason I'm calling doesn't have anything to do with work."

Kate closed her eyes. "Why are you calling?"

"We didn't get to finish our conversation today."

"We didn't?"

"No, we didn't. I'm confused by a couple of things you said."

"Which things would that be?"

"First, you said we both know I shouldn't have sent the flowers. I want to know why you think I shouldn't have. Second, I'd like to know what you meant when you said you'd be safer with the chocolate than with me."

"I don't suppose we could do this some other time. I've had a rough day and am not thinking too clearly right now."

"We could do it over dinner tomorrow," he offered.

"Then again, maybe now isn't such a bad time after all." She sighed. "Look, it was really nice of you to send me flowers. I just think it was inappropriate. I didn't notice you sending flowers to anybody else at work after talking to them." Kate ran a hand through her hair. "As for the other thing, people are already trying to find out who sent the flowers. If they found out it was you they would make my life miserable. The rumor mill at work has a life of its own. If we were seen together and my name got linked with yours it would be terrible. I've seen what such rumors as secretaries and their bosses, or copy girls and supervisors have done to a few people. I can't imagine what kind of havoc the tool crib attendant and the Vice President would cause. It's bad enough my friends saw you the other night. They're still not finished badgering me about our dinner."

His voice slid into that soft sensual tone again. "Well then we better start coming up with a plan."

"A plan for what?"

"A plan for how we're going to see each other without the rumors getting out of control. I want to see you Kate, and not just at work in passing."

Kate's heart skipped a beat. Her lungs constricted and she couldn't breathe.

"Kate?"

She forced air into her lungs and tried to form some sort of rational thought. "Yes I, ah..." Her voice cracked and she cleared her throat. "I'm flattered really." She swallowed hard and continued. "It's just not a good idea. You're new in town and don't know anybody here yet. I understand if you're feeling lonely and want someone to spend time with. We had dinner together and it was nice, but that doesn't mean we should see each other. If you'd like I could introduce you to some of my friends. Like Sue for instance, she loves to go out and have fun. She knows lots of people. She could help you have a full social life in no time and--"

"Kate." She was startled into silence. "I'm not lonely or lacking for a social life. Nor do I want to go out with Sue. I have nothing against her, but she's not the one I want to spend time with. I would like to get to know you better. I don't mind keeping a low profile for now if it makes you more comfortable."

Kate was surprised to find she was almost in tears. She must be more tired than she thought, and getting overly emotional. "I don't think it's a very good idea."

"I think it's a very good idea." he said with a self-assured laugh. "I know you've had a long day so I won't keep you any longer. I'll see you tomorrow." Before she could hang up, she heard him softly call her name.

"Kate?"

"Yes?" she whispered.

"Sweet dreams."

She heard a soft click on the line and he was gone. She replaced the receiver and sat hugging her pillow.

Kate was again awake half the night tossing and turning trying to convince herself Drake hadn't meant what he said. An hour before her alarm was set to go off, she woke from a dream. The most erotic dream she'd ever had. Unlike most of her dreams, she could remember this one in vivid detail. Even now that she was awake it still felt real. Her body tingled and her breathing labored. If she closed her eyes she could feel Drake there.

She threw back the covers and climbed out of bed. Walking into the bathroom, she caught sight of her reflection in the mirror. Her face was flushed and her eyes were puffy and underscored with dark circles. "I can't believe you're letting a man do this to you." She grimaced. "Not only do you look terrible, but you've started talking to yourself on a regular basis." She shook her head and turned on the shower. "I must be going insane."

After her shower she was cleaner, but didn't really look any better. Of course few at work were tactful enough not to mention it. "Wow, you look terrible." Or "Rough night?" followed by winks and smirks were the most common statements she endured all morning. After she barked at enough of them they decided she'd had enough and left her alone. It was the longest day she remembered ever having since starting at Denetech. It wasn't simply the comments and questions, or even the fact she was dead tired. It was the fear Drake could come by at any minute and she would have to face him. By lunch time she almost wished he would come by and get it over with so she could stop worrying about it. Her entire shift passed, however, with no sign of him.