Ground Floor: Toys and Games (2 page)

“How’s it looking out there, son?” His father was waiting for him in the office, sitting in his throne-like chair behind the solid mahogany desk.

“All shipshape and ready to go.” It wasn’t often Jamie was given the honor of doing the morning rounds.

“Thanks. The old knees just weren’t up to it this morning.” The rightful King of Kelsey’s stretched his legs and winced. Age was starting to catch up with him, even if he stubbornly refused to admit it.

“Dad, you know you could be taking it easy at home. All you have to do is give me the word.” There was so much Jamie could do to improve the store, if only he were allowed a modicum of control.

“Nonsense. I’ll be here until I drop. Who else can I trust to run things the way the family always has?” The words were meant to hit Jamie where it hurt. He’d already almost lost the family fortune once and the Kelseys didn’t tend to give second chances.

“Perhaps it’s time for change, before we lose the store altogether.” In this day and age a name and tradition didn’t count for much, as proved in their latest sales figures.

“We’re not going over this again, James. Kelsey’s has outlived them all, survived through the Blitz and the Troubles. I’m sure we can make it through a recession without abandoning our principles. Besides, Charles Foster has been the marketing director for over forty years. Do you think I would cast him aside now simply so you can have a go at playing shop?” His father frowned, disappointment and anger making him look more tired than ever.

Jamie could picture Foster now, peering at him with disapproval through his steel rimmed spectacles perched on the end of his nose. It wasn’t that Jamie particularly disliked the man, he merely thought his ideas needed updating. What had worked in the seventies and eighties bore little resemblance to today’s hi-tech strategies.

“All I’m saying is we should look at new sales techniques. What was the point in me going to university if you’re not going to listen to my ideas?” How could he make amends when he wasn’t allowed to forget what an utter balls-up he’d made in the past?

“From what I’ve gathered, your whole purpose at university seemed to be to sleep your way through the entire female student body.” There wasn’t a hint of humor in having his Dad call him a tart. It only emphasized his low opinion of him.

“Dad. I’m twenty-six now. I’d like to think I’ve matured since then. I’m ready to accept my responsibilities now instead of running away from them.” Once upon a time he hadn’t been able to think of anything worse than following in his father’s footsteps. These days being seen as a man of integrity was all he aspired to.

“When you can prove that to me we’ll talk. For now, I have suppliers to sweet talk and a bank manager who wants my hide. So—” He dismissed Jamie with a wave and lifted the telephone.

“How can I do that when you won’t let me help?” The changes needed to come soon if they were to stand any chance of staying open.

“We have a delivery coming, go and take charge of that. Hello, Billy, it’s John Kelsey here—” The family meeting was ended in favor of business.

Jamie let himself out of the office and barely resisted slamming the door behind him. The man infuriated him at times. He didn’t blame him for being cautious, but the family business was more of a dictatorship as far as he was concerned. Yet, all Jamie wanted to do was make improvements to benefit everyone. If he could share the load and ease some of his father’s stresses they would both feel better.

Although being banished to the bowels of the store didn’t bode well, he intended to do the best job possible in the circumstances.

* * * *

“Don’t worry, guys, I’m only here to see the delivery in.” Tension filled the air as soon as he walked into the loading bay. He never thought of the store as having a class system, but standing here suited and booted while the men around him were dressed in real working clothes, it would be natural to assume he was overseeing his minions.

The van reversed into the vast space and they lifted the shutters. A conveyer belt of men unloaded the boxes onto pallets, with Jamie standing watching. He took off his jacket, loosened his tie, and rolled up his sleeves before joining the chain. Between them they emptied the load in minutes. The physical exertion gave Jamie a buzz he hadn’t experienced in a long time—the thrill of getting his hands dirty, of being useful.

No one spoke while they worked—no doubt waiting for the management to leave so they could express themselves freely.

“Good job, lads. I’ll take this lot on up if you want.” There were boxes marked for the toy department and Jamie automatically honed in on them. Without any objections, he loaded them onto a trolley and headed for the service lift. It was one of those dreadful old-fashioned things with a heavy wrought iron gate. In the old days they employed people to operate them but that was at least one concession his father made to cut costs.

He justified his visit to see the brunette with the vivid blue eyes by telling himself more stock on the floor meant more sales. Completely ignoring the fact his father didn’t like to see deliveries on the floor during working hours and would’ve had a coronary to see a Kelsey wheeling it in, Jamie carried on.

“I have something for you.” He wheeled in the goods as proud as if he’d made the toys with his own two hands.

The assistant he’d hoped to see almost toppled from the top of the ladder, where she stood precariously with an armful of board games.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.” He moved quickly to put a hand on the ladder and steady her.

“Kelly’s on her break, Mr Kelsey. She won’t be long.” Without looking in his direction, she reached up to stack the boxes on the top shelf. She’d put the stockings on after all.

“Call me Jamie. And your name is?” He couldn’t help himself. The pretty blue eyes deserved a name to go with them.

“Jen. Jen White. Kelly’s my sister.” With cautious steps she climbed back down the ladder.

“You can tell her I stopped by. With the stock. I hope you’re enjoying the job a little more since I last saw you.” There was an air of sadness around her that he couldn’t explain, and since she’d brightened his day from the beginning, it bothered him.

“Yes, sir. I mean, Jamie. Thanks.” She lowered her lashes as she called him by name, showing an innocence not usually seen in a woman of her age. These days too many twenty-somethings were all about flaunting their sexuality, not hiding from it. It intrigued him. It unnerved him.

“Right. I should go.” Like a love-struck floppy-haired fop in a British romcom, he made no attempt to leave.

“Two visits in one day, Mr Kelsey? The other departments will be getting jealous.” Kelly returned to snap him out of whatever the hell it was he thought he was doing.

“Let’s keep it between ourselves in that case, or they’ll all want a personal delivery.” He hoped a flirty wink in the supervisor’s direction would prove enough to halt the gossip spreading. Not that there was anything to talk about. After all, he’d sworn off women until he’d earned his place in the family business.

Chapter Three

“That’s us for the day.” Kelly shut down the computer and closed the till drawer.

Jen carried on stripping down the boxes and pricing the stock, not caring about the time.

“Did you hear me? It’s knocking off time.” Kelly shrugged on her overcoat and handed Jen’s bag to her over the counter.

“I can finish this if you want?” Once she’d gotten into the swing of things, Jen realized the work took her mind off her problems. Maybe she should take up a hobby to stay busy when her thoughts and memories kept her from sleep.

“You don’t get overtime you know.” Another glance at her watch and Kelly made to leave.

“I know. I just want to finish what I’ve started.” What did she have to go home to anyway? A well-meaning, if over-bearing mother who didn’t believe her daughter should spend a minute alone in case depression finally got the better of her. And a recount of the day’s events from her sister, and now, supervisor. Some peace was worth an hour’s free labor.

“In that case just make sure you leave before Mr Kelsey locks up for the night.” Kelly headed on to catch the bus. Jen would have to get the later one but at least she would miss the rush hour crush.

“I will. See you later.” She turned back to the boxes and the welcome brain numbing routine.

* * * *

“You’re still here? They did tell you this wasn’t a live-in position didn’t they?” A familiar voice startled her some time later, and sent her pricing gun clattering to the floor.

“Yes. I volunteered to finish up here. I’ll be on my way soon.” Since Lee, she hadn’t spent much time in male company. That had to be the reason her palms grew sweaty and she acted like a complete loser when Jamie Kelsey came near her. She still hadn’t recovered from his last visit, showing up with his clothes in disarray and setting her all flustered.

“No rush. I’ll be here for a while myself. What’s with all the fluffy bunnies and clucking chickens?” He pulled a floppy-eared pink rabbit from the box.

“It’s Easter soon. I suppose it’s for a promotion of some sort to get customers in over the holidays.” She shrugged her shoulders and carried on pricing.

Jamie snorted. “I’m sure my father isn’t promoting anything. It’s more likely the suppliers have extra stock they’re looking rid of. Still, I might have an idea for this stuff. Could you help me carry it out? The trolley’s down in the loading bay somewhere.”

Not about to say no to her new boss, Jen dutifully packed up the stuffed toys and followed him across the shop floor. For a minute she thought he was taking the piss when he led her to the side window.

“Maybe I should go now.” She didn’t hear anyone else around and she wasn’t comfortable being on her own with this man. Not when his blond hair flopped over his eyes like that, and he chewed his lip when he was deep in thought.

“I don’t want to keep you. I’m just trying to figure out how to boost our profile a bit without my father thinking I’ve sold my soul to the devil.” He opened the door leading out onto the display of fake flowers which had probably been there since the store was built.

Jen blew the dust off the faded pink plastic petals. “It does have a look of the funeral parlor about it. It wouldn’t take much to liven the window up, I’m sure. Just dot a few stuffed animals around, and you could borrow a few items from around the store.”

Jamie slipped in behind the glass to position the toys. “Hmm, I don’t think I’m particularly creative. If you take pity and help me I’m sure I could find my way to paying you some overtime.”

The money would definitely come in handy if she ever wanted her independence. Seeing him staring blankly at the empty space, she pushed it as far as she dared. “Double time?”

He narrowed his eyes at her before breaking into another beaming smile. “Only if you stay until it’s done.”

“You’re on. Now we’re going to need to write a list.” A bit of fun was long overdue. It might not have been everyone’s idea of a good time, but a little creative burst took her far from the world of hospitals and sickness which still haunted her thoughts.

She breezed through the halls making demands of her new personal assistant with glee, enjoying the control she had for once in her life. They filled a shopping basket with bits and pieces from every department until she had everything she needed.

“You know this is just for the window, right? Not craft time at the local playschool.” He pulled out a set of poster paints and a square of red and white checked fabric.

“Trust me.” Totally forgetting her place, she patted his cheek the way she’d always done when she’d teased Lee. She snatched her hand back, burnt with guilt at the touch of another man on her skin.

“My career is entirely in your hands, madam.” He made a sweeping bow which went some way to putting the smile back on her face.

“In that case we should really make a start.” The sooner they did this, the quicker she could get away from temptation.

With both of them squeezed into the tight space, contact was inevitable.

“Sorry.”

“Excuse me.”

It was like some sort of absurd courting dance as they brushed against each other and sprang away again. Every time Jamie bent down to arrange the cuddly creatures, the tail of his jacket skimmed against her leg and distracted her from the summer scene she was trying to paint. The rasp along her skin was almost intimate to someone who’d spent the last months isolated from the world.

Jen wanted to scrunch herself into the corner to escape him and stop the awkwardness but eventually she was forced to stretch across to add detail into the far side of the glass. She reached above Jamie’s head to add some flowers and insects to her picture, their bodies so close they were virtually touching.

“Where did you learn to paint like that?” His voice sent her paintbrush off on a tangent, turning her cartoon ladybird into a black smudge.

She released the shaky breath she’d been holding. “I used to dabble a bit in school.”

He stood so they were at eye level and only the width of a paintbrush apart. Thankfully he took a step back so she was able to breathe in again. “Did you study at art college?”

“No. Unfortunately real life interrupted my plans.” If Lee hadn’t taken ill perhaps she might have gone down the art college route, but she didn’t regret a moment of time she’d devoted to taking care of him. She had the rest of her life to make plans. Sadly, he didn’t.

“I’m sorry to hear that. Maybe that’s something you could look into in the future?” Jamie was only trying to be polite, she was sure, but she didn’t want to have such a personal conversation with him. The nature of her past relationship was private, sacred, and she wouldn’t divulge any details to just anyone. Not everyone would understand.

“Perhaps.” She hadn’t really thought beyond her job here.
Baby steps.

Jen cleaned her brush, stirring it vigorously in the pot of water in her hand. She needed to finish up and get out of there before she got too comfortable with the man beside her.