Three to Dance Page 9

  “Can you move that over just a smidge?” she said, referencing the test. “It’s a little close to the border and I don’t want it to bleed in.” She smiled sweetly, a saccharine smile that was clearly fake, pasted on. It was clear that she tolerated the designers because she needed their talents, but just barely.

  Relieved, Kate nodded. Only two hours before Sheila had sent back an ad practically colored over with yellow marks and suggestions written in the margin. She was surprised she’d gotten off so easily on the first proof.

  “Anything else?” she asked.

  “No, I think that’s it,” Sheila said. “Finish that and you’re done.”

  Kate nodded. “Will do.” She headed back to her desk, made the change, and left the last proof with Shelia. Clocking out, she headed to her car.

  The first day down, she still didn’t recall the names of half the people she’d worked with, but she’d done what she was there to do, and had done it successfully. Not bad for a new kid on the block.

  An hour later, Kate pulled into her space. A glance at Scott’s space told her that he wasn’t home. Since Scott worked construction, it was not unusual for him to be out of town for several days on a job. That was good. She wasn’t sure she wanted to see him right now.

  Her eyes drifted over to Josh’s spot. Also empty. Boy, she was striking out double time tonight. She’d planned to invite Josh over for dinner, maybe rent a video.

  Well, since that was a no go, she might as well do her hair. She’d stopped off at the local drug store and picked up a coloring kit, just the shade she wanted. Picking up the plastic bag, she hurried into the house. The night smelled fresh, the odors of the city’s day washed away by the cleansing rain.

  Monty and Larry were on hand to greet her, all meows and kisses. She gave each of the twin’s liberal hugs and kisses, letting them talk her into opening a can of tuna for a treat. When they were munching happily, she kicked off her shoes, changed into a robe, and went into the bathroom to do her hair.

  Taking out the color kit, she mixed the two bottles together, and dumped it on her hair, rubbing the formula in until her head was covered by one big gooey mess. According to the box, it would take twenty minutes to change her natural dark blonde shade into a lighter one. Since this was a pamper herself night when not a man was in sight, she applied a mud mask to her face. Nails next, stripping off the old polish and applying a fresh coat in a nice baby pink shade, followed by a clear coat to set it. Face dry and hair an odd shade of purple, she got into the shower, rinsing her face and hair.

  Stepping out of the shower and snagging a towel, she stared expectantly into the mirror. Her hair was now a lighter, lovely shade of blonde. She’d decided on a rich buttery color, which would appear more natural than the candy cotton white blonde that just screamed fake. Combing through her hair, she wondered how it was that God could never put the right color on a woman’s head. What had she done in a past life that cursed her to such a dull shade? Well, at least she’d remedied that. In the last few years, she hadn’t thought much about her hair, especially since she hadn’t been scoping out the opposite sex. Now that she had a few prospects, she wanted to fix herself up a little.

  She let the robe slip from her shoulders to the floor at her feet, Standing in front of the mirror, she examined her reflection closely. She could still feel the tingles of Scott’s moist tongue around her breasts. She shivered. As though having a will of its own, her hand moved down, caressing her flat stomach. She began to stroke herself, closing her eyes and enjoying the sensations. Although Scott and their incredible night loomed large in the forefront of her brain, she still had Josh on her mind. She’d had a little taste of walking on the wild side, and she wanted to have a little more fun.

  First, the rest of the workweek loomed ahead.

  Four more long days.

  Then… the weekend.

  Chapter Eight

  Saturday was a quiet day.

  Kate spent the morning putting the final touches in her apartment, dashing off a few emails to her friends and family, then the whole afternoon wandering out to learn about the town. To her delight, it was easy to get around. In no time at all, she found a branch to her bank, the public library, a veterinarian’s office, several grocery stores, and the mall. All she needed was only a short distance away. The best way to learn one’s way around a new place was to drive it out, getting lost and finding a way out. She spent the whole afternoon doing nothing more than driving around, drinking cokes, and jotting down street addresses as she found the places that interested her.

  Scott had had the sense to give her a little space after their night of incredible sex. They’d talked through the week, promising not to smother each other, not get too possessive. Most of all, though, they’d agreed that their relationship should be an open one. They would date other people, not be too eager to settle for one another because they were both feeling a little lonely.

  For Kate, this was a fine arrangement. She enjoyed living alone, doing what she pleased when she wanted. If she didn’t want to fix any food and just eat crackers, well, that was her option. If she wanted to go out, all she had to do was put out sufficient cat food and water for the twins. They had plenty of toys and a TV to watch, plus each other to play with.

  With the evening looming and no excitement in sight. She decided to set her new plan into motion and get to know Josh a little better. Earlier, she’d gone out and bought a scrumptious cheesecake, a can of blueberries and a can of whipped cream. Watching for Josh, she gave him an hour to relax and unwind from his day at work. Didn’t want to seem like she was pouncing. She knew from his conversation that as a store manager, he often had to fill in for employees who didn’t show up or quit without notice. Also, she wanted to see if he had other plans. If any other women were going to show up, or if he was going out for the weekend, it would be soon.

  To pass the time, she began to get ready to go out. As usual, the twins were underfoot, grabbing at the curling iron cord and reaching up to grab things off the edge of the bathroom counter. Thieves. Both of them were little thieves and ran off with anything they could carry. It was not unusual for them to carry off small items, shred rolls of toilet paper, and generally create all kinds of cat mayhem behind her back.

  Casual, she told herself, wishing those butterflies in her stomach would be still. Keep it cool.

  Putting up her hair in a twisty braid, she curled a few sexy strands around her face and neck. She put on a little makeup, lining her eyes with a flattering color and putting on a little lipstick. No blush because her cheeks were already too red, just some powder to tone down the color. She put on her tightest fashionably faded jeans, liking the way they hugged her ass. Though it was a little chilly, she put on a cute white silky blouse, the one that showed just a bit of her flat belly. It molded to her body, slink and just a little bit more than enticing to the eye. Its lines were simple, but effective, the material almost sheer against her skin. Her nipples were raised, poking little pink dots through the thin material. A pair of flats completed her casual outfit. Over that, she threw on a light sweater. Didn’t want to seem totally ridiculous since it was chilly outside. Lastly, she opened the new box of condoms she’d purchased. Sadly, this was about her only choice for birth control that was not prescription. The sponge had been discontinued years ago, she didn’t trust spermicidal inserts to work alone, and the female condom was a totally gross idea. That left the plain old condom, lubricated with spermicidal. Tearing off three of the foil packets, she tucked them into her pockets. Like Scott, she was going prepared.

  When the hour had passed, Kate took the cheesecake out of the fridge, arranged it on a nice plate, topped it with blueberries, whipped cream, and covered it with a pie pan. She quickly dialed his number. The line was busy. Deciding not to wait to talk to him, she took gift in hand and made her way down to number ten. There, she rang the doorbell. And waited.

  Looking a little harried, Josh threw open the door. “What do yo
u want?” he snapped.

  Kate cringed and held out the plate. “Uh, sorry to bother you. Just wanted to thank you for helping me move.” By the appearance of his half-unbuttoned shirt, she’d interrupted him in the act of undressing.

  Seeing her, his face lightened, brow unwrinkling. “Oh, geez, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you. I thought you were someone else.” His eyes grew kinder, his expression lightening and an easygoing smile replaced the severe frown.

  “Someone you’re really pissed at,” she said. “Anyway, you’re busy, so I’ll just leave this and go.”

  He shook his head. “No, not at all.” He moved aside and made a gesture with his hand. “Come on in.”

  She shrugged. “If you’re sure.”

  “I’m sure.”

  Tightening her hands on the plate, Kate stepped inside. She offered the plate again. “A little present for you, for helping me move.” She lifted the pie pan. “Cheesecake. I hope you like it.”

  His eyes swept over the dessert, moving to her body; her breasts, her neck, up to her eyes. “Looks good to me,” he said. It was clear he liked everything he saw, and that he was not talking about the cheesecake. The wicked little grin he flashed said everything that was on his mind. “I like the hair. Nice color.”

  “Thanks. Since I’m making changes in my life, I was ready for a few changes in myself.” She set the plate down. “So this is your place.” Not a question. A conversation starter.

  “Have a look around.” He opened the fridge. “Like something to drink?”

  “Yes. That would be nice.”

  “Beer or a wine cooler?”

  “Cooler is fine by me,” she said, and then wrinkled her nose. “I really never did take to the taste of beer.”

  Josh pulled out two wine coolers, offering her one. When he closed the fridge, Kate noticed the photo magnets on its face. There were a couple of Josh and a little boy, then a few of the little boy by himself, playing with toys.

  “Thanks.” She twisted off the cap. “Yours?”

  “My what?”

  She indicated the photos. “The kid. Yours?”

  “Oh, duh.” He smacked his forehead. “That’s my son, Jesse. He’s two.” He opened and took a sip of his own cooler. “That’s why I was so pissed when I opened the door. I just got off the phone with Cindy. Because I had to work and couldn’t come by and pick up Jesse this morning, she’s decided I can’t take him tomorrow either.” He made a disgusted gesture. “She doesn’t even try to work with my schedule since she’s got a new boyfriend. I hardly ever get to see Jesse anymore. She’s always dragging him off somewhere.”

  “That’s not fair,” Kate sympathized. “You have to make a living.”

  The muscles in his face tightened briefly with anxiety. “Tell me about it. I guess we’re going to have to go back to court and fight it out so I can have my visitations.”

  She laid a light hand on his arm. “I’m sorry for you. That must be hard.”

  “I love my son,” he said. “But there are times when I wish that woman wasn’t his mother. If it weren’t for him, I’d have cut ties with her a long time ago.” His face clouded again with anger. Just as quickly, his expression softened as he glanced down at her hand, still on his arm. Their eyes met for a moment.

  Kate let her hand drop. It was clear that Josh was picking up the vibes she was sending out. “I feel the same about my ex,” she said. “Only I was lucky enough not to have kids with him.”

  “So you’re divorced, too?”

  “Four very happy years now,” she said with no bitterness. “I have no regrets that it’s over and he’s gone.”

  “No love lost?” he asked.

  She shook her head, biting down on her lower lip. It was time to measure her word. She didn’t want to come off like a rancid, man-hating shrew. She’d had a few bad experiences with men. That was no reason to be turned off to the whole male sex, even if man bashing was one of her favorite sports when gossiping with her girlfriends.

  “We were only married two years, and I doubt he even remembers it. He spent most of his time drinking beer and missing work.”

  He winced. “Oh, sorry to hear that.”

  She waved a dismissive hand. “I was getting tired of it. I think if he hadn’t packed up that I would have. When he lost his last job, he packed up and went home to mom. Never could cut those apron strings, I guess. Anyway, never laid eyes on or heard from him again. Did the whole divorce by myself.”

  “Ouch, you must have been pissed.” He grinned weakly. “I hope you don’t think all men are assholes. We’re not all pigs, you know.”

  “I was beginning to think so, but maybe my mind can be changed.” She shrugged. “No really. There was no love lost between us by that point.”

  He nodded, satisfied with her answer. “And so you never remarried? How did you escape the guys?”

  She laughed, flattered by his words. “By the skin of my teeth, believe me.”

  Josh cleared his throat, taking a sip of his wine cooler. “So, got a minute to sit down?”

  “Got all night,” she answered cheerily, as if she didn’t have a care in the world.

  Mood lightening, he gave her a come on gesture with one hand and led her into the living room. As expected, his apartment was similar in layout to hers. The living room was large and comfortably furnished, with a deluxe entertainment center against the far wall. A laptop and pile of papers sat on the kitchen table, whose face was otherwise overrun with papers. It obviously served as a makeshift office. His fireplace was well used, screened neatly in, pieces of wood stacked within, ready to be burned. A comfortable sofa sat across from the entertainment center, covered in a tweedy fabric of blues and whites. The coffee table and end tables were nice, but had seen better days. Small nicks, scratches and stains covered their faces. Most of the damage was covered with strategically centered mats and other knick-knacks. But where her walls were bare, his were covered with posters. Not just taped to the wall, but framed and hung in neat symmetry. Beside each poster was a smaller 8x10 frame, displaying a glossy of the star of the movie. An autographed photo.

  Drawn to the photos, Kate walked around, examining each. The posters were reproductions from older movies. Bogart. The Maltese Falcon. Cagney. The Public Enemy. Cooper. High Noon. Monroe. Seven Year Itch. Dean. Giant. She studied the photos.

  “Are those real autographs?” The awe in her voice was real, not faked.

  “I hope so,” he laughed. “I bought them as certified authentic.” He shrugged. “But I suppose anyone with a Sharpie could have signed them. Anyway, I like to believe they are.”

  “So you like old movies?”

  “The old ones are the best. The stars of today just can’t touch the actors of yesteryear.”

  “Oh, I agree,” she said. “I just love old movies. Hollywood before the nineteen fifties is my favorite reading. Marilyn’s a favorite of mine. I’ve read every book I can find on her. I have all of them, if you’d like to borrow one let me know.”

  “I’d like that. Though, I have to admit, I don’t have much free time to read.” He sat down on the couch, beckoning her to take a seat.

  Kate slid out of her sweater and took the chair opposite the couch. Just a friendly visit, to scope out his life. Being around him, though, made her very aware of being female. A female with a certain hunger for her cute neighbor, a neighbor she should have no business thinking about since she’d fucked another man last week. Still, she was attracted to Josh. No one had hit him with an ugly stick, that was for sure. His body was compact and trim, muscled in all the right places. Those business suits he wore enhanced his slender waist, and god, those nicely cut slacks practically screamed that he was well hung.

  Trying to get her mind out of his crotch, she asked, “Job keeps you busy?”

  He rolled his eyes and ran his hands through his hair. “On call, twenty-four, seven,” he replied. “I swear to god, I am getting into another line of work as soon as it becomes
open. Convenience stores are just not for me. Too many problems. No one wants to work for minimum wage, people steal every chance they get, and owners are so greedy they won’t pay for maintenance on the stores. It’s a constant hassle.”

  “Sounds like it. I wouldn’t like being on call. When my eight hours are over, I want to be off work.”

  He fiddled with the bottle propped between his legs. “What do you do?”

  “I’m a graphic artist. Monday morning, I’ll be right down there at the paper putting together the ads you see in the newspaper. Not much of an artistic challenge, but it pays the bills.” She took a sip of her cooler. “In my dreams, I am a famous artist living off my paintings.”

  “I think that’s a nice dream to have.”

  She shrugged. “Artists come a dime a dozen. Anyone can do it.”

  “Now that’s not true,” he protested. “I can’t draw a straight line with a ruler. I am talentless.”

  She reached out with her foot and prodded his leg. “Everyone has a talent or hobby they’re good at. What do you do to relax?”

  “I spend too much time downloading music and burning CD’s.”

  “Hey, me, too. I love music.” She turned toward the entertainment center. “What do you like?”

  He tapped a fingernail against the bottle. “You’ll think I am a total nerd.”

  “No, I won’t. Even if it’s seventies funk, I won’t crack a grin.”

  “Not quite funk,” he said. “Classical.”

  “The three B’s?” she asked. Be still my beating heart. A man who actually likes classical music and old movies. There must be a god in heaven after all.

  “Beethoven, Brahms and Bach,” he finished. “Beethoven and Bach, mostly, though I do like the Hungarian Dances of Brahms.”