Authors: C.A. Salo
“But, well, oh…really?” She smiled.
“Yes, now get going before you’re late.”
Kasey smiled as she headed for the door. So Mr. Dark and Sexy did like her.
* * * *
Kasey sat in front of her computer, thumbnail between her teeth as she scanned all the deaths five years ago involving an Evan Smith and found nothing. “Damn it,” she muttered as she typed in just the name Evan.
“What are you working on kiddo?” Henry asked as he leaned over her cube wall.
“A death five years ago, but I can’t seem to find anything, not even a mention.”
“And this would be a big story because…”
“Well, a man lost his wife and unborn child and I was just trying to see what I could find out. You know,” she said as she glanced from the computer screen to him and back, “So I don’t say the wrong thing or anything,” she muttered.
“Are you telling me you’re interested in someone and you’re back checking them?” he smiled.
“Yeah.”
“Well, nothing like that local has happened in the last five years, so he must have lived in a different city, but who’s to say where it happened or if it was reported about.”
“Yeah I guess you’re right.” Sitting back she stuck a pencil between her teeth. “I just wanted to try and get a heads up so I don’t open mouth and insert foot, if you know what I mean.”
“I do. So does momma know about your new fella?”
Kasey choked. “God no, and hopefully he’ll never have to meet her manipulating self.”
“It wouldn’t happen to be that fella working down at Winn’s coffee shop, would it?”
“What makes you say that?”
“Well, you know I am considered the best researcher in the business, and I’ve noticed that since he started working there you go in every day now instead of three times a week.”
Kasey groaned at his smile. “Alright, alright, yes. I like Evan and I know half the city does as well, but, well you never know, I may have a chance.”
“Girl, I’d rather see him with you than that Jenny Pickleman upstairs, he’s all she talks about.”
“Oh yeah Jenny, I forgot about her.”
“Now don’t go losing all hope. She’s a slut, and he probably knows it.”
Kasey busted out a laugh. “Henry, you potty mouth!”
“I’m old enough, I can say what I want. Now get back to work.”
“Yes sir,” she chuckled as he walked away.
* * * *
Kasey glanced up when a shadow fell across her book and she set her sandwich down. “Jenny, what can I do for you?”
“Why is it when I ask the owner of the coffee shop where Evan is, she tells me to ask you?”
Kasey frowned as Jenny put a hand on her non-existent hip. She didn’t care how many times people argued with her, sizes zero to six do not have hips. “Why would Winn tell you to ask me?”
“Winn, is that her name?”
“Yes.”
“Well I don’t know, but
Winn
said to ask you where Evan was, with a smile on her face, as if you’d have a clue.” Jenny snorted.
Kasey’s eyes narrowed as the she-bitch turned to leave. Kasey spoke and stopped Jenny dead in her tracks. “Because I do know where he is, Jenny,” she said, a half-smile lifting the side of her mouth. “And frankly, it’s none of your damn business.” Grabbing her water, half-eaten sandwich, and book, Kasey headed for the door, listening to some chuckles and noticing some winks as she left the room.
Groaning the minute she hit her desk, Kasey sat down to finish eating. What in the hell made her stand up to Jenny? It wasn’t like they were even in the same league. Well, they
were
in all actuality, but Kasey gave up that lifestyle years ago to be true to who she is. Now there was Jenny—Miss Size Two, Miss Fashion Guru, Miss Not-A-Hair-Out-Of-Place-And-Nails-Done-To-Perfection—and then there was…“Me,” Kasey grumbled. She was a size ten with baby-bearing hips, and light brown, shoulder length hair. Jeans and a t-shirt were good for her and half the time her hair was up in a ponytail or clipped to the back of her head. Kasey smiled. She knew she wasn’t model beautiful or butt ugly, but she had a cute hometown girl next door kinda look and she was good with that. “Yep, when the zombies attack and we have to bunk down, I’ll be good for losing ten and not worrying about starving.”
“Girl, when the zombies attack shoot for their heads,” Henry chuckled as he passed by.
Sitting up, Kasey brought up her file on Alston. “Talking about zombies,” she muttered as she ran through the current newspaper of the closest town. “Nothing out of the ordinary in today’s news.” Biting her lower lip she typed in Evan’s name and waited, she scrolled down as twenty five articles with the name Evan in them came up and sat back to read.
Chapter 2
“You are a trouble maker.” Kasey smiled. “Why would you tell Jenny Pickleman I know where Evan is?”
“Ah, she was getting on my nerves,” Winn said chuckling.
“So you send her my way, geez thanks, Winn.”
“I do my best. Besides, Evan wouldn’t touch that one with a ninety-nine and a half foot pole.”
* * * *
Kasey jumped up from her sofa a week later, looked through the peephole, and stepped back with a slight frown. Moving forward she looked again. “What the hell?” she whispered. “Evan, is that you?”
“Yeah, it’s me, Kasey.”
Her lip lifted with a soft groan as she glanced down at her pajama bottoms. “I’m not exactly dressed, hold on a minute and let me go grab my robe.” Rushing to the bathroom, Kasey grabbed her robe off the back of the door and groaned at the wisps escaping her clipped up hair as she quickly walked back to the front door. Her chest expanded with a large breath before blowing it out slowly. She smiled as she opened the door. “Hey, what’s up?”
Evan smiled as he held up a lily. “I’m sorry.”
Kasey frowned as she slowly took the beautiful white flower with red and yellow details. “About what?”
“The way I dismissed you last week, you know, when I turned my back on you and left Winn’s. I didn’t mean to hurt you, Kasey, I just…”
“It’s alright,” Kasey blurted. “I know you probably had a lot on your mind. Winn said something about your needing some sanctuary to think things over and I respect that.”
“Thank you, and yes I did, but that was no reason for me to turn my back on you. It’s my fault with the kiss and everything, honestly I never thought—” Clearing his throat, his eyes lowered for a brief moment. “I never thought I’d have the want to be with another woman. I know Winn told you a little of what happened and I’m fine with that, but it doesn’t excuse my behavior toward you and for that I’m sorry. Know that it will not happen again.”
Did he just say he wanted her?
“Oh, well, ok,” Kasey whispered. “I…ah…would you like to come in for a hot chocolate or something”
“Hot chocolate?”
Her knees almost gave out on her when the side of his mouth lifted slightly. “Yeah,” she smiled. “It’s too late for coffee and I make a mean hot chocolate with cool whip and chocolate syrup.”
Evan chuckled. “Sure, but it sounds like it has as much caffeine in it with all the chocolate as a coffee does.”
“That may be, my good sir, but it’s much more suited for night time.” Smiling she took his coat and hung it up by the door before heading for the small galley kitchen. When she caught him looking at her legs she whipped her robe open. “Yes, I ran for the robe to cover up my Mickey Mouse pajamas. I love the mouse.”
“Thank the Gods, because I thought you were lounging around naked or something.”
Kasey chuckled as she put water on to heat. “Ha, too cold for that. Now I can’t promise anything when summer hits and it’s a hundred outside.”
* * * *
Kasey smiled as she sat across from Evan at a small eatery next to her work. He’d stopped by to take her out for lunch. “So tell me about this sanctuary, is it like meditation or a state of mind?”
Evan smiled. “No, it’s a place, a safe place for people to go who just need to be—themselves.”
“Is it far from here? Because I don’t remember hearing about anything like it,” she asked then met his gaze wide-eyed. “Damn, it’s not a cult or anything is it?”
“No,” Evan chuckled. “It’s just a place some friends of mine own and they call it Sanctuary because it’s so peaceful with the woods and quietness. It’s a place where you can get back to your true self.”
“By meditation?”
“If that helps.”
“So in other words it’s like going camping by yourself. You can be alone to think about things going on in your life and how you want to deal with them without anyone interrupting.”
“Exactly.”
“No cell phones allowed?”
Evan chuckled. “No cells allowed. Now tell me why Jenny Pickleman is bearing down on us with an impeccably dressed older woman.”
“What?” Kasey choked. Turning, she gasped and coughed when Evan’s hand landed hard on her back sending up the apple that had been lodged in her throat. “Oh God, I don’t need this. That bitch, I’ll…damn she’s evil.”
“Are you talking about Jenny or the one next to her?”
“Both.” Whipping around, she grabbed his hand. “Come on, let’s see if there’s a back way out of here.”
“Kasey, stop and sit down.”
“No, you don’t understand.” Glancing over, she watched as Jenny reached for the door. “That’s my
mother
.”
Evan glanced up, his left brow rising at the venomous look coming from the older lady.
“What are you doing here?” Kasey asked as she let go of Evan’s hand.
“Is that any way to greet your mother, Kasey Lynn?”
“Yes, now why are you here?”
“I’m here because I’ve heard some rather disturbing news. According to our friend Jenny here, you’ve been dating a—do I really need to say it—a coffee shop employee. Really, Kasey, am I to believe this is the man you’ve been seeing for two years now? No wonder you didn’t bring him home.”
Kasey’s ears heated with anger. “First off,
mother
, Jenny is not my friend in any sense of the word.” Keeping her voice low to avert a public incident, Kasey continued. “And no, this is not the man I’ve been dating for the last two years, I broke it off. This is Evan and I’m not sure why Jenny’s speaking badly of him when all she wants is to jump his bones. So before you go saying another nasty thing I’ll remind you to hold your tongue and not make a scene. You know how father disapproves of such antics by you.”
“Don’t you tell me what your father will disapprove of,” she hissed.
“Shall I call him and we’ll take a poll?” Kasey smirked.
“Are you dating him or not?”
Kasey opened her mouth to answer. “Well, Rita…”
“Yes,” Evan replied.
Kasey whipped her head around to stare at him. Meeting his gaze, she saw the sparkle in his eye and narrowed hers in response. “Evan?”
“And just because I’m helping a friend out at her coffee shop, doesn’t mean that’s my career.”
Kasey shook her head. “Evan, don’t get her going,” she whispered.
“And just what is it you do besides sling coffee all day?” Rita snarled.
Evan smiled. “I’m the Chief Operating Officer of my family’s company. Although I’m on a vacation right now, I stick my head in once a month or so.”
“How can a COO be on vacation for more than a few weeks?” Rita snipped.
“It’s a
very
tight run operation.”
Kasey’s head tilted at his low tone, it brooked no disobedience. He was used to being in charge and giving orders without having them questioned. When her mother started with more questions, Kasey turned back to her, just catching a glimpse of Evan’s gaze. “Mother, that’s enough, I don’t know what you intended to accomplish today, but you’re done. I suggest you get back in your car and go back home.”
“And what if I intended to stay?” Rita asked with a smile.
“Then I suggest you go hit the closest hotel and take your rat with you.” Standing up, Kasey looked down at Evan. “Are you ready to go?”
“Sure.” He smiled as he rose.
“Good.” Kasey turned to her mother as Even wrapped his hand around hers. “Lunch is your treat mother,” she said loudly, smiling at the owner of the diner as Evan started for the door and brought her along with him, his fingers entwining with her own. Kasey waited until they were outside. “You know, you didn’t have to tell her we’re dating. We’re just friends, Evan, and I…”
Evan turned, bringing her into his arms and lowered his lips to hers softly. “Just friends, huh?”
“Well, you know,” she replied breathlessly. “I didn’t want to push you or anything.”
“Consider me pushed.”
Kasey sighed as his lips met hers again.
“Now that’s something you don’t see every day. Seexxyy.” Winn smiled.
“You’re like fly shit, you know that?” Evan stated.
Kasey liked how his arm wrapped around her waist as she stepped back from his embrace, smiling at Winn.