скачать книгу бесплатно
She looked at Flynt, expectancy on her lovely face.
Corby cleared his throat. “What’s your answer, son?”
A decision like this couldn’t be rushed. “I’m not sure.”
Jessie’s eyes, bright before, dulled. She attempted a smile, but it lacked conviction.
He’d known that sense of resignation, felt the sting of unfairness. “If Jessie and I were to enter into such an arrangement, we’d need to know the parameters. For instance, how often would you expect us to be seen together, and how long would this supposed alliance last?”
Corby leaned back in his chair, causing the springs to creak. He clasped his hands, extended his forefingers and tapped them against his chin. “Hmm. I think attending a public gathering of some sort once a week would be adequate. As for the duration, you would need to keep this up long enough for the novelty of having Jessie on the team to fade. Perhaps a month would do. We could revisit the matter then.”
Flynt nodded. “So, one function a week for four weeks? That’s all?”
“You would have to keep up appearances during the week, of course.”
“Of course,” Flynt repeated dully. He turned to Jessie. “Before I can seriously consider Corby’s request, I’d like to talk to you for a moment. Alone.”
“Certainly.” She swept out of the room and waited for him in the hallway.
He closed the door to Corby’s office and wheeled around to face her. “I had no idea what Corby was planning.”
“I gathered that. What are we going to do?”
“I’ll go back in on my own and talk some sense into him, if I can. You can trust me.”
She pressed her lips together, drew in a deep breath and released it slowly. “Perhaps, but since my position is the one dependent on this...arrangement, I’ll accompany you.”
He hadn’t known Jessie long, but her refusal to sit idly by while someone else determined her future didn’t surprise him. He admired her for it. “Fine, but I’d recommend leaving this to me. I know Corby.”
“I will—as long as I agree with your tactics.” The flicker of fear in her eyes countered her show of independence. Jessie was more concerned than she was willing to admit.
The realization made his decision clear. “I’ll do what’s necessary to make the situation work.”
“Good.” Squaring her shoulders, she gave a firm nod. “Then let’s go. I have a position to secure.”
They returned to Corby’s office. Jessie sat, but Flynt remained standing. He was a good six inches taller than Corby, and he intended to use every bit of leverage. “Did you honestly think we’d agree to this ploy? What kind of solution is a mock courtship?”
Corby rose and propped himself on the corner of his desk, his free leg swinging. “An effective and expedient one. If you handle this well, we’ll see a change in short order.”
“Perhaps, but I have no intention of courting a woman.” Especially the attractive one working for him. Jessie was distracting enough as it was.
“You wouldn’t be. Not really. You’d just be enjoying each other’s company.”
Flynt fought to keep his frustration in check. “We’d be intentionally misleading my team. And others.”
“It would only be temporary. Besides—” Corby grinned “—you might enjoy yourself. Jessie’s easy on the eyes. She’s bright, too. You’d be able to talk about all manner of things.”
Before Flynt could come up with a suitable response, Corby shifted his attention to Jessie, who sat wide-eyed and curiously silent. “And you wouldn’t mind being seen on the arm of a handsome young man like Flynt, now, would you, Jessie?”
Her mouth opened and her lips moved, but no sound came out. A becoming shade of pink stained her cheeks. Flynt sent her an apologetic smile, but she appeared to be staring at her hands resting in her lap.
Corby barged ahead, seemingly unaware of Jessie’s embarrassment. “Say the word, son, and I’ll consider the matter resolved. For now.”
Flynt had to do something. He could turn Corby down—and would, if he had his way—but refusing would adversely affect Jessie. Her position depended on his participation in Corby’s ploy. If work slowed because of her, Corby would secure a replacement. A draftsman. Flynt couldn’t let that happen. He wanted her on his team, even though having her there could change things. Would change things.
But he didn’t want to be her suitor, real or otherwise. “If you’ll give me time, I’ll find another solution.” One that didn’t put Jessie in such a difficult position.
“We don’t have time. We’re behind as it is. The directors want to see progress. If we don’t make that happen, you and I will be the ones they take to task.” Corby assumed a wheedling tone. “Would it really be such a hardship to enjoy Jessie’s company?”
Jessie lifted her head. Sadness flitted through her eyes. She quickly schooled her features but said nothing.
Flynt had seen enough. “The whole thing smacks of unfairness. She shouldn’t have to agree to something like this in order to secure her position.”
Corby heaved a sigh. “I didn’t want to be forced to pull rank, but you leave me no choice, son. If you don’t agree, Jessie can pack her things and go.”
“I’ll do it.” Flynt blew out a breath. “But I won’t take any money for it.”
Jessie’s hand flew to her throat, and her lovely lips parted.
“Why not?” Corby eased himself from the desk. “The board is pleased with your work. I’m sure they’d agree to give you a bonus.”
“Because helping her is the right thing to do.”
And because spending additional time with her appealed to him far more than it should.
Chapter Four (#ulink_abd0f555-1370-5c5d-8623-f3a5e1a6d24f)
A rap on the door frame drew Jessie’s attention. She turned from the window seat, where she’d been ever since supper, replaying the scene in Corby’s office. Her snowy-haired landlady, Maybelle Monroe, stood just inside Jessie’s bedchamber. “There’s a gentleman to see you. The handsome fellow’s waiting in the parlor.”
“A man? For me? Did you get his name?”
“I didn’t. I was so taken with his beautiful red hair I forgot to ask.” Maybelle grinned.
Tingles danced up Jessie’s spine. Even though the temperature was still in the high eighties, she shivered. “That would be Flynt. He’s the engineer I work for.”
“And he’s calling on you in the evening?” The boardinghouse owner raised an eyebrow. “Interesting.”
Jessie opened her mouth to protest but stopped herself in time. If she was to convince others Flynt was courting her, she had to act the part. “Interesting, indeed. I wonder if he’s here on business or...”
“Well, don’t dawdle. Get on downstairs and find out.”
Maybelle followed Jessie down the hallway. “Pinch your cheeks on the way down, dear. That’ll add some nice color.”
“I’ll do that.” Jessie smiled. She rejoiced inwardly at having passed her first test. If Maybelle suspected there was more to her relationship with Flynt, surely others would, too.
She entered the parlor moments later, and Flynt shot to his feet. “Good evening, Jessie. We need to talk.”
He’d certainly gotten right to the point. “I agree, but it’s rather warm inside. We could go out back. There’s a porch swing under an oak tree where we’d have shade.” And some privacy. She wouldn’t have to keep up appearances.
“Since it is so hot, I thought we could go to Mr. Sieg’s ice-cream parlor.”
“Oh.” He was taking her out in public? Already?
His brow furrowed. “You do like ice cream, don’t you?”
Ice cream? Yes. His company? Yes and no. She would enjoy looking at him and talking with him. But she wanted no part of feigning attraction for the sake of others. “Of course. Who doesn’t?”
He smiled. “That’s more like it. After you, then.” He swept a hand toward the front door.
The short walk down Coloma Street passed quickly. Too quickly. Before Jessie knew it, she was seated across from Flynt. The buzz of conversations filled the air, along with a tantalizing mix of scents—tangy lemon, spicy ginger, fresh mint and many more. Her mouth watered.
Thankfully their table was in the back of the shop away from the windows and curious passersby. Although Flynt was supposedly courting her, she had no idea what he expected.
She studied the menu board. “Which flavor’s your favorite?”
“I can’t choose just one. Can you?”
“I generally get vanilla.”
He chuckled. “And here I thought you were adventurous. You’re a draftswoman, after all, challenging the likes of engineers and draftsmen everywhere.”
A friendly waiter took their order and returned with their choices in no time. Jessie scooped a hearty bite and savored the rich, creamy dessert.
The bell on the door rang, and Flynt glanced that way. “Speaking of challenging draftsmen, Kurt just entered. He’s spotted us. Pretend I’ve said something witty and laugh.”
The strangled sound she emitted sounded more like a snicker, but what could Flynt expect when he’d taken her by surprise?
“All that got us was raised eyebrows. Could you do something else? Look at me like you’re smitten perhaps?”
Now, that she could do. She’d seen Miss Maggie’s girls cast scores of admiring glances at men during her days at the High Stakes. She sent one Flynt’s way.
His spoon clattered to the table, and his eyes went as round as the tabletop. He leaned forward and spoke softly. His voice held a hint of humor. “You certainly took me at my word. Anyone looking our way would have no doubt you’re attracted to me.”
Mortification sent heat racing to her cheeks. She’d acted in haste, realizing too late that the looks Maggie’s girls gave weren’t the type nice, respectable women copied. Eager to shift the focus from herself, she cast a glance at Kurt, who stood waiting for a table to become available. His mouth hung open. She forced an airy laugh such as she’d intended to produce earlier. “Well, my exuberance did serve a purpose. Kurt might not have suspected anything before, but he does now.”
“Indeed.” Flynt raked a hand through his hair. The unruly lock fell across his forehead. As much as she wanted to brush it back into place, she couldn’t. He had the bearing of a cat ready to pounce. If she were to touch him, he’d likely flinch, gasp or worse.
Kurt ambled over. No. Swaggered was more like it. He wore a smug smile. “Everything makes sense now.”
Flynt dug his spoon into his ice cream, paused and asked the obvious question. “What makes sense?”
“Why Jessie got the job, of course. She turned your head. You created a position so you could offer it to her.”
Jessie inhaled sharply. She longed to set the insufferable fellow straight, but the words lodged in her throat.
Flynt lifted the bite to his mouth, took his time eating it and set his spoon on the table. When he spoke, his words were cold, much colder than the dessert. He enunciated each one. “You’re mistaken. I hadn’t even met Jessie before her interview. Her exceptional work is what got her the position.”
Kurt scoffed. “I might not be as bright as you seem to think she is, but I know what I saw. Well, you can carry on your little tryst, but when Corby hears about it, he’s not going to be happy.”
It took every ounce of restraint she possessed not to laugh. If only Kurt knew... “Why are you out to undermine me? We’re a team.”
“We were a team, and then you showed up. And now you’re fraternizing with Flynt. I should tell Corby. Cross me and I will.”
Flynt rested his fisted hands on the table and responded with a believable show of concern. “I’d rather you didn’t, but if you feel it’s your duty, I understand.”
Jessie played along. “Are you sure you should be encouraging him?”
“I trust Kurt to keep what he’s seen to himself.”
The younger man gave a wry smile. “I’ll keep mum. For the present. Why blab now when the information could better serve me later?” He wheeled around and left the shop without ordering any ice cream.
Flynt shook his head. “That young man has some lessons to learn. Give him time and he will. I was feeling my oats when I was his age. The last six years have taught me a great deal. What about you? Did you have all the answers when you were twenty-one?”
“That’s when I arrived in California, confident but naive. The past three years have been humbling. I bounced from job to job the first two, doing anything from lettering funeral programs to drawing sketches of pipes for a sewer company’s catalog. I didn’t get my first drafting position here in California until Mr. Bishop hired me a year ago.”
“He said you received your training in Chicago. How did that come about?”
She chose her words carefully, lest she divulge too much. “An engineer came through town when I was eighteen. He saw a drawing I’d done and offered me a position in his firm. The first year I swept floors, emptied dustbins and the like. Mr. Fullerton taught me after hours. I spent my free time practicing until I was good enough to do tracings. I did those for a year and a half before I was assigned my first drawing. I had to redo it three times before Mr. Fullerton signed off on it.”
Flynt finished his ice cream and dropped his spoon into his dish with a clink. “Sounds like he was a stickler for details, an admirable trait in our field.”
She savored her last bite and licked the spoon.
He grinned.
“I’m sorry. That wasn’t very ladylike, was it?”
He winked. “Your secret’s safe with me.”
A delicious sense of contentment washed over her, far sweeter than the treat they’d enjoyed. Flynt Kavanaugh wasn’t just handsome, knowledgeable and considerate. He was fun to be with. She could get used to his company. Perhaps this arrangement had its advantages.
The arrangement! How could she have forgotten? He was just playing a part.
She dropped her gaze to her lap and rolled the edge of the red-and-white gingham napkin. The silence stretched until she could stand it no longer.
“So what did you want to talk—”
“I thought we should talk—”
Their words collided. She laughed, a nervous sound quite unlike her. She’d dealt with hordes of men through the years, but Flynt was different. He was a gentleman through and through.
He gave her a reassuring smile. “It seems you’re eager to clarify things, too. Let me start by saying how sorry I am that I couldn’t come up with a better solution than this.”
Her chest tightened, making drawing a breath difficult. He didn’t want to spend time with her outside of work?
No. Of course he didn’t. Why would he? She was his colleague and nothing more. “I know it’s not ideal, but I’m prepared to do my part.” Doubts gnawed at her. “Unless you’ve changed your mind, that is?”
“Not at all. I agreed to Corby’s plan.”
