Kerry lifted her shoulders. “I think she can be. I can see she’s got a pretty dark streak in there. Remember I told you about that goon, and how he practically dissolved when she yelled at him? And I remember how she was when we first met in my office. There wasn’t much to like. She was pretty mean.”
Colleen rubbed her head. “But you like her anyhow?”
It does sound strange, Kerry realized. “I don’t know…yeah. I mean, she could have fired my butt several times, right? I was pretty nasty. I told her to go to hell and all of that, and she could have just axed me right then and there, locked me out, had security take me out of the building, but she didn’t. In fact, tonight, I kind of got the feeling that she respected me for it.”
“Oh, that’s twisted, me bucko,” her friend warned. “You watch out for her, hear? She can turn on you quick as a whistle.” She sighed. “I don’t know, Ker, these are pretty uncharted waters you’re sailing into here. I hope you know what you’re doing.”
I hope I do, too. Kerry sighed inwardly. “I can’t really explain it. Maybe if I’d taken time to really think about what was happening, I would have chosen to stay where I was, but maybe not. I just thought this would be such a unique opportunity, you know?”
“Unique.” Colleen slung an arm across her shoulders. “Me dearie, that’s an understatement. But if you have a problem, I talked with Jacob at my office, and he says he’d take you on in an instant, okay?”
Kerry smiled, and leaned against her affectionately. “Thanks, Col, I really appreciate that.” She exhaled. “Hey, wanna see what I got?”
“You betcha.”
They opened the various packages, and Kerry hung the items off the curtain rod in the living room.
“Ooo, I like this one.” The redhead pointed at the blue-green outfit. “Nice pin.” She touched the front of the jacket.
Kerry stepped closer and laid a finger on it. “Good grief, my mind must have been all over the place.” She laughed in gentle delight. “I didn’t even notice that was on there. Yeah, it is nice.” The pin was a pair of silver dolphins 84 Melissa Good frolicking on a gold background, with the waves in the forefront tinged in pink and blue. “Perfect for the color. It does kinda look like the ocean, doesn’t it?”
“Mmm-hmm,” Colleen agreed readily. “Bet it looks nice on you; it just about matches your eyes.” She looked at the row of clothing. “I like all of them, but I like this one the best, though that purple one is nice too.”
“Yeah, I like the braid on that. Listen, if I put some of this stuff on, would you take a picture? My parents want to see what I look like dressed up.”
“Surely.” Her friend laughed. “Though, being fair, you look nice in just about everything, you rat. “ She poked Kerry in the ribs. “Even those torn-off old denim rags you wear sometimes.”
“Hey, they’re my favorite pair of jeans,” Kerry protested as she pulled the blue-green outfit down. “Be right back.”
THE SKY HAD finally cleared, exposing a thick wash of stars which twinkled down over the quiet coral deck. The pool’s warm waters rippled around the lone figure floating gently on the surface, head resting on crossed arms and legs propped on a thick Styrofoam raft.
Dar let the peace surround her, concentrating on the gentle sounds of the surf not far away and the rustle of a light breeze which moved the trees around the pool. She was alone, which was not surprising considering the hour, and she was spending a little time just reflecting quietly on her day.
At least it had been more productive than the previous day. After she’d sent out her e-mail, she’d somehow managed to fall asleep again on the couch, with her laptop up and running, the soft leather gathering in her tired body and refusing to give it up until almost dinner time, when she’d groggily woken to see Power Rangers dancing on the screen and 3D pipes patiently creating a plumbing layout on her laptop display.
That was when she’d picked up Kerry’s mail, and answered it in a sleepy daze, telling the younger woman she’d join her at the mall. It wasn’t until ten minutes or so after she hit the Send key that she blinked and realized what she’d done, and by then, it was too late.
But she hadn’t regretted it, not at all. The outing had been…well, sort of fun, in a way. She didn’t get many opportunities to just relax and hang around with other people, and Kerry was shaping up to be an interesting person to spend time with. Which was good, because as her assistant, that’s exactly what she’d be doing with her.
The dinner had been somewhat of a test. Dar knew if she could stand spending an hour eating dinner with someone without wanting to kill them, it was a good sign. Kerry had passed. In fact—Dar gazed up at the stars in mild surprise—Kerry had more than passed. She’d actually enjoyed herself, to the point where she wished the evening had gone on a little longer, and when was the last time that had happened?
It was nice to just talk to someone who was bright, had a sense of humor, and wasn’t intimidated by her. Dar grinned, remembering the crack about the screaming Mustang. Then she flexed her hand, remembering the gentle touch there. So, she’d figured out that old Dar hadn’t just shooed the bad guys away, Tropical Storm 85
had she? Clever kid.
She sighed, and shifted in the water, tilting her head back and blinking as the moon edged out from behind a cloud and lit her in a simple, silver glow. It made the coral around her seem almost white, and if she raised her head, she could see a broad, flickering path that led from where she lay straight to the horizon.
She rolled over and ducked her head under the warm water, kept heated year-round despite the usually hot temperatures in the area. After a few laps more just to loosen up her shoulders, she eased out of the pool, grabbing her towel and drying herself off as she padded quietly back down the stairs and across the waterfront paths to her condo.
The cold air in the hallway chilled her skin, and she quickly ducked in the laundry room, shedding her bathing suit and trading it for a cotton baseball shirt and soft flannel boxers. She headed into the kitchen and claimed a mug, which she filled with milk and chocolate syrup, then popped in the microwave. Two minutes later she pulled it out, observing the New Mail icon on the kitchen terminal. “Mail, read.”
“Dar Roberts, seven messages, none urgent.”
She scanned the headers. “Read All.” The warm cocoa slid down her throat as she waited.
Sent by: McLean, Alastair
Subject: New Assistant
Time: 8:43 PM
Dar—
Next time you want to just transition one of your
little finds direct to corporate, just tell me, will you?
I really didn’t need thirty whining regional directors complaining to me that you’re not following procedure.
Her stats don’t show much, but if she’s good enough for you to pick as your right hand, I guess I’ll have to live with it. I hope she’s cute, at least.
Alastair
“Reply,” Dar muttered, and waited for a new message to appear.
Sent by: Dar Roberts
Subject: re: New Assistant
Alastair—
Sorry, yes you will, and I really hadn’t noticed one way or the other.
Dar
“Send.” Dar sipped her chocolate, with a smirk. “Next.”
Sent by: Mariana Sartis
Subject: re: New Assistant
Time: 9:01PM
86 Melissa Good DR
You stirred up a hornet’s nest, my friend. Watch out—