Just Good Friends (2 page)

“South Africa,” Hannah translated. “Road trip. Two games in
a row. And don’t worry, you’ll figure out what they’re saying eventually.”

“I hope it won’t be too much for you, having me,” Kate said,
eyeing Hannah with concern.

“I’m pregnant, not sick,” Hannah countered. “And perfectly
healthy, despite how fragile Drew appears to think I am.” She looked at her
husband with affection as he took Kate’s trolley over her objections.

“Let him push it,” she counseled Kate. “We both know you
could do it. But it’ll make him much happier.”

Once they were on their way into the city, Hannah turned in
her seat to smile at Kate again. “I can’t wait to go look at flats with you.
I’ve already started setting up visits for Saturday.  There are so many great
neighborhoods here. I’m sure we’ll be able to find you something that suits
you. You’re going to love it.”

“They say converts make the best missionaries,” Drew put in.
“Reckon Hannah’s proof of that. Best cheerleader En Zed could have.”

“I’m glad to hear it’s a good place to live, though,” Kate
said. “Because I’m not sure how long I’ll be here. I just hope I can get a job fairly
quickly.”

“I’ve already got the word out,” Drew assured her. “She’ll
be right.”

“And believe me, he’s connected,” Hannah said. “Between the
two of us, we’ll have you employed before you know it. You’ll probably wish you
had a longer break.”

“I guess this would be all right.” Kate eyed the dark little
flat dubiously.

“No way,” Hannah told her firmly. “Too gloomy. We can do
better than this.”

“This is a good neighborhood, Mt. Eden,” she told Kate as
they settled back into the car. “But that was the wrong flat. And you’d have
quite a bus ride—or drive, of course—to the beach. Which isn’t ideal.”

“I’ve always just hoped to live someplace that didn’t
actually have drive-bys,” Kate said. “I don’t think I’m in any position to turn
something down because it isn’t on the beach.”

“Sure you are,” Hannah countered. “Maybe you won’t be able
to walk there. But we can get you closer than this.”

“That would be a big plus. Are all the beaches as nice as
where we swam this morning?”

“Oh yeah. They each have their own character. Just wait.
Soon you’ll think your own beach is the best, and you won’t want to come swim
at mine.”

By the end of the day, though, Kate was discouraged. “Maybe
I should take that first place after all,” she told Hannah over dinner. “It was
the cheapest one we saw. I didn’t realize a decent furnished apartment, even a
small one, would cost so much. And I still need to buy a car.”

“No, you don’t,” Hannah said. “Because I’m going to loan you
the Yaris while you’re here. I have a new car, and I don’t need it. I’ve meant
to sell it, just haven’t got around to it yet. You’ll be doing me a favor,
getting it out of the way.”

“Won’t Drew mind, though?”

“Not at all. It’s mine, anyway. You’ll have to pay for the
Warrant of Fitness and get insurance, so it won’t be entirely free. But that
should help a lot. I did this myself, remember. I know how expensive moving
here can be.”

“I’d really appreciate that. Driving on the wrong side, though,”
Kate said worriedly.

“We’ll go out early tomorrow and practice,” Hannah promised.
“Then you’ll be able to check out other places on your own during the week. And
you’re supposed to say “left” side, you know. Right and left. Not right and
wrong.”

“Still going to feel wrong to me,” Kate told her. “But I’ll
try.”

“This is it, don’t you think?” Kate asked Hannah on Friday
evening.

“I think so,” Hannah said, looking out a window at the
treetop view. “Even though it’s tiny.”

“Just a granny flat,” the realtor escorting them agreed.
“Well done up, though, not like some of these dodgy places you see.”

 “Plus it’s not on the ground floor, which makes me feel
more secure,” Kate said.

“Takapuna’s quite safe,” the realtor told her. “You won’t
need to worry much about that.”

“That’s good to know. I’m extra cautious, that’s all.” Kate’s
mind went back to the night she had sat at her kitchen table and, feeling the
hair rise at the back of her neck, turned slowly around. The galvanizing shock
of seeing Paul’s face, pale against the window. Smiling at her through the
glass. She shivered now, remembering. No ground-floor apartments. This one
seemed secure enough, though. The single door opened onto a tiny landing, and
all the windows locked. She had checked.

“One down. Now all I need is a job,” she told Hannah resolutely
once they were in the car on the way back to St. Heliers. “But I’m afraid
that’s going to be tougher.”

“That reminds me. I have some news about that too. I
completely forgot. Drew called me today and told me the Blues office has an
opening for an accountant, can you believe it? And he’s already talked to them
about you. Email your CV—your resume—to them tomorrow and you should get an
interview, at least.”

 “The Blues? You mean the team?” Kate asked in surprise.

“Sure. It’s a business, you know. A little different from
apparel, but money’s money, right? I figured it wouldn’t matter for an
accountant.”

“I’m not sure I want to work around a bunch of rugby players,
though,” Kate said dubiously.

“They’re pretty nice,” Hannah argued. “You’ve met one of
them already, after all. Drew didn’t seem scary, did he?”

“Well, a bit. Sorry. I know he’s a good guy. But big guys
make me nervous. And he’s so . . . I don’t know. Commanding.”

Hannah laughed. “Granted. On to my second point, then. You’d
be working in the back office. The boys might come in from time to time, but
you wouldn’t be dealing with them much, I wouldn’t think. Most of the people
working there are women.”

“I’ll check it out,” Kate said. “I can talk to them, anyway.
If they do offer me the job, I’ll decide then. I can’t afford to turn anything
down without looking into it.”

Stocking her new kitchen cupboards the next week after a
ruinous first trip to the grocery store for supplies, Kate was revising her
grocery budget in her head and worrying about her rapidly shrinking savings when
her phone rang.

“It’s Bethany Edmonds, here at the Blues,” she heard. “I’d
like to offer you the position, if you’re interested.” She named a salary that
had Kate doing some more rapid calculations. She wouldn’t have much left over
at the end of each month, but she’d be able to live. She’d liked Bethany, as
well as the cheerful, professional atmosphere she’d sensed in the Blues office.
Hannah had been right that most of the employees were women. And Bethany had
told her that she’d have limited contact with the players. As if she’d be
disappointed by that. Little did she know.

It might be interesting to work for a sports team. Something
different, anyway, she told herself bracingly. And she needed a job. If it
didn’t work out, she’d look for something else.

“I’m happy to accept,” she told the other woman. “I do want
to say one thing, though. I know that Drew had a lot to do with my getting this
job. But I’ll do my very best to make sure you don’t regret offering it to me.”

“He had a fair bit to do with my looking at your CV,”
Bethany corrected her. “But after that, it was down to you. As highly as we
think of our captain around here, I wouldn’t have offered you the post if I
didn’t believe you were the best candidate. Start on Monday, and we’ll see how
we go.”

“I was meeting Drew for dinner anyway, so I decided to come over
and check on you,” Hannah said. “The first week is always tough, I know. How’re
you settling in?”

“Good, so far.” Kate got up from her brand-new desk to give
Hannah a hug. “Getting to know what’s what. Everyone’s pretty easygoing, which
helps.”

“Always,” Hannah agreed. “But you’re a hard worker, and you
pick things up fast. I know you’ll be up to speed soon.”

A sudden hush in the big room, followed by a buzz of
conversation, had both of them turning to see what the fuss was about.  A tall,
absurdly handsome young man in track pants and gray hoodie was sauntering across
the open office with a loping grace, casting out a grin and a word to the
clearly enthusiastic staff members he passed.

He brought the dazzle to a stop in front of Hannah. “I heard
you were in, thought I’d pop by and say hello.” He smiled, white teeth flashing
and dimples creasing in his bronzed face, and gave her a quick kiss on the
cheek. “You’re looking as gorgeous as ever. Want to run away with me?”

Hannah laughed. “Flatterer.” She turned to Kate. “I’d better
introduce you. This is Koti James, centre and first-class flirt. So watch
yourself. And Koti, this is my friend Kate Lamonica. She’s just joined the
staff here as an accountant, but we used to work together, back in California.”

“What an intro,” Koti complained. “Good thing you aren’t in
the matchmaking business, Hannah. You’d be sacked straight away.”

“How ya goin’, Kate.” He turned his brilliant smile on her. Pretty,
he thought, even though she looked a bit small. Nice hair, beautiful skin. She
had a good figure, too, what he could see of it. He reached across the desk to
shake hands—and get a closer look—as Kate murmured a response.

“Welcome to the Blues. What brought you all the way down
here, besides Hannah?” He might as well take the opportunity to chat her up
before she met the rest of the boys. “Had you been before, on holiday? Or did
you just hear that the scenery was beautiful and the men were good-looking?”

“No, I’d never visited, but I needed a change,” Kate
answered, dropping his hand quickly. “And Hannah and Drew were good enough to
help me find a spot here.”

“Because Kate’s the best,” Hannah assured Koti. “The team’s
lucky to have her.”

“And we’re always happy to have another pretty girl around
the place, eh,” Koti confirmed with another dazzling smile. He was surprised to
see Kate draw herself up stiffly and take a step back.

“I think—” Hannah started to say.

“Sorry I’m late.” Drew came up from behind them, slid an arm
around Hannah, and bent down to kiss her cheek. “Been in a meeting that’s dragging
on a bit. I need to get back to it for a few minutes more, I’m afraid. But I
wanted to come out to let you know.”

“Good to see you, Kate,” he told her. “Settling in all
right?”

“Yes, fine. Thanks for all your help.”

“No worries. That was mostly Hannah.”

“And why are you here?” the captain asked Koti with a frown.
“Need something?”

Koti put up a protesting hand. “Just saying hello. Can I
help it if you married my dream girl?”

“Your dream girl’s six months pregnant, is she?” Hannah asked.
“You have interesting tastes.”

“You’re pushing it,” Drew warned Koti. “And if you ever do
find your own dream girl, you won’t be holding onto her long if you don’t pay
more attention to what she needs. You’ll have to take better care of her than
this. Can’t you see Hannah needs to sit down?”

He reached over to lift a chair across from an empty desk
and set it down next to his wife. “You’ve got your hand on your lower back
again,” he told her. “You haven’t been resting enough, I can tell. Sit.”

“Woof,” Hannah laughed as she sank into the chair. “You’re
right, though. That is better.”

“Are you all right for another twenty minutes or so?” Drew
asked. “I’ll wrap up as fast as I can.”

“I’m fine,” Hannah assured him. “Go on back and do what you
need to do. It’ll give me a chance to catch up with Kate.”

Drew nodded and left, throwing one last warning look at Koti
as he went.

Kate watched him go, then turned back to Hannah with a frown.
“Doesn’t it bother you when he tells you what to do?”

“What, that he tries to take care of her?” Koti asked before
Hannah could answer. “What could possibly be wrong with that?”

“Sorry, by the way,” he apologized to Hannah. “Should have
seen that myself, got you a chair.”

“Surely Hannah knows if she needs to sit down or not,” Kate
countered. “She doesn’t need you to tell her. Or anyone else, for that matter.”

“So a man can’t even look after his wife, the way you see
it,” Koti retorted. “Pretty extreme. Is that the way it is in the States now?
Glad I don’t live there.”

“I didn’t say that.” Kate flushed. “Just that it can be another
form of domination, if you’re not careful. A woman isn’t a child who needs to
be looked after.”

“Reckon we should be more like women,” Koti shot back. “Sit
around and share our feelings instead. God forbid we try to protect the women
we love. It’d probably be better if we got rid of all that shocking
testosterone entirely. Because first it’s fetching a chair and holding a door,
eh. Next thing you know, she’s in a burqa.”

“Whoa.” Hannah held up her hands. “Time out. Drew doesn’t
push me around, Kate. Far from it. And Koti, where’s all that famous charm? If
the two of you want to argue about this, how about doing it when I’m not
around? Come to think of it, how about not discussing my marriage in front of
me, too? Have a heart. Do it behind my back, like everybody else.”  

“Sorry.” Koti looked shamefaced. “Out of line.”

“That was so rude of me,” Kate said, chagrined. “After
everything you’ve both done, too. Sorry, Hannah. I got carried away.”

Hannah nodded in acknowledgment. “Thanks for coming by to
say hello, Koti,” she told him. “It’s always good to see you.”

“Dismissed.” Koti smiled ruefully. “No worries.”

“Kind of a jerk, isn’t he?” Kate asked after Koti had left
the room, accompanied by longing looks from the female staff. “He sure thinks a
lot of himself.”

“He’s just a flirt, that’s all,” Hannah said. “And he gets a
lot of reinforcement for it. Believe me, most women flirt back. But underneath
it all, he’s really a sweetheart.”