Turnaround (4 page)

It was ridiculous to be in love with someone in
the space of a few weeks, but if he thought about Becca more than he already
did he’d border on obsession. That fact was made clear one morning as he sat in
his cubicle, staring into space, a graphic design program open and ready on his
computer, a make-out session from the night before replaying in his head. His
fellow cubicle dweller, Tyler, stopped by to ask a question and, according to
him, he’d had to ask three times before James noticed him. After that, the
people in his office began teasing him mercilessly. But then he brought Becca
to an office happy hour he happened to be able to attend, as his shift that
night started late to accommodate a scheduling request from one of the other
bartenders. He met her at the door.

“You look ravishing, as usual.”

“Are you sure?” She smoothed down her pencil
skirt. “It’s not too much? I mean, I know you guys are more casual than we
are—”

James leaned in to whisper in her ear. “You’re
gorgeous. I’ll let you in on a secret. My coworkers are going to weep with envy
with they see you. I only wish we could spend some time together afterward.” He
nipped her earlobe and she smacked him lightly on the arm.

“Behave.”

He led her over to the group and made
introductions. Her professional demeanor took over and she handled the group
like a pro. James had never been so proud to have a woman on his arm. Within
fifteen minutes the other guys were falling all over themselves and, luckily,
the women present thought it was hilarious and didn’t get catty. Becca blushed
when one of the guys offered to hunt down a bar stool for her in the crowded
establishment, but thanked the man anyway, insisting she was fine as is, since
the rest of the group was standing. James hadn’t left her side, except to grab
her a drink, and had no intention of letting her get far.

Tyler in particular had turned into a stammering
fool, and James watched in amusement as his normally cool friend appeared to
lose his mind.

“So you do public relations,” Tyler said.
“That’s cool. I’m like James. Well, I mean, I do the same job. Graphic design.”

Becca smiled and nodded, while two of their
female coworkers covered smirks with their martini glasses. “Yes. Mostly boring
stuff like writing press releases. Nothing quite so creative as you.”

Oh, she’s good.

Tyler, mere youngster that he was, beamed like
she was an angel sent from heaven, and James turned his face into Becca’s
shoulder, trying like hell to stave off the guffaw threatening to erupt.

The evening continued like that until James had
to leave and she said she’d go too. He walked Becca to her car.

Placing his arms around her waist and drawing
her flush with him, he said, “Who knew Tyler had a thing for tall, willowy
redheads?”

“Willowy?” Becca raised an eyebrow.

“Hey, PR people aren’t the only ones with a
large and varied vocabulary. Anyway, I think I’m going to have to talk to the
kid. I won’t have him trying to steal you away from me.”

Becca ran her hands up his chest and circled his
neck. “He could try, but I’m pretty happy right where I am.”

“Damn right.” James sighed. “Okay, I have to let
you go. I’m gonna be late.”

“Call me tomorrow.”

Before she could get into her car, though, James
dipped Becca and kissed her thoroughly, earning more than a few catcalls and several
lewd comments.

He brought her back up and stepped away,
grinning. “Okay, now you can leave.”

“After that?” Becca fanned her face. “Not fair
.”
Maybe I won’t be the only one taking pleasure with my hand tonight.
He groaned
to himself. The image of Becca, her head thrown back as she brought herself to
orgasm was enough to practically strangle him. If he had a bit more time he’d
seriously consider trying to take care of himself in the bar’s bathroom before
he started work, but there was no way. He’d have to suffer until he got home.

James took another step back and Becca got in
her car. “Drive safe, honey.”

It was the first time either had used an
endearment and her eyes widened before a happy grin suffused her face. “I
will.”

He watched Becca drive away.
Yeah, I am
so
done. Stick a fork in me.

A week later a large bachelorette party invaded
the bar and, as they got drunker and more obnoxious, all James could think
about was how Becca would never be so inconsiderate, no matter how many of
those stupid events she was forced to attend. It was girls like these who had
soured him on women for so long he’d truly despaired that any women like Becca
still existed.

Thank God she does, and thank God she’s with me.

Male customers in the bar were flirting and
dancing with the girls and James exchanged a look with his fellow bartender.
With everyone drinking, this had the potential to get out of control very
quickly. James was irritated. Not only were the girls driving away other customers,
but they weren’t good tippers and making a huge mess he’d have to clean up
later.

“I’m gonna go get Mick. I don’t like the look of
this,” James shouted to the other bartender, who nodded and kept washing all
the frou-frou glasses the women were putting to use tonight. He walked back to
the bar’s office and knocked on the door. “I think you should come out. The
bachelorettes are getting out of control and the guys are egging them on. We
need to cut the girls off or get them out of here, but you know how they’re
going to take that.”

Mick nodded. “I’ll handle it. How are the guys?
Any I should be aware of?”

“I haven’t seen any manhandling the ladies, if
that’s what you mean.”

Grunting, Mick rose. “I hate bachelorette
parties. I wonder if I can ban them from the bar.”

“It’s your bar. You can do whatever you want.”

“I know.” Mick rubbed his forehead. “But they do
spend money.” As they left the office and began to walk down the hallway back
to the bar, Mick clapped a hand on James’ shoulder. “Hold onto that girl you
got. She’s a keeper.”

“I’m starting to think so, too.”

“Good man. Thanks for coming to get me.”

“No problem.” James moved behind the bar, as
Mick did a slow tour of the room. He’d owned this place for close to ten years
and worked in several bars before that. James imagined he’d seen everything. If
there was a guy who could sniff out a potential problem, it was Mick.

The thought lessened James’ irritation level a
bit, and he was able to get back to work, even tuning out the incessant squeals
of the girls as he filled orders. Luckily for everyone, the girls were poured
back into their limo and everyone else straggled out after that. He’d actually
made good money, which he was surprised about until Mick told him one of the
bridesmaids had apologized for the party’s behavior and given him three hundred
dollars to split between James and the other bartender.

“At least one of them had a little common sense
and decency.”

“And money. Yeah, she kept trying to get them to
leave and go somewhere else, and I’m pretty sure it was her urging that finally
got their tails moving.”

James yawned. “I can sleep in tomorrow. I never
thought I’d get so excited at the possibility of sleep.”

Mick laughed. “You’re gettin’ old, man.”

“Yeah, yeah. Back atcha.”

When James got home, he peeled off his clothes,
quickly washed off the stink of the bar and then crawled into bed with a
grateful groan. He was taking Becca to meet his mom at lunch the next day, but
he still had about ten hours to sleep before he had to drag his sorry carcass
out of bed, and he planned to take advantage of every moment.

James handed Becca one of the bags of take-out.
“For the millionth time, you look great, honey. She’s gonna love you.”

“I’m spending all this time with you. Taking
away her baby.”

“Yeah, and she’ll probably kiss you for it.”

“She will not.”

He stopped and turned to her. “Seriously. She’s
been telling me for years that I should date more, and since I started at the bar
and the guilt settled in it’s been even worse. Don’t worry about it.”

James unlocked the side door and pushed inside.

“Is that you, James?”

“Yep, it’s me, mom. I’ve got Becca and lunch
with me.”

“Well then, come in here. Don’t leave your girl
standing in the kitchen.”

James rolled his eyes. “Yes, Mom.”

He stopped off for a glass of iced tea for his
mom and bottles of water for him and Becca and then they went into the living
room, where his mom had her foot propped up on her recliner. Mom had taken more
care than usual with her appearance. Normally these days she wore sweats and a
top to make it easier to deal with the injuries, but today she was dressed in a
pair of black dress pants and a blouse, accented by a cashmere scarf James had
gotten her several years ago in a desperate attempt to find a gift at the last
minute after the original one was stuck in transit.

His mom held out her hand. “I’m James’ mother,
Diane. I’d get up, but, well.” She gestured toward the air cast her ankle was
encased in. “James yells at me when I move around too much.”

Becca approached and shook. “I’m Becca. I’m so
pleased to meet you. James talks about you all the time.”

His mom turned to him. “And you consider this
acceptable conversation on a date? Men.” She indicated the couch to Becca.
“Come and have a seat. We can talk while James gets lunch all plated up. He’s
an angel.”

“Hardly, Mom.”

“Well, if you aren’t, I don’t want to know about
it.”

By the time he carried his mom’s plate into the
living room she and Becca were laughing together. When he caught wind of the
topic, James groaned. “Mom, not the stories from kindergarten. Are you trying
to scare the poor woman away?”

“Aww, you were cute,” Becca argued.

“Were cute?”

“Are cute.” Her eyes were lit with mirth, and
James sent a silent prayer of thanks that Becca was his as he went back to the
kitchen for the other plates.

Becca got along really well with his mother. His
mom even had him fetch some family cookbook so she could show Becca some
recipes. James felt superfluous, but the alternative was the two of them not
liking each other, and he’d gladly take this instead.

They left mid-afternoon and went to a movie. As
they waited for the previews to start, James leaned over and asked, “So, wanna
make out?”

Becca’s mouth fell open.
Perfect.
“I
can’t believe you said that out loud. There are people around us.”

“Maybe they’ll move if we start kissing.”

“I am
not
making out with you in the
middle of a theater.”

“Spoilsport.”

In a low tone of voice, Becca said, “But if you
play your cards right…maybe later.”

“How badly do you want to see this movie?”

“Be good.”

“What fun is that?”

The lights went down and Becca repeated, “Be
good,” but leaned over and kissed him. “There. That oughta hold you.”

“Hardly.”

Later that night, James was so tempted to go
further than they had, but he wanted to talk about it before they did, so he
held back. Becca appeared flustered too and James couldn’t wait to see what she
looked like when she came for him. And she would. Multiple times, if he could
manage it.

They fell asleep on the couch together and James
didn’t wake up until his phone pinged with the alarm he’d set.

“Honey, wake up. It’s one a.m. I’ve got to go.”

“I wish you didn’t have to,” Becca said,
yawning.

“Soon I’ll stay the night, okay? Or you can stay
at my place.” Rising, he stretched his sore back. He was getting too old for
this stuff. More and more a real bed appealed, especially if it was filled with
warm Becca.

She nodded. “It’s a deal. Let me walk you out.”

“No, baby, I’m fine. Stay right where you are.
You look very comfy.”

Becca glanced down the hall. “I should really go
to bed. I love my couch, but it’s not a great place to spend an entire night.”

“I understand.” Leaning down, he kissed her
forehead. “Talk to you tomorrow.”

“Bye.”

When he left, Becca was struggling to her feet,
looking still half-asleep.
Yeah, I want to be here with her.

*****

A few days later, Becca smiled as a picture of
James celebrating after an air hockey win at a local bar stole through her
sleep-addled brain.

I want him. All of him.

The force of her desire was a surprise,
considering her dating life for the past several years. Or maybe it was
because
of it. She didn’t know or care, all she knew was that the two of them needed to
have a talk. Enough of this holding back.