Kevin knew that Moira had softened Jimmy, not that Kevin would ever say that out loud to his big brother. Hearing Jimmy admit it, though, made him smile and gave him hope. “Does that mean you’ll get Kathy there?”
“How the hell am I supposed to convince Moira to invite her? She’ll never believe me if I tell her that you want another chance.”
“Hell, no. You can’t tell Moira.”
“I’m not lying to her.”
“I’m not asking you to lie. Just tell her to invite Kathy because the rest of the wedding party will be there. She’ll have fun.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” Then he hung up.
Kevin didn’t care that Jimmy couldn’t be bothered to say good-bye any more than he could say hello, because if Jimmy said he’d try, it was as good as done.
He turned back to his computer to address the next press release he had to improve. He spent hours every day cleaning up communication from people in the mayor’s office. He couldn’t say it was from the mayor because he knew the man had other people writing most things, but really, they sucked.
Just as the document opened, one of his coworkers stopped by his desk. Deb plopped in the chair he had in his cubicle for nonexistent guests.
“I owe you a beer,” she announced.
“Yeah?” he asked with one eye still on his screen. Don’t these people use spell-check? “For what?”
“The florist you recommended was amazing. She managed to pull together centerpieces for the banquet in a day’s time. She totally saved my ass.”
Kevin slid back from the desk and spun to look at Deb. When he’d heard one of the interns calling florists to get prices, he’d given her one of Kathy’s cards.
“Instead of buying me a beer, do me a favor and use her again.”
“That’s not doing you a favor. That’s a given. She deserves the work after pulling that off. Plus she didn’t even overcharge.” She leaned an elbow on the desk. “You should probably have a talk with her and let her know how much we usually spend on these things. It wouldn’t look good for me to tell her, but as her friend . . .”
Kevin smiled. “I doubt she’d raise her prices just because she’s doing something for city hall. She’s a straight shooter.”
When Deb left, Kevin looked at his phone. He wanted to call Kathy, at least text her to see how she thought the banquet went. He knew that Deb could sing someone’s praises behind their backs, but rarely to their faces. When he’d given her Kathy’s card, he’d told her to be nice, but he wasn’t sure Deb knew how to be nice. In Deb’s eyes Kathy was a godsend, but Kathy might very well be cursing his name for handing out her card.
He sent a text: I hope Deb was nice to you. I know she was in a pinch, and she just told me you saved her ass.
He went back to fix the messy memo on his computer. His phone sat near the keyboard taunting him. Kathy might be busy with customers and couldn’t text, but the teenage boy in him wanted an immediate response. By the time he rewrote most of the press release and sent it back, Kathy still hadn’t responded.
Just when he’d about given up, the phone buzzed.
Glad it all worked out for her. She was demanding, but not unbearable. Thanks for thinking of me.
I should be thanking you. You made her look good, which makes me look good because I passed on your card.
His fingers itched to say more. He wanted to ask her out again, spend time with her, but knew he’d get shot down. But he also knew that if he didn’t make some moves soon, he’d probably never see her again after Jimmy’s wedding. Then he decided he would set the groundwork for Moira and Jimmy and plant the seed of the block party.
Our annual block party is this week.You remember that, right? You should come. It’s a blast.
Her response came immediately. Of course I remember. It’s where we met.
Kevin didn’t know what came over him. He saw an opening and asked even though he’d already asked Jimmy to handle it. Stop by. I’ll be on my best behavior.
Ha! Moira has told me too many stories for me to believe that. But maybe.
He swallowed a groan. Damn Moira was screwing this up without trying. But at least he’d gotten a maybe out of her. He’d prove to Kathy and Moira that he was a better man.
* * *
Kathy stepped back from the cooler and leaned against the case. Five more minutes until closing. She wanted nothing more than to twist the lock early, but she couldn’t. Her hours said she was open until six, so six it was.
When the jingle of the bell above the door alerted her to another customer, she wanted to kick herself for being such a rule follower. Even her own darn rules. Sometimes being the owner sucked. She pushed off the cooler and smiled as she went to the front of the shop.
Her smile widened when she saw it wasn’t a customer, but Moira standing at the counter. “Hey, you. What’s up?”
“I figured since it was closing time, we could catch up.” Moira held up two cups. “I brought chocolate shakes.”
Kathy glanced at the clock, saw that it was six, and locked the door. “If you’d called, I could’ve met you somewhere.”
“I wanted to catch you off guard.”
“Why?” she asked as she reached for a shake. She sipped, or at least tried to, but the drink was too thick to be pulled into the straw easily.
Moira hopped onto the battered but sturdy counter and crossed her legs. “I had an interesting conversation with Jimmy today.”
“Yeah?”
“He asked if I had invited you to the block party. I told him that I hadn’t exactly invited you, but that you know you’re always welcome to
