“No, no, I’m n—”
“I don’t see you like that. I know you’re a mother but you’re not my mother. I’ve been without a mother for half my life. I’ve learned to adapt without one.”
“That’s harsh. I’m not trying to be your mother.”
“You don’t talk to Mandela like you talk to me.”
“Don’t call Nelson, Mandela.”
“What do I have to do to make you see me as an equal?”
“I see you as an equal.”
“So if you go on a date with Nelson than you’ll go on a date with me?”
“Jason seriously. Even if I completely overlook the age difference, I’m your employer.”
“I have no problem sleeping my way up the ladder. I’m the only one actually on the ladder but it’s all good.”
I ignored him. “Just pull up to the front door?” I had made my way to his uncle’s house.
“Pull around to the side there.” He pointed. I have a key to the side door. I keep my bike under that archway.”
I drove the car around to the side of the house. The motion lights came on when I moved up the paved driveway. I put the car in park. It was time to speak about it.
“Remember what happened Saturday.”
“No, what happened on Saturday?”
My eyes grew large. I was on fire and I couldn’t hide it.
“Kat, I'm just joking.” Even in the darkness of night, I could see his bright mischievous smile.
“Jason we need to keep things strictly professional. No more kissing and touching. You have to keep your hands to yourself. It’s not right. I’m older and things like this can get complicated.”
“How so? Are you afraid you’re going to fall in love with me.”
“This is what I’m talking about. Only a young person would say something so ridiculous.”
“Is it really ridiculous? Your guard is up. You’ve already counted me out. You haven’t even given me a fair shake.”
“I don’t’ have to give you a fair shake.”
“That’s true but it’s your loss. I’m a really great guy.”
“I already know you’re a great guy. You need to be a great guy for someone in your age range.”
“I’m too much for young girls. I’ve been told that I have a lot of tenacity.”
“Get your bike and take your tenacity inside the house and to bed.”
I hit the button to pop the trunk.
“That’s cold.”
I shrugged. “You’ll survive.”
“Sweet dreams, Ms. Sweet. Thanks for the ride.”
Jason leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. I wasn’t prepared. He hopped out of the car before I could protest. This boy was going to make me choke him to death.
He quickly removed his bike. He slammed my trunk down. I watched him lean his bike against the side of the house where it couldn’t get wet from the downpour.
I waited until he was inside the house before I pulled away. I drove straight home. I quickly settled in and removed my clothes. I put on my sleep t-shirt and climbed into bed.
My cell phone vibrated and I grabbed it off the bedside table. I had a new text message.
Jason: [Are you home yet?]
Me: [Yes]
Jason: [Did you set the shop alarm?]
Me: [Yes]
Jason: [Goodnight Kat.]
Me: [Goodnight.]
I waited to see if there would be more but there were no more texts. If only he was twenty or thirty years older. But he’s not so thinking about him was a complete waste of my time. At my age wasting time was one of the worse things I could do.
Chapter 10
KATRINA
I slept like a baby last night. I’m sure it was because of the rain. I woke with a throbbing ache between my legs. I couldn’t remember my sex dream. I did know that it was what caused my vaginal discomfort. I would bet money my repressed dream featured a tall, young man with the lean cut body of a swimmer, sexy brown hair and naughty chestnut eyes. I refused to touch myself and I didn’t pack any sex toys because I didn’t think I would need them. I was wrong about that— so wrong.
I eased the throb with a long hot shower. I pulled a cute little sundress from the closet. There were red and white candy canes all over the dress. When I was younger my mother used to make me and Cherise cute little dresses and outfits with candy all over them. She would order candy fabric from the Butterick and Simplicity catalogs. Our mother was quite a good seamstress. I loved wearing my candy-patterned outfits. Mama’s sewing days were long over now that she had arthritis. People still talked about her sewing skills.
Jason was a few minutes earlier on Tuesday than he was on Monday. He was full of energy.
“Good morning, Kat.”
“Morning.”
Jason dropped his backpack on the floor behind the counter.
“It’s dry out. Just a few puddles here and there.”
“We needed the rain. The grass was going to burn if it didn’t rain soon.”
“And we got it.” He agreed.
“Hey Jason, did you interview with my sister before I hired you?”
“No, I didn’t.” I expected a lie but got the truth.
“I thought that you did.”
“Yes, you thought that.” He tipped his head at me as if to say what else.
“That’s why I hired you.”
“Oh, I needed a job. I came in and you were hiring.”
“But you know I thought you already talked with my sister.”
“I didn’t talk to your sister. I walked in off the street. You needed help and I just happened to be at the right place at the right time. It was kismet.”
I didn’t know about all that but I was willing to let it go. I could see he wasn’t in the mood for an interrogation.
Our day was going well. I thought yesterday’s rain would make the customers hesitate to come around. I was wrong. Tuesday was a pretty good sales day. After the lunchtime rush, things started to die down. The rest of the day was going smoothly. We only had a few hours left in the workday
