Accidentally Yours

“It takes time to pull it all together.”

That didn’t sound right. Kerri dropped an electric curler into the sink, then stuck her head in the bedroom. “Is there a problem?”

Linda shook her head. “It’s fine. Things are moving along.”

All the right words, so why did Kerri suddenly have a knot in her stomach? “The money got into the bank, right?”

“All fifteen million. Apparently it came from Nathan King’s personal account.”

If only, Kerri thought ruefully. “Yeah, I’ll have that much when I get paid on Friday.”

“Oh, me, too.”

They laughed.

“So what’s he like?” Linda asked. “Are you enjoying him?”

“I haven’t tied him up and asked him to call me his love poodle yet.”

“Good to know. You’ll want to save that for your second week together.”

“We’re not together. I have to admit he’s good-looking, but his attitude could use an adjustment.”

“It’s not in your nature to be totally grateful, is it?”

“I’m grateful, but I won’t crawl. I think I bug him, which is just an added bonus. He’s a little straitlaced.” She returned to the bathroom and pulled out the rest of her curlers, then smiled in anticipation as she said, “Not a bad kisser.”

There was a moment of silence followed by Linda’s appearance in the small bathroom.

“You kissed him?”

“He kissed me, but it was still good. Lots of tingles. It made me realize I haven’t seriously kissed a guy since Brian died. I miss kissing and touching.” But not with just any guy. If she had the choice, she would like to be doing all that with Brian.

“Now you can do both,” Linda said. “Although I’m not sure about Nathan King. Be careful. He’s a dangerous guy.”

“Not to me. I’m not interested in him or anyone that way.”

“How did you come to be kissing?”

Kerri tried to remember. “I’m not sure. We were talking about whether or not his giving up the fifteen million meant he could sleep with me.”

“What? He expects to get sex?”

“I’m not sure. I think it was more an intellectual discussion, then he kissed me. Probably to shut me up.”

Kerri bent over at the waist and brushed her hair. Then she fluffed it with her fingers, straightened and reached for the can of hair spray.

It took a couple of good passes to get all the curls to stay in place. “I’ll do another spray right before we leave.”

She put on fake pearl earrings and a gold-tone watch, then slipped into her fabulous shoes and pulled on the blazer. Then she stared at herself in the mirror.

“I still look like me,” she said. “I was hoping for better.”

“You look great.”

Kerri knew that on a good day she could pass for pretty, but no one would ever describe her as elegant or sophisticated.

“This isn’t my world. I won’t know what to say to anyone.”

“Just smile and if someone gets bitchy, remember she gets cramps and bloats, just like the rest of us.”

There was another knock on the front door. “That’ll be Tim,” Kerri said as she walked through the living room to answer it. “I suddenly feel so popular.”

“It’s because you’re a special person,” Linda teased.

“I’m getting that.” Kerri opened the front door and smiled as she saw both Tim and Lance on her tiny porch. “Two for one,” she said. “It’s my lucky day.”

“Isn’t that the truth,” Lance said as he walked inside, then kissed her on the cheek. “You’re looking very ladies-who-lunch. Love the shoes.”

“Aren’t they great? Less than ten dollars.”

Lance winced. “You’re not going to want to mention that today.”

“I know. Hi, Tim.”

“Kerri.”

Tim nodded slightly as he, too, walked into her living room. The space had never been big, but with four adults, one of whom was the size of a small mountain, the space shrank even more.

Kerri introduced Linda.

“I’ve heard all about you,” her friend said. “You got Kerri the job at The Grill so she could attack Nathan King.”

Tim shifted slightly. On anyone else, Kerri would call it a wince.

Lance grinned. “Did I tell you? I’m a hero at work. They’re all talking about how I handled the crazy woman. Nathan came in to the restaurant last week and personally thanked the manager for my quick action. I got a raise.”

“Impressive,” Kerri told him. “So what did Nathan get out of it?”

“Nothing,” Lance told her. He glanced at Tim, then lowered his voice. “There are untold depths to our Mr. King, sweetie.”

“That’s what they say about Antarctica, but those depths are chilly.”

“He’s not all darkly evil,” Lance said. “He gave you the money.”

“I know, I know.” She looked at Tim. “Want to chime in here and defend your boss?”

“No.”