Love unexpected, p.8
Love Unexpected, page 8
part #2 of Unexpected Series
“Great,” he said unenthusiastically.
They exchanged phone numbers. Conner hugged his mother goodbye and said good night to his father. He walked out with the Livingston family. Mr. and Mrs. Livingston got into their car first, which left Conner and Karen alone in the large driveway. Conner walked her to her vehicle and opened the driver’s side door for her. At least she came in her own car implying she most likely didn’t still live with her parents. That was one check for the very short positives column.
“I’m really sorry about all of that,” Karen said nervously before entering her car. “If you don’t want to go, I can conveniently get sick on Saturday or something.” She bit her lip and clutched the rim of the door. “I know it was all a bit awkward.”
It wasn’t her fault Conner had overbearing parents, and Karen seemed sweet enough. One date wouldn’t hurt.
“Don’t worry about it,” he said as he put one of his hands on hers. “I’m looking forward to it. I’ll call you later this week and we’ll work out the details.”
Her endearing smile shone in the moonlight. “That sounds wonderful, Conner.”
Maybe it would be.
Chapter Ten
“Do we have any chocolate bars?” Harriet asked while digging through the shelves of their small kitchen pantry. “I have to have a chocolate bar for today!” She sounded in great distress, a typical emotion for the dramatic girl.
“Why do you have to have a chocolate bar today?” Jenna asked in imitation.
“It’s Valentine’s Day,” the small girl said, as if that was the perfect explanation to Jenna’s question.
Jenna waved her hands up in cluelessness. “And?”
Harriet slapped a hand to her forehead. “Everyone in my class is supposed to bring a chocolate bar today to give to their secret Valentine. If I don’t bring mine, then Aaron is going to be the laughing stock of Mrs. Colevas’ third grade class and me along with him. Now do you understand?”
Jenna bit her lips between her teeth to stifle a laugh. “When did you find out about this mandatory treat bringing assignment?”
“Monday?” she said as a question with great innocence.
“Harriet,” Jenna scolded as she braced a hand on the kitchen counter and cocked her other hand on her hip. “It’s Friday! You’ve known about this for an entire week.”
It was the little girl’s turn to shrug. “I kind of sort of forgot about it until this morning.”
Jenna heaved a vexed breath. “Turn around,” she instructed while motioning her finger in a circle.
“What?”
“Do you want a chocolate bar or not?”
Harriet tilted her head back and groaned but did as Jenna ordered. Jenna moved behind her, moving cautiously to ensure Harriet didn’t hear her or peek. She quietly opened up the cabinet next to the refrigerator and reached behind some miscellaneous dishes for one of the three bars she had hidden away. Jenna placed the milk chocolate bar into one of the girl’s small hands.
“You have a secret chocolate stash?” Harriet questioned with amazement.
“I believe the words you’re looking for are ‘thank you.’”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Jenna leaned down and kissed Harriet’s delicate cheek. “Chocolate is one of a woman’s most vital essentials. You’ll understand why when you’re older. Now, put your cereal bowl in the sink and let’s get going. We don’t want to be late.”
“Yes ma’am.”
Jenna watched in awe as Harriet bustled around the kitchen, downing the last of the milk from the bottom of her bowl, slipping on her pink light-up shoes, and grabbing her backpack. Now matter how dramatic Harriet could be, Jenna could not imagine a happy life without her.
***
Jenna stepped off the elevator with the intent to rush into her office and avoid almost everyone that day. There were pink and red streamers, balloons, and even banners all over the ceiling and walls. The fifteenth floor was filled with an overwhelming scent of orchids and roses. It was a bit too much, if you asked Jenna. Even when she was conveniently dating someone (which had only been twice in her entire life), she wasn’t a fan of the holiday.
The salvation and solitude of her office was only ten feet away. She’d managed to avoid everyone up until that point.
“Happy Valentine’s Day!” Dolores proclaimed excitedly, holding a clear glass vase that contained a bouquet of roses. “Someone has an admirer.”
“Those are for me?” she asked with disbelief. Dolores nodded her head with a huge grin. Jenna gave a thoughtful sound and walked around her assistant toward her office. Dolores followed her and placed the vase on the corner of Jenna’s desk.
Jenna tried to ignore the flowers and her humming assistant as she sat down and turned on her computer.
“My calendar is clear today still, correct? I need brainstorming time and don’t want to be disturbed.” Jenna reached up and retightened her bun.
Dolores ignored her. “There’s a small card attached. Aren’t you the least bit curious?”
Jenna bit her cheek and glanced at the flowers. She could admit to herself they were absolutely stunning and absolutely surprising. Without a word, she snatched the card from the plastic holder.
Jenna,
Pink for admiration, yellow for friendship, and one purple rose for enchantment. I’m glad I met you and am looking forward to seeing you again.
Patrick
Jenna couldn’t hide her smile while she really admired the roses for the first time. They were beautiful.
“This Patrick guy sounds like a keeper,” Dolores remarked with approval.
“We’ll see,” Jenna said coyly as she slipped the card back in its holder. “Thank you for bringing them in here.”
Dolores nodded her head before rising from the chair to exit. Right before fully leaving, she turned to inform her boss her schedule was mostly clear for the day, but she had one appointment directly after lunch with a Mr. Turner that could not be rescheduled.
Jenna supposed one meeting wouldn’t kill her.
Before getting to work, she sent Patrick a text message. It would be rude not to.
Jenna: Thank you for the lovely flowers.
Patrick replied right away.
Patrick: I’m glad you like them. I wasn’t sure if they would weird you out or not but figured it was worth the risk.
Jenna: I’ve already blocked you on my phone, you crazy stalker.
Patrick: You can’t tell, but I just spit water all over the papers on my desk.
Jenna: Oh no! I’m sorry. *angel face*
Jenna: Happy Singles’ Awareness Day!
Patrick: Maybe we can change that. I’m about to go into a meeting, but can I call you later?
Jenna: I’d like that.
Patrick: Good. Enjoy the flowers.
Jenna: Already am.
She took one final sniff before she buried her nose in her work. Lunch was delivered to the office by a client of one of the other account managers in honor of the holiday and in appreciation for a job well done. It worked out for Jenna because she couldn’t find a gap in her brainstorming to leave. Dolores was thoughtful enough to bring a plate of goodies to Jenna’s desk for consumption and wouldn’t leave until she watched her boss take a few bites. She was always the perfect mother hen and friend.
“Am I meeting with Mr. Turner in the small conference room or is he coming to my office? Come to think of it, I don’t remember a Mr. Turner. Was he a client referral?” Jenna rambled.
Dolores answered calmly, but with a strange look on her face. “He’ll be coming to your office.”
A knock came at that very moment on the jamb of the open door. “I’m not early, am I?”
“Conner?” Jenna said with alarm. “What are you doing here?”
“That’s my cue,” Dolores practically sang as she started to leave.
“Stop,” Jenna ordered her duplicitous assistant. “I’m assuming Conner here is Mr. Turner?”
Conner grinned. “Turner and Hooch. Classic movie. I thought you’d like it.”
“Wasn’t Hooch the dog?” Jenna asked with a raised brow.
“Exactly,” he replied. “I’m Turner and you’re Hooch.” Jenna pursed her lips. “You’ve been avoiding me for almost two weeks. I had to do something to get you to work on this Calypso account with me.”
Jenna turned her annoyance to Dolores whose lips curved outwards into a toothy and innocent smile. “He may be irritating, but he’s also a bit charming. Don’t hate me.”
While she was annoyed, Jenna could never truly think ill of Dolores. She was one of her favorite people in the entire world. She smiled at her coworker and friend. Conner had an infamous quality of schmoozing to get his way. Jenna could dislike him with no problem.
Dolores left with a sigh of relief and kept the door open at Jenna’s instruction. Conner closed it before moving to the seat Dolores had previously vacated. Before he sat down, he revealed a bouquet of brightly colored wildflowers from behind his back.
At realizing Jenna had already been a recipient of flowers that day, he seemed almost unsure of himself at that moment. It wasn’t a look Jenna had seen from him before.
No matter how much he brought out the worst in her, she couldn’t stand to be cruel. “Are those for me?” Conner nodded in the affirmative. “Thank you,” she said with a cautious smile. She took them from his hands and maneuvered them into the vase with her roses. Conner’s flowers were absolutely stunning. She loved the vibrant colors and assortment of smells.
“That was a nice surprise,” she said.
Conner crossed his legs with smugness. “Me or the flowers?”
She glared her eyes at him before rolling them back in her head. “Okay, let’s get started on Calypso Candies, shall we? I imagine you have some ideas. I’ll let you go first.”
“Who are the roses from?” He seemed very interested in the answer to her question.
She chose to ignore it altogether. “I was thinking maybe we should do something with regard to the name Calypso. She was a goddess and the first documented feminist, so maybe we should tailor the campaign to women. What do you think? Has your team started the market research?”
“Not yet,” he said with a dismissive attitude. “The roses. Who sent them to you?”
Jenna repeatedly tapped a pen to her desk. This man was incorrigible. She didn’t know why he got under her skin so much, but he made her want to scream out loud. Not wanting to lose her job or seem like she was losing her mental faculties, she chose instead to bite the inside of her cheek.
At her silence, Conner took it upon himself to grab the card that was nestled in the center of the floral arrangement. She reached across the desk to snatch it from him but was unsuccessful. A few papers scattered to the floor. He graciously picked them up while reading the card to himself. Jenna scooted back down into her chair.
He swallowed, bobbing his Adam's apple as he did. Jenna found herself fascinated with it. She also noticed a small brown freckle on his neck. She thought it odd she wanted desperately to know what he was thinking. His face revealed nothing to her.
“That was nice of Patrick,” Conner stated emotionlessly as he replaced the card. He ran his fingers through his hair. The locks at the end were growing longer and started curling upwards.
Jenna most certainly did not think about running her own hands against them. Needing a slap back to reality, she clenched her fists and closed her eyes tightly and took a deep breath.
“So, what did you do this weekend?” he asked as if they were old friends and not sworn enemies.
She scratched the side of her head with her left index finger. “Smalltalk? Since when do you and I smalltalk, Conner?”
He bit his lip and smirked at her. “Not what you were expecting? Haven’t you learned by now I’m full of surprises?”
Jenna leaned forward on her desk. “When it comes to you, I’ve quickly learned not to expect anything. That way, I’m not disappointed.”
Conner put his feet back to the floor and placed his elbows on his knees, clasping his hands in front of him. “I’m starting to think you’re a lot more bark than bite.”
“Why don’t you come closer and find out,” she quickly retorted.
Conner pulled his chair a few inches nearer to her desk. “You don’t scare me, Jenna.”
“Why did you bring me flowers?” she asked without delay.
“To be nice.”
“Since when have you ever been nice?”
“Since today apparently.”
“That didn’t last long.” He still had the nerve to be smirking at her. “Do me a favor and don’t do it again.”
“No problem, sweetheart.”
Jenna placed her palms flat against her desk. “Don’t call me ‘sweetheart.’”
“You sure are demanding.” Even on the other side of the desk, he was close enough that Jenna could see the small flecks of gold in his irises.
“You have to be in this business. I’ve learned you have to go after what you want. You can’t be timid about it.”
“And what exactly is it that you want?”
You.
No. That was impossible.
She was in dire need of an intervention or a bigger office. He was too close. Jenna stood and moved closer to her large window. She secured her hands on her hips and kept her back to Conner. There wasn’t much of a view due to the much taller office building next door to theirs. At least it blocked part of the sun, although her office was starting to feel a bit hot. Maybe her air conditioning wasn’t working properly. She made a mental note to have Dolores check on that.
At the sound of Conner’s chair scraping the tiled floor, Jenna turned around to make sure he was staying put. He was, but he was angled toward her new position. She felt comfortable with the distance.
She moved backward to lean against the marble ledge under the window. It was wide enough to hold decorative items, but Jenna had been far too busy to even think about sprucing up her minimal office space. Maybe that was something else she could task to Dolores.
Conner was expectantly awaiting an answer.
Jenna crossed her heels in front of her and folded her arms across her chest. “How about you don’t stand in my way and I won’t stand in yours.”
Conner rose. “Fine.”
“Fine,” she said resolutely as she stood tall as well.
He started walking toward the door. “Where are you going?” she questioned irately.
Conner turned around with an amused expression on his face. “We just agreed to stay out of each other’s way.”
“What about Calypso Candies? Mr. Young is going to expect us to work on the account together.”
He shrugged. “My father doesn’t have to know. We can both work on the account separately and then…” Conner searched the sky above him for an answer.
“We can meet in a month to go over our ideas and determine who came up with the better campaign,” she finished for him.
Conner scratched his chin as he contemplated her suggestion. “What if you and I can’t agree even then? Plus, it’s a big account and you don’t have a dedicated team for your accounts like I do.”
Jenna licked her bottom lip before biting it, her brows furrowing in thought. “Then we present both ideas to the client but on a united front. Your dad absolutely cannot find out we’re not doing this together.”
“Okay,” Conner reluctantly agreed.
“And don’t worry about me. I don’t need other people to do my job for me.”
They were standing only a few feet away from each other. Jenna wasn’t sure if she or Conner had moved closer, but they weren’t this close minutes before.
The corner of his lips turned slightly upward. “It’s not about shirking the work. It’s about working with others.”
Bologna.
He didn’t need to know that people always had a way of letting her down. Jenna spent most of her life relying on herself. If she didn’t take care of herself, no one would. Not even her own mother cared enough to make sure Jenna was okay.
She puffed out her chest. “If I do it myself, then I know it will be done right.”
He chuckled at her. “You know, it’s okay to rely on others. You don’t have to do everything by yourself.” Conner stepped a foot closer. “If you keep up that way, you’re going to burn out. Just some friendly advice.”
“We’re not friends,” she stated softly.
“You’re absolutely right about that.” Conner straightened the lapels of his suit jacket. She ignored how the color of it highlighted his green eyes. The eyes that seemed wounded somehow. Jenna doubted anything she said could pierce his armor.
She held her hand out toward him. “Good luck.”
Conner took her invitation and grasped her hand with his own. His hands were softer than she thought they would be, especially as his thumb slightly rubbed the side of her hand. It was over before she could further analyze it. He forced a quick smile and nodded.
For whatever reason, she found herself rushing to say, “Thanks for the flowers,” as he stepped beyond the threshold of her door.
He turned to face her and a knot formed in her throat as he stilled in place. Maybe she was coming down with something. “You’re welcome, Jenna,” he replied with a crooked smile.
“Thank you,” she awkwardly repeated.
Yep. Distance was exactly what she needed. She was a lone wolf.
***
Conner went back to his office and slammed the door, but as usual it refused to actually slam shut. With pure frustration, he leaned on the interior side of the door and pushed as hard as he could until the darn thing closed tight.
He was dumbfounded as to what had just happened in Jenna’s office. Why was she always so hostile with him? He actually went there wanting to make peace, ergo the flowers. Conner had never in his life given any woman flowers, but Eric suggested it. For crying out loud, Conner even went down to the corner market and bought them himself. The colors somehow stood out to him as something she might like. He was trying. But Jenna Crane was impossible.
