Unfortunately, her exuberant brush cleaning resulted in spilling the contents of the pot out onto Jamie’s shiny black shoes.
”I’m so sorry.” She bent to wipe away the puddle of muddy brown water. So did Jamie, bumping heads with her on the way down.
“Ow!” He flinched and rubbed his temple.
“Ouch!” Jen half laughed and mirrored his action.
Crouched in the window, tending their wounds, they smiled at each other. The brilliance of Jamie’s eyes and the dimple in his cheeks wasn’t lost on Jen. He was a handsome guy, and so, so charming. The laughter stopped and something in the atmosphere between them changed. There was a charge, an electricity in the air which Jen was sure if she reached out to touch him would send sparks flying.
“Well, this looks great.” Jamie broke the connection first and got to his feet.
Jen blinked away the attraction and followed suit. She stood back to admire their work, satisfied they’d advertised their merchandise and created a seasonal showpiece. Well, it looked cute at least and the kids would love it. “I doubt we’ll win any prizes, but it will do the job.”
“One small step at a time. The next daring plan is to introduce virtual shopping, so if you’ve any expertise there…”
Even if she had any computer expertise she doubted she would take up the opportunity to work closely with him again. He was too easy to talk to, comfortable—and it frightened her. It was too early to even think about another man, and yet she was undeniably attracted to him. She was still trying to get her emotions in order after Lee, and she certainly didn’t need Jamie Kelsey whipping them up into another frenzy.
“Sorry, I’m a bit of a technophobe. You’ll have to manage that one on your own. I have plenty of practice making a cuppa though, if we’re allowed to use the canteen out of hours.” Her rumbling stomach was a sign the measly ham sandwich and bottle of water she’d had for lunch clearly wasn’t enough to sustain her. If she knew her sister as well as she thought she did, there was bound to be a packet of chocolate biscuits hiding somewhere too.
“I can do better than that. I have the keys to the restaurant.” Jamie patted his pocket and made the move to relocate from their exhibition space.
They took the rickety lift to the top floor, keeping their distance as much as possible in the small space. It was difficult to escape the awkward silence as they smiled at each other and waited for the ding. Jamie wrenched the doors open to intense darkness and Jen waited until he found the light switch before she ventured out.
“Tea, coffee, or hot chocolate?” He made a beeline for the barista machine and Jen wondered if this was another example of his forward thinking. Jen remembered coming here with her mother when she’d been little and the table side service that had made her terrified of spilling something over the crisp white linen tablecloth.
“Always hot chocolate.” It would quench her thirst and give her a chocolate hit at the same time. She pulled one of the upturned chairs from the table and sat down while Jamie fussed around the hissing silver contraption.
“Help yourself to a snack.” He pointed to the tray of crisps and packets of shortbread next to the till, but Jen didn’t want to look like a complete pig by going on a junk binge.
The two steaming mugs he carried back to the table had chocolate streaks around the sides but she wouldn’t refuse a free drink simply because the presentation wasn’t up to scratch.
“I feel like I’m an accessory to breaking and entering or something.” There was definitely a naughty vibe of doing something she shouldn’t being here with Jamie.
“There have to be some perks to being the boss’ son.” He clinked his mug to hers in a toast and took a sip, leaving a film of chocolate froth on his top lip.
“I heard you’ve enjoyed your position here to the full.” Jen arched an eyebrow and alluded to his playboy reputation. She could see why many had fallen victim to his charms if tonight was any indication.
Jamie winced. “My reputation precedes me. I hold my hands up to some, let’s say, immature behavior. I’m concentrating on my career these days.”
“Ah, you need to show daddy you’re a big boy now, is that it?” The teasing came as naturally as breathing now he wasn’t encroaching on her personal space.
“Something like that. We could make this place great again if I don’t screw it up this time.” A flicker of pain sparked in his eyes and in that moment she felt a connection with him. They both needed to prove themselves, if simply for their own sakes.
“I have faith in you.” She reached across the table to take his hand, not thinking twice about the action until a bolt of something familiar started where his skin met hers and zapped through her entire body. Jen jumped back in her seat. This wouldn’t do at all.
“I should really get home before they send a search party out for me.” She gulped down the rest of her hot chocolate, willing to put up with a scorched mouth as punishment for forgetting the danger he presented.
“I can give you a lift if you want?” It sounded like a genuine offer to help her out and she had no idea what time the buses ran at this time of night.
“I’d be grateful if you could.” How much trouble could she find herself in during a twenty minute drive?
* * * *
She found out when she took her seat next to him in the front of the car. As soon as they closed the doors, the air was thick, heavy with anticipation.
“Where to, m’lady?” Jamie latched his hands onto the steering wheel, the rigidity in his arms a contrast to his easy grin.
“I live just off the Castlereagh Road. If that’s not too far out of your way?” Jen kept her eyes on the road ahead, doing her best not to look back to that handsome face.
“Not at all. It’s the least I can do after you helped me out. So, you have someone waiting up for you?” Jamie’s question immediately drew her attention back to him.
“No. Yes. Er, just Mum and Kelly.” She stumbled over her answer as she fought to interpret the question. Was he asking simply to make polite conversation, or was he enquiring about her relationship status?
Either way, it was an uncomfortable topic to discuss. She wasn’t ready to go into details about her private life with anyone, let alone a man she found herself attracted to and made her question her loyalty to Lee’s memory.
Jamie’s sigh brought her back from the brink of the despair that was always waiting to catch her unawares.
“It must be nice to have your family close.” There was a hint of something sad in the tone of his voice and the faltering smile.
“Well, there are times I need them and times I wish I lived on a desert island. But I guess you know that working so closely with your father.” She’d only met Mr Kelsey during her interview and he came across as quite a nice man, if a bit stern at times.
“I think we would probably get on better if I did live on a desert island.” Jamie’s jaw tightened as his daddy issue raised its head again.
“What about your mum?” Mrs Kelsey had never been mentioned in any of their conversations to date.
“Dead. Your dad?”
“Dead. I guess we have something else in common besides our hot chocolate addiction.” Jen couldn’t imagine how she would’ve gotten through life without her mother’s support. Poor Jamie only had his dad who he clearly didn’t get on with.
If she wasn’t already freaking out about being so close to him she might have had the urge to hug him.
“Yeah. Maybe we should start a support group for grieving children who eat inordinate amounts of chocolate to cope with their loss.”
“Hmm, but then we would have to share our chocolate stash.” Jen screwed up her face at the very idea.
“Good point. We’ll make it a private club. Very select. Only two members.” The look they shared started off as a cheesy grin, but gradually morphed into that same smoldering connection they’d shared earlier.
An oncoming car, it’s horn blaring, provided the much needed distraction for them.
“Shit!” Jamie veered the car back into the lane, narrowly averting disaster.
Jen gulped and braced herself on the dashboard.
“Sorry,” he mumbled as they crossed back into safe territory.
“No problem. This is me here, anyway.” She pointed to their two-up two-down, terraced house on the corner.
“Thanks for all your help tonight.” Jamie reached across to place a kiss on her cheek. The burn where he touched her started on her skin and burrowed deep inside until she thought she’d internally combust. It was all she could do not to open the door and run away from the claustrophobic interior of the car.
Chapter Four
Jamie had intended to be the one to open up the store. Of course, his father was always one step ahead. “What on earth is going on in the window display? I didn’t give anyone permission to go decorating willy-nilly.”
God forbid anyone should show a little initiative around here.
“Maybe the Easter bunny paid us a visit during the night.”
“Cut the crap, son. What are you playing at?” The older, greyer version of himself peered at Jamie across the desk.
“Attempting to attract customers. The Easter holidays start next week. I thought we could, perhaps, do an offer in the toy department to get parents and children in through the doors. Buy one, get one half price deals on selected lines. Just for one week of course.” Jamie got his idea out all in one breath before his father could stop him.
“And how are we supposed to make money if we’re practically giving away stock?” The papers being shuffled on the desk was a sign he’d already started to lose interest.
“We might take a hit in that department, yes, but it could potentially increase footfall across the other departments.” It was a simple promotion used the world over, but then Kelsey’s was in a world, and time, of its own.
“One week?” The pause in paper rustling was Jamie’s first breakthrough in what seemed like centuries.
“Yes, sir. One week and I guarantee you’ll see an increase in profits. After that we could run ads in the papers for discounts across the store. Or team up with other local businesses to offer deals.” He got carried away now that he actually had the old man’s ear.
“One week is all I’m prepared to give you at the moment, until I see the figures for myself.” Kelsey’s stalwart rubbed his temples and frowned, suddenly looking very tired.
Jamie might’ve only been awarded the tiniest opportunity to make his mark because his father's defenses were lower than usual, but he intended to take full advantage. “I won’t let you down.”
What if I let him down?
Jamie’s confident strides from the office gradually slowed as he reached the corridor. It wasn’t a huge risk, like, say, when he gambled away his trust fund on the turn of a card. But he’d promised profits and now he had to deliver. There was only one person he felt able to confide in, but after her freak out last night he wasn’t entirely sure he could count on her to help him.
* * * *
Jen yawned as she arranged the baby toys in height order.
“I didn’t hear you come in last night. You have a late one here?” Kelly eyed her suspiciously. It was unheard of for Jen to stop out on her own, ever.
“Not particularly. I couldn’t sleep, though.” Not when one tiny peck on the cheek from Jamie had sent her running from the car like a mad woman. A shudder racked through her at the memory. The kiss was a thank you, an innocent gesture her body had decided to completely misinterpret. Every goosebump on her flesh and every tingle he caused in places she didn’t want to think about, betrayed Lee’s memory.
Just when she wondered how she could face Jamie Kelsey again without dying of embarrassment, he walked through the door. “Morning, ladies.”
“Morning, Mr Kelsey.” Kelly visibly perked up at the arrival, obviously enjoying the boss’s attention more than her troubled sister.
“Morning,” Jen acknowledged him but couldn’t quite make eye contact.
However, that didn’t stop him approaching her. “Thanks for last night. Your help was greatly appreciated.”
A quick look at the smirk on Kelly’s face confirmed she had indeed heard his gratitude and chose to interpret it in the seediest fashion possible.
“No problem,” Jen lied.
“I know this is a big ask, but is there any chance we could do it again tonight?” He looked at her with such hope, it weakened her resolve to stay away from him. It was entirely possible she’d blown last night’s events out of all proportion. Where she’d probably imagined a dangerous chemistry, he was more than likely just being himself. After all she had been warned he was a flirt.
Kelly snorted.
“What is it you need?” She wouldn’t commit herself to anything without knowing the exact details.
“Dad has given the go ahead for an Easter promotion in the department. I know you’re the supervisor, Kelly, but Jen really seems to have a knack for merchandising. You don’t mind do you?” It seemed Jamie knew her sister well enough not to put her nose out of joint.
“Fine by me. Feel free to do whatever you want with Jen.” Kelly would get a slap the minute Jamie left. For now a scowl in her direction would have to do.
“Why can’t we do it now?” In public, during daylight hours when working with him might not feel so intimate.
“Sorry. I’m going to have to chase up some extra stock and I have a meeting this afternoon with the accountant. I doubt we would get it finished by five. That’s not a problem is it? I swear I’ll get you home at a reasonable hour. I just need to do this.”
She knew how much it meant to him for his father to agree to any changes in the store, and she was a sucker for those puppy dog eyes. “Same conditions apply though. Double time.” By focusing on the cash incentive she might just get through another night with the boss.
“Of course. I wouldn’t ask you to do it for free.”
Jamie’s comment drew another childish guffaw from Kelly at the counter.
“I’ll see you later then.” Now that she’d committed to the project she would have to keep her wits about her and remember this was nothing more than a boost to her coffers. Any inappropriate overtures were entirely in her head, and most certainly a side effect of her recent loss.