Evidence of Desire: Hero Series 3 (8 page)

Instead he went the other direction and went to see if she was possible teaching a course in one of the classrooms.

When he sent her flowers, he hadn’t placed any indication that they were from him. He didn’t want her to attempt to return them. Either to the florist or him. The reason he had a messenger pick them up. Last week when he got off work, he gone by her office to see how she displayed them. But, even with the room being shadowed he hadn’t seen them anywhere, which let him know she’d taken them home.

At the classroom people where flowing out holding canvases with fresh paint covering them. Making it apparent to him the class was over.

Parker waited off to the side until everyone left. There was a young guy washing brushes in the sink when he entered.

“Excuse me.”

The man turned. “Dr. Hayden. How can I help you?”

“Simeon, right?” He recalled meeting him at the pre-opening of his exhibit. He’d been shocked that a white guy with such a rich southern accent had been an assistant in the African American department. Extremely knowledgeable about the art history as well.

“That’s right.” He smiled broad. “Is there something I can do for you?”

“I was looking for Ms. Watson. Something I needed to give her. I was going to set it on her desk but it didn’t look as if she was here.”

“She’s not.” Simeon shut off the water then picked up a towel for his hands. “She’s in Kansas arranging an exhibit tour. She’ll be back to work Wednesday or Tuesday after her flight lands knowing her.”

“True.”

“I can take it for her, place it on her desk if you’d like.” The younger man crossed the room.

“If you don’t mind.” Parker handed him the small box.

“Not at all.” Taking the package, he went on to say, “I just need to finish cleaning and set up for the next class, but then I’ll take it.”

“Whenever. No rush. Thanks.” Parker left the classroom. He had no doubt that when Sonya saw what was in the box, she’d come looking for him soon after.

He couldn’t stop whistling to the beat of his steps on the wood flooring as he went back to work.

~ML~

“Excuse me.” Sonya waved her hand at an Arachno-History exhibit staff. A tour had just dispersed and the elementary school kids and their teacher were headed off in toward another wing led by a museum staff member. “Sir.”

Finally the man heard her as he turned and came toward her at the archway of their area. “Yes, ma’am, how can I assist you?”

“I need to speak with Dr. Hayden. Could you let him know that Ms. Watson is waiting?” She used her most professional voice, keeping her tone low as visitors meandered passed them in and out the insect exhibit.

“Oh, ma’am. He’s in his office right now. You can go back there. If you keep straight down this corridor and make a right after the venomous sp—”

“Um, no. Can you let him know I’m here? Thanks,” she said firmly as she lifted her chin higher and folding her arms to bring attention to her directors’ badge. Rarely was she the type to use her clout, but at times like this it was called for.

“One second.” The man gave a sharp nod before walking away, headed in the direction he’d instructed her.

Exhaling a breath, she waited with her back to the all the bugs and prayed nothing escaped while she stood there.

“Sonya?” The deep timbre made it really clear to her who came up behind her using her first name.

Turning to face Parker, she corrected him. “Ms. Watson. If I may have a private word Dr. Hayden.”

Walking away, she waved him over to a small alcove only about seven steps away.

“Why did you send someone instead of coming to my office yourself?”

She waved her hand in the direction of his wing. “You know how I feel about spiders. I don’t need them watching me with all those eyes.”

“I remember vividly.” He gave her a lopsided smile. “I could explain about them to you and I think it would help you not to be so afraid of them.”

“No need. Look I didn’t come to talk to you about insects.” She glanced around, ensuring they were still relatively alone.

“What did you want?” He slipped a hand in the pocket of his slacks, looking to relaxed and sexy.

Did his voice get lower?
She brushed the question away.

“I wanted to thank you for the roses.” She licked her lips, and whispered, “But it doesn’t look well for you to send me flowers.”

“Really?” An eyebrow rose slowly. “Why’s that?”

“It’s unprofessional. Unless you want to tell me you send them to all the other curators including Kravers.”

“Nope. Just you.” He took a step toward her, leaving a little more than a foot separating them. “I didn’t sign the card and had them sent by special messenger. Who would know?”

“I would know.” She peered down the back hall and saw one of the security guards nod as he walked by.

He leaned in toward her and placed his lips close to her ear, but didn’t touch her. “Have you ever considered the fact I’m not trying to hide my attention towards you?”

That threw her for a loop. She’d never really considered that Parker was trying to make their history public.

“Parker.” She exhaled, trembling from the heat of his nearness. “I’ve managed to keep my business private, away from work. Just because my ex-husband is at the same museum as I am, doesn’t mean I want to broadcast that to everyone in the facility.”

“Don’t worry.” He grasped one of her wrists lightly. “I don’t plan to ask Kravers to open up an exhibit called ‘Ode to Sonya Hayden’.”

“It’s Watson.” She growled low, removing her hand from his touch.

He smiled and held her gaze.

“Anyway. I need to get back to work. Let’s keep our relationship strictly professional from here on out.” She tugged at her gray and navy blue pinstripe blazer.

“I’ll consider your words. Have lunch with me.”

“What?” She rolled her eyes.

Parker winked at her.

“No.” Shooting her hands up at her side she walked away.

That man is too thick headed for his own good.

When she arrived back at her office, she went to her desk and sat, still fuming at the audacity of her ex. There was a stack of work on her desk, as she expected. It was the reason she had come directly to work after her plan landed.

For a moment her mind played Daryl’s parting words about her work being the only thing in her life. After seeing Parker, the Councilman’s jab cut deeper now than it did five days ago. She comforted her frayed emotions by telling herself that Daryl was just not the man for her. It wasn’t her fault there was no sparks between them.

Parker
.

“He’s history.” She distracted herself form internal conversation by sorting through the paperwork and packages on her desk.

She’d been lost in returning correspondences, reports and faxes for over an hour when she got to a flat box at the bottom of the pile. Picking it up, she checked the weight, light. Her department was on it, but beneath it read EYES ONLY: SONYA WATSON

After she got her letter opener out of her side drawer, she sliced through the tape on the two sides. Taking hold of the lid, she lifted it away. Inside of the box was white tissue paper, when she peeled it back she saw a plain, orange paper folder that had a tiger in the bottom right corner and Hudson University below it—her undergrad college. In the center of the folder was a label that a subject written in blue ink CALCULUS I.

She knew that handwriting. The sight of it caused warmth to spread throughout her body.  She was unable to keep herself from placing a finger over it and tracing the strong pen strokes. Her heart beat a fast staccato as she guide her hand up to the other writing that was in a slant across the top. It was just four numbers.

The last four digits of my dorm room phone. Her eyes welled up at the memory of the day she’d written those numbers down. After his call, she’d finally agreed to go out with Parker Hayden. They had been in that class together. He’d passed her a note that asked her if she liked pizza. She’d replied yes. When he sent it back to her with the question of if she would like to get pizza with him? She never answered, but made him wait all class.

Once the class ended, she had turned to the seat behind her, pulled his folder to her and wrote down her number saying ‘I’m free Friday night. Call me.’ She’d promptly rushed from the class. It had been the boldest thing she’d ever done.

Laughing now, she blinked away the tears flooding her eyes as she recalled how Parker had sat there looking shocked and bewildered that she’d said yes. Months after the dance they shared, she’d been giddy that he’d finally asked her out. She believed she would be stuck in the friend-zone even he seemed to like her more than that.

With a shuddered breath she removed the folder and slipped it into her briefcase, then placed the box in the trash. If Parker thought this gesture was going to change things between them he was wrong.

Swiveling her chair back toward her computer, she tried not to think about the folder and concentrate on her work.

He’d kept it all these years.

Biting down on the side of her lip, she admitted to herself that she was touched by the knowledge.

“Hey, boss lady.” Simeon entered the room. “Couldn’t stay away for just one more day, huh?”

The assistant curator’s words got her right in her gut. She was more than this office, she wanted to rant, but held her tongue because she knew that was just something she would be saying in anger. Besides her dancing, this really was it for her.

No husband. No kids. No family. Social life, zero.

“Yea. I wanted to finish work on the annual catalogue,” she mumbled.

Thankfully, Simeon didn’t make a comment about it.

“What do you have there?” She pointed at the clipboard in his hand.

“It’s the shipment order for the Continuing the Legacy: African American Women United in Military Service collection.”

Taking the clipboard, she was too glad to do something else besides bemoan her personal life. She reviewed the top sheet, verifying it was set to go for the Black History 101 Mobile Museum in Alabama. She briefly checked the items categorized and listed.

Rising, she moved to the filing cabinet along the sidewall of her office. “I’ll compare it to the receipt sheet and then I’ll be down to check the items for shipment and supervise the packing.”

“Gotcha.” He headed out.

“Oh, Simeon, before you leave.” She waited for him to face her again. When he did she asked, “I saw on my schedule Kravers has called a directors meeting Thursday morning. I find it strange when we will have the normal monthly meeting in two weeks. Any whispers about what it’s about?”

“Not that I’ve heard. Nothing happened out of the ordinary while you were gone. I got the message to make sure your schedule was cleared for it. That was it.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

“Welcome back.” With that he was gone.

The last time Kravers had called a meeting like this, it had been over a year ago and it had been to announce that they were building a new wing to bring in bugs and a year later, Spiderman and his bugs should up in her life. Parker.

Pulling out the top drawer for current fiscal year forms, she finger skipped her way along the folders until she got to the one she was looking for and removed it.

Deciding not to stress of over why her boss had called an out of cycle meeting, she took the folder to her desk and removed the receipt slip and began to cross check it to her department’s shipment sheet. The last thing she needed was for an item to go missing when it was in her custody. Too many people had to get involved and start going through her things when something like that happened.

In the years she’d been working at the museum, there had never been an incident in her department. She would do her best to ensure it never did.

“Thank you everyone for coming.” Kravers entered the conference room. “I know this is an unexpected meeting but you all know when I have exciting news that will affect the museum structure I like to be prompt with it.”

Parker watched the museum director arrive at the head of the table and pick up the pointer from the SMART board rail.

“What is going on?” asked Dean Bosman in his very clipped, nasally tone. The man was the curator over the Victorian Era exhibit.

“I plan to get right to it.” Kravers looked around the room, meeting everyone eyes. When he reached Sonya a wide smile stretched across his face.

Steam bubbled in Parker’s gut for a moment. He didn’t think anything was going on between Sonya and the older man, but he still didn’t care for the way Kravers was staring at her. He unclenched his fist beneath the table and waited the man out, there had to be a reason for the look.

Staring across the table at Sonya who sat across from him, Parker could see she was uncomfortable by how she shifted in her seat.

“Sir?” She asked, looking from the museum director to her colleagues.

“Ms. Watson, how was your trip?”

Sonya frowned. “Fine, Mr. Kravers.”

“Good. Good. Nice to have you back.”

“Thanks.” She rubbed the side of her neck, still appearing unsure why she’d been singled out.

Parker didn’t understand the significance of Kravers making a big deal of Sonya’s trip. When he’d done his training for the job he’d been briefed on his responsibilities. Even though he wasn’t a curator, just an expert in his field of science, he was briefed that one of his responsibilities was travel expectations. He’d be expected to visit other museums and entomology venues to procure permanent and temporary exhibits for his department. So, why was the head director making a fuss over Sonya?

“Well, everyone, we will be making some changes around the museum in the near future. In the next two weeks we will be clearing out the third chamber of the west wing in the museum.”

The sound of everyone’s mind clicking and thinking about who that section fell under was almost audible.

“Wait! That’s part of my department.” Dr. Blakely the curator over Air & Space Histories sat forward in his seat toward the table as he stared at Kravers, his eyes wide with questions.

“Yes, it is, Dr. Blakely. However, it makes sense to utilize that area for new exhibit space.” Kravers signaled his assistant to turn on the projector.

A large map of the museum and all of its wings was displayed. All eyes focused toward the front.

“I will not stand for this. This is an outrage,” Blakely argued.

“Calm yourself, Blakely, they are only pictures. It is not as if we are flying all of your plans and helicopters out.” Kravers shook his head and returned his gaze to the screen.

With a pointer light aimed at the screen, Kravers began using the red penlight to circle around the area he was referring to. “Here will be the area the facilities team will remove those portraits in the next few days.”

Parker stared at the map and noticed that the section was smack in the middle of Sonya and Blakely’s areas. Kravers could have just as well taken some of Sonya’s space. If one of them had to be moved and reduced in size he was glad she wasn’t on the chopping block. Parker understood her angst concerning his new addition to the museum and didn’t wish her any further disparaging situations. Any more, he feared she would put in for a position in DC.

That was the last thing he wanted, because then his being here was pointless.

“May I ask what the reason for your preposterous actions is?” Blakely demanded.

“Yes, you may.” Kravers faced them all with a smile. “As I stated, there will be a new permanent exhibit here at Queen Metropolitan Museum.”

“And that is?” Mr. Bosman prompted.

For some reason Kravers was dragging out what was going on.

For effect?
Parker wondered.

“At the end of the month we will welcome the new African Artifacts exhibit.” Kravers gaze locked on Sonya again.

Sonya gasped.

The room fell silent as all eyes rotated toward her.

“Are you serious?” she whispered.

Parker watched the war of emotions on her face going from unbelief to joy and back again. He was happy for her. It wasn’t completely what she wanted but it was something.

“Yes. It is not a full grant mind you, but I was able to put in a funding approval for international funding for in house exhibits. The board wouldn’t go for another wing addition or any facility expansion. There is too much red tape and zone laws they’d have to fight, again, especially so close to just adding the Arachno-History.” Kravers’ exhaled and shook his head, appearing as if it had been a hard fought battle to get Sonya her exhibit.

Not that he would have given up having his exhibit, but if he’d known at the time that Sonya had been waiting for her own grant, Parker would have figured something else out.

“I will not stand for this!” Blakely shot up from his seat, his fiery gaze shifting from Kravers to Sonya. He pointed a finger at her. “Watson, you have been trying to whittle your way into my space since you got here three years ago. Now, look what you have done.”

Sonya sank back against her seat some but kept her chin high as she met Blakely’s head on. “I didn’t have anything to do with this, Blakely. I’m just finding out this news like you.”

Parker had been a little perturbed earlier at Kravers, but he understood now why the man had been paying Sonya so much personal attention. However, as for Blakely, Parker could get up and put his fist through his face or slam one of the arrogant man’s precious planes on his head. Smiling to himself, Parker thought about sending one of his Tiger Huntsman spiders to Blakely’s office. After a bout of vomiting and severe heart palpitations the old geezer might think differently about attacking women.

Especially my woman.

Of course Parker wasn’t looking to kill the man and he’d make sure the hospital had an antidote to cure him of the adverse effects.

“Sure you are.” Swinging that assaulting digit to Kravers, Blakely yelled, “And
you
allowed it. Now what will happen with all of that aviation history? What is North Carolina without its flight past, huh?”

“Sit down, Blakely and stop making a spectacle of yourself,” Kravers barked out, his tone leaving no room for argument. He placed his hands flat on the table and leaned forward in Blakely’s direction at the end of the table.

Blakely slunk back down to his seat.

“I understand that this change may be difficult for you. However, don’t forget that I am the head director of
this
museum. With that position I will make changes as I see fit. Those that will bring in more visitors and revenue to the facility.” Kravers regained his full height. “You are correct, that North Carolina has strong history in its aviation roots. I am not taking that away. Unfortunately, the public interest is low. The visitor level and time spent in your wing is consistent, but low. We are not getting rid of or boxing up those esteemed portraits, instead I will need you to decide with your team where each one of them will be remounted around your hanger division. If you will need to move things around to create a specific area for them, you have the authority to do that. Just not any aircraft, of course.”

That seemed to settle Blakely some as he gave a small nod of acceptance.

Signaling with his hand, Kravers instructed his assistant to go to the next slide. This one had labels on all of the areas and Parker could see the section in discussion now indicated a color that coincided with Sonya’s department stead of Blakely’s.

“Ms. Watson, I would believe that anyone who has fought as hard as you have to get this exhibit has a rolodex of contacts with art dealers and curators in Africa?”

“I do.” Sonya didn’t even try to suppress the wide, bright smile on her face. “It’s been sitting on my desk for years just waiting for the green light.”

“Well the light is green.” Kravers confirmed. “Make your contacts. See what piece that can be sent out the soonest. It will be a rotating exhibit. None of the pieces will be permanently housed here. I’m figuring a couple of months for each rotation. Get me a detailed list for funds approval as soon as you have it.”

“Will do.” She started jotting down notes on a tablet.

Parker could practically hear those hamsters on the wheels in her brain.

Kravers went on about a few other things concerning the upcoming spring and summer holiday season coming up and some ideas he was fostering, but didn’t elaborate. He let them know they’d discuss it at the official directors meeting in two weeks. “Thanks for coming everyone.”

Still in his seat, Parker waited until everyone had filed out of the room leaving him and Sonya alone.

Sonya continued to write notes, oblivious to everything around her. He wondered if she even realized that the meeting was adjourned.

“Congratulations.”

Two beats went by before she stopped and raised her head. She looked around, frowning she met his gaze. “Thank you. Where did everyone go?”

“Back to work I assume. Meetings over.” He leaned back in his chair.

“Oh.” She bit into the corner of bottom lip. “Guess I was lost in my own head.”

“I’m sure no one was offended. It’s understandable.”

“I think Dr. Blakely would disagree with you on that one.” She sighed. “I hate that in order for me to get my artifacts here, I have to take from someone else.”

“I’m sure this in not a new protocol.” He shrugged. “He’ll get over it.”

“I don’t know. The man has been here since the place opened. It was the Carolina Aviation Museum before it expanded to what it is today. He probably owns stock in it.”

“Probably. But, that doesn’t put him on the board or in charge. But enough about him.” Parker had other plans and ideas on his mind. With the turn of events they seemed perfectly timed as well.

“Yup. I have a staff to brief and calls to make.” She grinned as she gathered her things and stood.

He rose with her. “Do you have lunch plans today?”

Moving around her chair, she tapped her note pad. “This is my lunch.”

“No. It can’t be.” He walked along his side of the conference table until he could get around it. “You just got a late New Year’s gift. Celebration is in order.”

Standing by the door, looking as if she’d bolted out of it at any moment, she shook her head. “Maybe later, but I really want to jump on this soon.”

“One hour will not make much of a difference.” He cupped her elbow.

“You heard Kravers…he wants this started on no—”

“What time is it in South Africa?”

She glanced at the clock on the wall then pursed her lips as she did calculations. “Around 7 at night.”

“See. Anyone you need to speak with there has already headed home. Lunch is all I’m asking.”

“I didn’t bring anything. I had planned to go out. Now, I don’t have time for that either.”

More like plans to avoid me.

“That’s alright. I have more than enough to share. We don’t even have to leave the property.” He brushed her arm with his thumb, wishing he could feel her skin instead of the fabric of the blazer.

Twisting her mouth from left to right, she stared at him. “If I say yes, I don’t want to be around your critters Spiderman.”

Holding his free hand up, he vowed, “I promise lunch will not be in my wing.”

“I don’t want to be in the atrium either. The last thing I need is everyone pissed at me
and
getting the wrong idea about us.”

He would have preferred to argue with her point about them, but left it alone. Picking his battles. He’d won lunch with her and he was going rejoice in that. “No atrium dining.”

She nodded. “Okay, let me go put this stuff away and give a quick brief to my staff before they hear it from someone else. Where am I meeting you?”

For a moment, he eyed her features to see if she was pulling some ploy so that she could disappear into her vault, but he decided to trust her word. “The back end of the botanical gardens in twenty minutes.”

“I’ll be there.” She lowered her eyes to his hand still holding her.

Once he released her, she walked out of the room.

Not wasting any time, he headed to his office. He’d ordered food from a local restaurant before he went to the meeting and gave Glen, an entomologist working with him, money to pay for the delivery while he was at the meeting. Originally he had planned to have lunch with her after their monthly directors meeting, because it was the only time he really knew where she’d be. On Monday when Kravers had messaged about the additional meeting Parker had happily altered his plans to an earlier date.

At his office he saw the takeout bag on his desk. Going to the phone he dialed an internal number.

“Hello, Carolina Gardens, this is Taylor. How may I help you?”

Taylor Henry was over the botanical garden that was located at far side of the facility with most of it being outside.