Friends With Benefits (2 page)

She sat in her new office, talking to Mitch on her cell phone, impatience bubbling inside her. It had been a week since she’d asked him to help. She needed to get going with this. “Um…well, not really.”

“Mitch!” she wailed. “You said you’d help.”

“Well, yeah, but I just haven’t thought of anyone.”

“Oh jeez. You know tons of people. It can’t be that hard.”

“I don’t see you out there finding your own dates. There’s nothing to stop you from trying yourself. Don’t put this all on me.”

She paused and twirled a piece of hair around her finger. “You’re right,” she said with a sigh. “It’s not your responsibility. I should be out there putting in more effort. It’s just been so long… I have no idea how to meet guys. I’m not really into the bar scene…and I feel a little old for that, anyway. But you know…I was checking out some on-line dating services the other day and—”

“Jesus Christ, Kerri,” he interrupted heatedly. “You’re not going out with some stranger you met on-line. Forget that bullshit. I’ll think of someone. Wait. I just did.”

“Oooh.” She sat up straight. “Who?”

“Never mind. Just wait ’til I check it out with him. Who knows, he could have a girlfriend or something. I’ll get back to you on that.”

“Yes, sir, Mr. Attorney. Hey, I heard a new joke today. If a lawyer and an IRS agent were both drowning, and you could save only one of them, would you go to lunch or read the paper?” She giggled.

There was heavy silence, then he said, “Ha ha. Gotta go, funny girl. Later.”

Kerri hung up, still smiling at her joke. She loved pushing his buttons. Although, that one hadn’t got much reaction from him. He was probably so used to her little jabs he didn’t even feel them any more.

Now she was even more impatient, knowing he had someone in mind for her. She leaned back in the chair behind her desk in her new office and took a couple of deep, calming breaths before looking around at the bare, sparsely furnished office. The energy was
so
not flowing.

Boxes of papers she’d moved from her old studio sat piled in the corner. Clutter was bad luck and caused stress, but she still needed some new filing cabinets, so the boxes remained unpacked. She frowned at them.

At least the new desk she’d bought was in the right place, facing the door and allowing her to see the entire room from where she sat behind it. That was good. She had yet to move everything from her old space. It would feel better when her plants were there. The green growth would provide some active energy.

She planned to move the rest of her things on the weekend before the spa opened, with the help of some friends. She didn’t have a big budget like Sela for hiring movers and purchasing a lot of new furniture, but really, she didn’t need much. She had her yoga mats and cushions, her sound system, her computer, a few plants and candles and aromatherapy stuff… It would be easy enough to move it all in one weekend.

She went to see what Sela was doing and found her sister directing movers carrying in new chairs for pedicures. It was controlled chaos in the spa area of the building where Sela’s staff were running around unpacking and setting things up while the painters finished touching up the woodwork and the plumbers installed new fixtures. The smell of fresh paint filled the building.

“Hey, Kerri.” Sela didn’t look up from the papers she held. All her plans, no doubt. Sela was extremely detail oriented and was a master of planning and organizing. Every small facet of this move had been carefully laid out.

“How’s it going?” Kerri asked. “Anything I can do?”

Sela shook her head. Her black hair, cut in a short bob with straight, blunt bangs, didn’t even move, as perfect and precise as the rest of her. Kerri could see the strain on her face. She’d been working long hours to make this happen. For Sela, failure was not an option and anything less than perfection was failure.

“Come on, there must be something. My studio is pretty much ready and I can’t really move the rest of the things over until just before we open, because I need them for classes at the old place.”

Sela seemed not to hear her and yelled at one of the movers, “No, no over there! Please.”

Kerri watched for a moment, then meandered down into the entrance of the building. She frowned at the stark, cold foyer. It needed to be warmer and welcoming. It needed a better energy flow.

She wandered around, studying the reception area and the waiting room behind it. She approved of the waiting room being hidden from view of those entering and leaving the spa. Her yoga clients would also be able to use the changing rooms and showers. They could enter the yoga studio from a door off the waiting area, or they could go directly down a short hallway and enter from the reception area as well. Many clients came dressed in their yoga clothes, but a lot of her clients were businesswomen who came after work and needed space to change. This was already a big improvement over her old space.

But it still looked cold. Slate floors and sleek leather furniture appeared modern and stylish, but, like her office, Kerri wanted to add elements that would make the room warmer and more serene. A small water feature would offer quiet, cool energy and soft lamps would balance that with warmth and light. She’d really love to add the hot vibrant energy of fire. When she and Sela were “researching” by visiting different spas, they’d been to a spa with cozy armchairs pulled up around a huge stone fireplace where clients could wait for their manicures or pedicures to dry, while flipping through glossy magazines and sipping herbal tea.

Herbal teas. Sela needed to offer more of a selection of refreshments. Just plain old coffee and tea weren’t enough these days. She needed bottled water, too. And flavored water.

She went back to find Sela. “Hey, can I talk to you about some ideas for the waiting room?”

Sela frowned. “Now is not a good time, Kerri. Besides, I thought it was finished.”

“Well, technically it is, but you know I have some ideas to make it a bit more soothing…to balance the energy flow.”

“I think it looks nice.” Sela flipped a paper over and consulted another list.

Kerri sighed. “It does look nice, but…”

“Maybe later, okay?” Sela shuffled her papers and gave Kerri a big-sister smile. “You just worry about your stuff, okay?”

Kerri nodded and got the message: shut up and butt out.

“One other thing.” Kerri hesitated. “The website needs revamping now.”

Sela frowned. “Why?”

“Well…because it doesn’t say anything about yoga. I thought I could work on it, add a page for my yoga studio, maybe jazz it up a bit…”

Sela sighed. “Do you even know how to do that?”

“Well…yeah.”

“We should probably get a professional to do it.” Sela dismissed her idea. “Someone who knows website design. And that’s not a priority right now. I’ll get to that eventually.”

Kerri swallowed her disappointment. Well, like Mitch had said, Sela was a shrewd and successful businesswoman. She must know what she was doing. Clearly, Sela didn’t need any suggestions from her.

Kerri sighed. It was always that way. Sela was ten years older than Kerri, the oldest of the four Harris siblings, and a natural leader. An over-achiever who’d excelled in college, she’d graduated with her business degree then used her entrepreneurial skills to start her own business with only a little financial help from the family. There’d been a few ups and downs in the early days, but now her spa was the most popular day spa in Santa Barbara.

Not only that, she’d met her husband through her business. He was her accountant, a partner in a lucrative practice, and they now had three gorgeous teenage children. Sela managed to combine being a professional woman with a being a devoted wife and mother. She was the epitome of “having it all”.

Kerri let out a long breath. She was almost thirty and had no hope of having Sela’s life. Yes, her yoga business was doing well, not surprising to her, but apparently surprising to her family. Sela’s spa business had seemed very entrepreneurial, but when Kerri had followed a similar path and used her business degree to open a yoga studio, with
no
family money, she was proud to say, the family had smiled and rolled their eyes.

Okay, so the money wasn’t rolling in, but that wasn’t Kerri’s definition of success. Her goal was to help people achieve inner harmony, improved health, emotional well-being, mental clarity and joy in living. She was doing all that and managing to make a living for herself.

Just then, the karma ring tone of her cell phone chimed, vaguely East-Indian and soothing. She flipped the phone open and checked the call display. “Hey, Mitch!” She pushed her hair back off her face. “What’s up?”

“Hey,” he said. “Listen, I checked with Trevor and we’re going to meet for drinks after work on Friday.”

“Ooh, I forgot! I got thinking about something else here.” She smiled at Sela and waved as she left the spa area. She stopped in the hall where it was quieter. “Okay,” she said eagerly. “Tell me about him.”

“Is he good-looking? Successful? Nice?”

“You don’t want much, do you?”

“Sorry,” she said quickly. “Looks don’t really matter.”

“But the money does?”

“I didn’t say that! But he should be successful. That doesn’t necessarily mean rich. If you like what you do and you’re happy, I consider that successful, and that’s important to me.”

“Well then, I’d say he’s successful. But as for good-looking, I have no clue. I guess he’s not too repulsive.”

She nodded. “Okay, so when is this happening?”

“Friday night work for you? I thought he and I could meet for drinks and you could join us. Then I’ll take off. You can take it from there. If things aren’t working out, you can easily leave.”

“Perfect. For a lawyer, you can be a sweetheart sometimes. Thanks, Mitch.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he said darkly. “Don’t thank me yet.”

She laughed, and they arranged a time and location to meet.

As she closed up her phone, one of Sela’s spa technicians beckoned to her. Kerri hurried over.

“Hi, Amanda. What’s up?”

“That oil you gave me,” Amanda said, eyes darting around furtively. “I need more.”

Kerri also glanced around. “Why are you whispering?” Were they doing a drug deal or something?

“I’ve been using it for some of my massage clients and Sela doesn’t know that I’m using something different.”

Kerri was puzzled. “She wouldn’t mind if you changed massage oil, would she?”

Amanda rolled her eyes. “She has to control every last detail of this place,” she hissed. “I love her and she’s great to work for, but you know her…she’s your sister.”

“Uh…yeah.” Sela
did
have a need for control. “Okay, don’t worry, I’ll get you more and I won’t say anything.”

“It’s incredible stuff. What’s in it?”

“Lotus and rose oil, and some other ayurvedic herbs.”

“My clients absolutely love it.” Amanda sighed. “So do I, for that matter. My hands feel so soft. I started putting it on after I shower.”

Kerri laughed. “No wonder you need more!”

“Have you tried it yourself?”

“Of course.” Kerri shrugged. “When I started making this stuff, it was just for my own use. I’ll whip up another batch and get it to you right away.”

“Got any other magic recipes?”

“Mmm, yes, as a matter of fact. I’ve been trying some things with different oils. Ginger oil to relieve muscle pains. You might like that. Kukui nut oil helps to repair the skin’s barrier functions, and grape seed and sweet almond protect and hydrate.”

“I could definitely use that ginger oil for one of my clients. He does triathlons. Does it work?”

“I’ll give you some to try. You can be my tester.” Kerri grinned and Amanda smiled back at her.

“Just give me the stuff; if it’s good, I’ll let you know.”

Kerri went back to her office, her mind abuzz with essential oils, ayurvedic herbs and most importantly, her upcoming blind date.

Friday evening, Mitch waited for Trevor Simmonds on the large patio of another bar in downtown Santa Barbara, not far from both his office and the building where Trevor worked.

“Hey, Mitch,” Trevor said easily, dropping into a chair across from him. “How are ya, man?”

“Good, you?”

“Had a great day, actually. Closed a multi-million-dollar deal.”

Mitch nodded, smiling, but unimpressed by the money. “Congratulations.”

Trevor took off his suit jacket and hung it over the back of his chair. The waitress approached them and they both ordered a beer.

Trevor grinned. “So where’s this chick you think I should meet?”

Chick
. Huh. Mitch glanced at his watch. “She should be here any minute. Probably finding a place to park her bike.”

Trevor lifted a brown. “Her bike? Like, a motorcycle?”

Mitch laughed. “No. A bicycle. That’s how she gets around.” He could see what Trevor was thinking, picturing a muscular figure clad in bicycle shorts. “She’s very environmentally conscious.”

“Uh…great.”

The waitress set their drinks in front of them with a flirtatious grin for each of them and Mitch smiled back at her. She was hot—long blonde hair, endless tanned legs. Then he spotted Kerri at the entrance to the patio and immediately forgot about the waitress.

Kerri’s silky black hair fluttered around her face in the breeze as she searched the patio for him. The way she carried herself, that perfect posture, made her seem taller than her average height, slim and toned in her yoga clothes. Santa Barbara was a casual city, so she didn’t look out of place in cropped black yoga pants riding low on her hipbones and a blue top that wrapped snugly around her slim torso and revealed a hint of cleavage.

He lifted a hand to wave at her and she spotted him, a smile breaking across her face. He couldn’t help but smile back.

Trevor turned in his chair to check out who was coming. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open when he saw Kerri making her way through the tables toward them. He turned back to Mitch and gave him a broad wink. Mitch scowled. Yeah, okay, Kerri was gorgeous, but the guy didn’t have to be such a pig about it.

Kerri approached the table, and Mitch and Trevor both stood up. Mitch pulled a chair out for her. “Hi, Kerr. This is Trevor Simmonds. Trevor, Kerri Harris.”

Kerri shook Trevor’s hand with a warm smile and took the seat between the men, dropping her soft leather purse onto the brick patio.

“Nice to meet you, Trevor.” Mitch didn’t like the way her eyes sparkled at him. “So what are you guys drinking?”

“Surf Coast Pale Ale.” Trevor held up his bottle. “Would you like the same?”

“Sure.”

Mitch had to keep his mouth from dropping open. Since when did Kerri drink beer? Last he knew, she despised the stuff. Said it made her feel bloated and lethargic. Something about the yeast.

“So, Mitch says you own your own business?” Trevor asked her, turning his chair slightly and focusing his attention on her. She nodded and started telling him about the spa and yoga studio.

Sometimes Kerri could come off as a little flaky when she talked about yoga and meditation and chakra stuff. Mitch was used to it, but he wondered how Trevor would take it. The guy seemed pretty focused on the material world with his Porsche and multi-million-dollar deal.

Well, Kerri had said she wanted someone successful. Mitch guessed that met the criteria. He tipped his beer to his mouth, watching Kerri smile and flirt. She wasn’t getting too much into that transcendental crap and Trevor seemed fascinated by her, hanging on her every word. Jesus. It was enough to make him puke.

He glanced at his watch. Had he hung around long enough? On the one hand, he had no desire to sit and watch Kerri and Trevor’s flirt-fest. On the other hand, he was reluctant to leave her alone with the guy. Which was ridiculous. She was a grown woman and had dated lots of guys, had even had a couple of pretty serious relationships in the past. She could handle herself.

The corners of his eyes tightened as Kerri flipped her shoulder-length layers back and laughed at something Trevor had said. Enough. He was out of there. He drained the beer and set the bottle down on the table, stood and pulled his wallet out.

“Leaving already?” Trevor asked, surprised but clearly okay with that.

“Bye, Mitch.” Kerri gave him an absent wave. Not even an attempt to convince him to stay a little longer.

“Yeah,” Mitch said, feeling like no one was listening. “I’ve got a date tonight, so I better head out.” He dropped some bills on the table to cover his tab and with a lift of his hand and a tight smile, he left the patio.

Mitch walked down State Street in the evening sunshine, oblivious to the rush hour traffic and throngs of people ending the business week. Tourists crowded the sidewalks, meandering in and out of the shops and restaurants lining the street. Two blocks down and around the corner he arrived at his office, in an older Spanish-style building just off State Street. He’d left his car parked in the lot reserved for partners of Campbell, Chapman, Markewich.

He could go into the office and do some work for a few hours, since he didn’t really have a date. Kerri hadn’t even asked about that. Normally, she’d want to know all the details, but Trevor had obviously been distracting her.

He paused outside the office building. He was edgy, wired, his gut tight. He changed his mind about working. He’d find something else to fill his Friday night. He thumbed the button of his keyless remote and unlocked the door of his SUV. He’d call one of his other buddies and see what was going on. Maybe they’d get some food, find a game on TV to watch or something.