Mythe: A Fairy Tale (12 page)

“Tread cautiously, my friend,” Richard advised, clapping David on the shoulder. “Those two have evil plans for you. Shall we head out? We have lunch reservations.”

Manda was relieved that Richard and Josh were both dressed in jeans. Despite Richard’s assurances to the contrary, she’d worried that she would be underdressed. There was no telling where they were going.

“What's for lunch?” David asked as he and Richard led the way out. Obviously they hadn’t filled him in either. Richard named one of the finer steakhouses, just a few blocks away. Manda had been there a few times before. It had a western décor and she knew that jeans were as common there as business suits.

As the four of them exited from the lobby and into the bright, midday sun, Josh and Richard both slipped on dark sunglasses. Their actions were so fluid and practiced that it reminded Manda of a scene from a spy movie and she grinned. As they walked, Richard and David discussed music. David was well informed on the topic, and their conversation was lively. Josh glued himself to Manda’s side.

“How long have you worked at Aronson, Manda?” he inquired casually.

“I’ve been here five years,” she answered reluctantly, hoping he would sense her tone and not ask the inevitable next question. He didn’t take the hint.

“Five years? You’re kidding? How
old
are you?”

Richard looked back from his conversation with David and frowned. “That’s not a polite question, Josh.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry.” Josh was contrite. “Forget I asked that, Manda.”

Manda shook her head indulgently. Josh’s reaction reminded her of nothing so much as a scolded puppy. “It’s okay. It’s not a secret. David will tell you at the first opportunity if I don’t.” She shot David an accusing look and her coworker smirked back. “I’m 25. I started here right out of school.”

“So did you only spend two years in college? Richard keeps pushing me to go to college, but I just don’t have the time to devote four years to it right now. I don’t think I could even fit in two years.”

Manda was relieved when Josh turned the conversation to something besides her. She’d never been comfortable talking about her academic life, since it had often made her something of an outcast when she was younger.

“Manda went to college for four years, not two,” David corrected, just as Manda was beginning to relax again. She could cheerfully have strangled him as Josh’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.

“So you graduated from high school when you were 16?” he asked, suddenly extremely intrigued.

“Yes,” Manda sighed. “I skipped a few grades. No big deal.”

“You got your bachelor’s degree when you were 20. That’s cool!” Josh disagreed.

Manda knew David wouldn’t be able to refrain from correcting Josh, so she beat him to it. “No. I got my bachelor’s degree when I was 18. I got my Master’s when I was 20.”

“Jeez, Manda! So, what? You’re some sort of genius or something? Who knew! I knew you were smart, but I didn’t realize you were
freaky
smart!”

Manda frowned self-consciously, stung by the all-too-familiar words. Richard, who’d been casting disapproving looks back at Josh as they walked, stopped in his tracks and spun back toward his brother.

“Joshua! That’s enough! Apologize to Manda, right now!” he growled.

Josh took a startled step backward and his mouth dropped open. “What? What did I do?”

“You’re being insulting and disrespectful about something Manda didn’t want to talk about in the first place. Now, apologize and leave her alone about it.”

Josh’s shoulders slumped as Richard spoke, and the forlorn puppy look returned. “I’m sorry, Manda. Please forgive me. Sometimes I say things without thinking. I honestly didn’t mean any disrespect. I admire you a great deal.”

“Don’t worry about it, Josh. It’s okay.” Josh’s apology was clearly heartfelt, and Manda melted. She was just being oversensitive. She knew he hadn’t really meant to insult her, he just hadn’t realized it was a sore subject. She was surprised and gratified that Richard had picked up on her reticence though, even if she found the strength of his reaction startling.

“Come on, guys,” David urged. “I’m starving.”

“Yes, let’s not stand here on the street. People are starting to stare,” Richard agreed quietly. “Come on, little brother. If you still want that lunch with a beautiful woman, you’d better bring her along and let’s go eat.”

As they walked the remainder of the way to the restaurant, David and Josh discussed college life. David painted an appealing picture, and before long, Richard and Manda had joined in, encouraging Josh to pursue his education further. They were more than halfway through their meal when the subject turned to Manda’s plans for the following day.

“What’s on your agenda for tomorrow, M?” David asked between mouthfuls of food. All three men were tackling generous portions of steak and baked potato. Manda, who was enjoying a salad, was surprised by the sheer quantity of food disappearing in front of the three men.

“Tomorrow’s Robbie’s birthday, so I thought maybe we’d go to a movie and lunch.”

“What, no wild party? Or are you saving that for date night?” David asked.

Manda shrugged. “He’s having a party with his friends later.”

“Robbie? Is that the name of your true love then?” Josh asked. His tone was light but his expression was intent. Richard’s look was inquisitive as well—and vaguely disapproving. David, on the other hand, snorted with laughter and Manda wrinkled her nose at him before answering.

“Well, Robbie
is
very cute, and I have loved him since the first time I saw him, but I wouldn’t call him my
true
love or anything,” Manda replied thoughtfully, causing David’s laughter to double. Richard looked at them both quizzically and she laughed. “Robbie is my nephew—Katie’s little brother. During the summer I spend every Wednesday with them while my sister Emily is at the office. She works from home the rest of the week.”

“Ask her about date night,” David guffawed. “She’s such a wild thing!”

Manda shot him a dirty look, sending the word “Brat!” sailing off in his general direction, and then dutifully explained to Richard and Josh. “Friday night is Emily and Andy’s date night and the kids stay over with me.”

“I guess it’s quite a party at Manda’s house on Friday nights,” David mocked playfully.

“Just because my idea of a good time doesn’t require a designated driver to preserve human life, doesn’t mean I don’t have fun!” Manda shot back archly.

“Ah, touché my friend!” Josh hooted.

Richard laughed. “So, what
is
involved in these evenings of wild debauchery, Miss Jensen?”

“Oh, we generally engage in totally reprehensible behavior. You know, pizza, soda, popcorn, the latest morally degenerate G-movie,” Manda informed him in a bored voice. Then she leaned forward conspiratorially. “If we’re feeling particularly rebellious, we might even watch something PG,” she confided. “We’ve been raided by the police more than once. It’s quite scandalous.” Manda delivered her last remark so matter-of-factly that both Richard and Josh guffawed.

David adopted a long-suffering look. “We haven’t found any adult men worthy of our Manni yet. Her brand of prince charming is apparently very hard to come by.”

“No,” she corrected, as if explaining to someone slow witted, “more likely it’s just that you’re shopping in places that don’t carry my brand.”

Josh grinned at David. “So, do you go prince shopping often?”

“No. I just toss her whatever stray princes I find wandering around. You know, girlfriends’ brothers, my sister’s rejects, that sort of thing.”

“See how highly he thinks of me!” Manda demanded, casting martyred looks at Richard and Josh. “Strays and rejects!”

“Scandalous,” Richard commiserated gravely, garnering an evil smirk from David.

“
Besides
,” Manda continued emphatically, “the guys you try to fix me up with are always way too young. I may look twelve, but I’m not!”

David threw his hands into the air. “Fine! See if I do you any more favors! You can just find your own prince charming then!”

“Thank you!” Manda replied fervently.

Richard chuckled and smiled across at her. “I assure you, Manda, you do not look twelve.”

“I’ll say,” Josh agreed, with a leer that was so comical that Manda had to laugh.

“That’s nice to know. I just assumed that I must
look
twelve since all the guys David tries to fix me up with
act
twelve,” she replied, with an aggrieved glare at her coworker.

“Hey! Those are my friends!” David protested. Manda arched an eyebrow at him and he shrugged sheepishly. “Okay. It’s true...sadly.”

“Enough about my love life,” Manda said pointedly.

“Or lack thereof,” David interjected, but Manda ignored him and addressed Richard and Josh.

“What do you guys have planned for the week?”

“Business meetings mostly. More lawyers. More contracts. We’re meeting with Curt and Jen on Thursday to go over some details,” Richard supplied.

“Sounds deadly,” Manda commented.

“Speaking of meetings.” David glanced down at his watch and grimaced. “We’d better finish up here and go. Our meeting is in ten minutes and Jen will be waiting.”

“Did the waiter bring the check yet?” Manda asked, searching the table as she slid her wallet from her purse.

“I’ve already taken care of it,” Richard informed her with an amused smile.

“But…” Manda started to protest but Richard cut her off.

“I took care of it while you and David were arguing about princes, strays, and rejects.”

“Give it up, Manda,” Josh advised, as they all stood to leave. “You’ll never win. My brother’s very old fashioned. He’d take it as a personal failing if you ever picked up a check.”

“Don’t let him kid you,” Richard said dryly. “He’s as bad as I am. It comes from upbringing. He’s right, though. You’ll never win.”

Manda regarded him through narrowed eyes. “We’ll see.”

David and Josh led the way as they headed back to the office, while Richard and Manda trailed behind.

“I talked to Josh about Friday night,” Richard said, as they strolled through the afternoon sunshine.

“Like I said before, if Friday isn’t good for you...,” Manda began, but Richard interrupted her again.

“I told you already, Friday is fine,” he assured her. “Why don’t you believe me?”

“You just seemed a little...hesitant about it before,” Manda answered frankly.

“I apologize,” he said ruefully. “That was just another case of me jumping to the wrong conclusion. When you mentioned Robbie I thought he must be your boyfriend, and I was afraid we might be causing dissension in that area.”

“Wow. You’ve had me paired up with
everybody
, haven’t you? First David, and then Robbie,” Manda laughed. “Before you go there, let me just assure you, I’m not dating Curt either!”

“Duly noted,” Richard acknowledged sheepishly. “Sorry about that. It’s just hard to believe that you aren’t involved with
someone
. It’s like finding a hundred dollar bill in the middle of a busy sidewalk. It’s hard to believe no one has snatched it up yet.”

Manda looked self-consciously down at the busy sidewalk they were on, idly noting the lack of stray cash. “So, we’re on for Friday night then?” she asked, changing the subject.

“Yes. We’re definitely on for Friday,” Richard confirmed, and Manda could hear the amusement in his voice. “Josh suggested dinner and miniature golf. Do you think Katie would like that, or is that not cool enough for her age group?”

“Oh, please!” Manda scoffed. “Sitting in the library reading about the finer points of knitting would be cool with that age group if you two were the ones doing the knitting! Miniature golf will be beyond cool enough. There’s a huge place up near me if you’re interested.”

“Good! We have a plan, then. You and Katie decide where you want to eat. What time shall we pick you up?”

“I think we might be a little less conspicuous if we take my car,” Manda suggested, imagining the attention they would attract arriving at the miniature golf course in a limo. “Not that you two are ever inconspicuous, but why make it worse.”

“Okay. If you’d prefer,” Richard agreed.

“How about if I drive in on Friday then, and you guys come home with me after work? We’ll stop by my house so I can drop off my computer and change, and then go pick up Katie. Will that work?”

“So, we’ll get to see where you live?” Richard asked with a mischievous glint in his eye. “Is it anything like your office?”

“Not even a little bit,” Manda told him, with a wide grin. “You’ll just have to wait and see.”

Richard chuckled softly. Distracted by the sound of his laugh, Manda stumbled over an uneven bit of sidewalk and Richard steadied her with a hand under her elbow. Manda knew it was just wishful thinking on her part, but his hand seemed to linger there longer than necessary, and her pulse quickened. They walked in silence for a short time and then Richard spoke again.