Save the Date (2 page)

Ethan had dated a few people while I’d been with Jake, but it had never bothered me. Then again, I’d never seen him look at someone the way he’d gazed at Dana—with complete and utter love. The jolt of pain returned, piercing the center of my chest.

Rach’s bottom lip pushed out. “You’ll find the right guy when you’re ready.”

The sympathetic look on her face churned my stomach. “If you want to help me, you’ll forget my dead dating life and come up with a solution to my real problem.”

“You need a job.” She chewed thoughtfully, then swallowed. “You can apply for the receptionist position at my office. Ginger just got promoted and management needs a temp because her replacement doesn’t start for two weeks.”

A light bulb illuminated over my head. “Temporary income with minimum responsibility and no big judgment calls. That might be the best idea you’ve ever come up with.”

“You’re probably the first person to get excited about taking a career step
down
.” She laughed, then turned to Noah who’d come over to the padded bench we were sprawled across.

“How’s it going, ladies?” He slid in next to Rach, leaned down, and stole a bite of her sandwich. She pressed her lips to his cheek in return.

“Great.” I pictured myself as the receptionist for the software company where Rach, Noah, and Gina worked, and felt a tingle of excitement. “Your girlfriend’s brilliant.”

His blue eyes sparkled, and he winked at Rach. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

She smiled back at him. “Instead of counseling people, Kristen wants to answer phones at our office for a living.”

Noah uncapped a bottle of iced tea. “Is that so?”

“Just until I figure out a permanent solution.” I’d put a big chunk down on my condo and the interest rate on my mortgage was criminally low so I didn’t need a huge income to get by right now. “Will you guys put in a good word for me?”

“Of course.” Rach pushed the last bite of bread into Noah’s mouth, then brushed a crumb off the back of her hand. “But don’t give up on counseling for good, Kristen. You love it.”

Yeah, but I’d lost my mojo and saw no sign of it coming back. “The lease on my office expires in two weeks. Since I can’t get my head on straight for therapy, my only choice is to search for something else I’m qualified for. I saw a career counseling class online. I’ll sign up for that tonight.”

Ding! Ding!

Hearing my phone chime, I pulled it from my purse, and found a text message from Ethan. My pulse skipped unwillingly as I slid my finger across the screen:
Save the Date! Monday night. Special exhibit at the Sacramento History Museum.

I bit my lip and stared at Ethan’s text, contemplating whether or not I should go.

“Thanks for the snack.” Noah brushed his lips against Rachel’s cheek and she immediately smiled. “I’m gonna cool off.”

Noah took off his shirt, then tossed it on the bench as he walked toward the back of the boat. At the open gate, he rose on his toes, his ripped back muscles tightening before he leaned forward and dove into the water. Rach wore a giddy look before pulling off her cover-up. “You coming in?”

I shook my head. “Maybe later.”

“What has you so distracted?” Standing in her bikini, she hovered over my cell, scanning the screen. “Who’s that from?”

Yanking my phone out of her view, I scrunched up my face. “Ethan.”

She gave me a side glance. “What’s he mean by ‘Save the Date’?”

I tilted my chin, curling in my shoulder. “It’s a thing we say when we hear about a cool exhibit or walk.”

“Aww, you guys have a
thing
.” She wiggled her eyebrows, then headed toward the back of the boat.

“He has a girlfriend,” I reminded her.

All I heard in response was a splash.

Turning back to my phone, I thought about Rachel’s teasing. I’d been the other woman, albeit unknowingly, once in my life and didn’t like the joking implication that Ethan and I were more than friends. Dana knew about our walks though, and it’s not like she wasn’t welcome to join us.

Come to think of it, why didn’t she come? Huh. History must not be her gig.

I replied:
I’m in. See you Mon.

Tossing my phone back in my bag, I realized how much I’d accomplished since I left the house: a potential temp job, a career counseling class, and a museum exhibit. Surely, I could take an hour out of the day to relax now. It had been a long time since I’d let myself chill out. I propped my feet against the side of the boat, leaned back against the pillow and let the sun wash over me.

My mind immediately wandered to thoughts of Ethan. I pictured the way his brown eyes simmered—in a very hot and intense way—whenever he talked about history, Italy, or anything he had a passion for. Even though I was almost thirty, picturing that look made me gooey all over. I didn’t even want to think how I’d react if he focused that intensity on me.

Suddenly, every muscle in my body tightened. How pathetic was I for daydreaming about Ethan? He may seem like a hundred forms of perfect, but the man probably had an army of skeletons in his closet.

Thank goodness he had a girlfriend.

And that I wasn’t dating ever again.

He and I were history pals. Nothing more.

Chapter Two

Monday morning, Rachel’s office called while I was at my new gym, Totally Fit. After class, the Zumba instructor, Melanie, gave me an earful about her dating woes. Apparently no guy she dates ever wants to get serious. Although I wanted to hand her a business card, I was no longer in that line of work. But she seemed so bubbly and sweet, I was dying to dive into her psyche and help her.

In an alternate universe, maybe. Right now, I was off to answer phones.

I arrived for my interview at Woodward Systems Corporation at ten o’clock in the morning. The human resources manager, Chloe Campbell, was sharp, to the point, and didn’t waste time. Twenty minutes later, I’d been hired as the temporary receptionist.

“Gina tells me you’re roommates.” Ginger Nielsen, the gal who’d been promoted, was training me for her old position. She pulled her long, dark hair over one shoulder, and twisted it automatically, as if out of habit. “She also says you’re a marriage and family counselor.”

I felt a pang in my gut. “In a former life.”

“Hmm.” Her forehead crinkled. “Do you think it’s true that women choose men who’re like their fathers? Because my dad’s a raging alcoholic.”

“The danger is that being around a guy with similar qualities to your father will automatically feel natural, so you’ll have to be careful not to . . .” I stopped and closed my mouth. “I’m sorry, but, to tell you the truth, I am the wrong person to ask. My last boyfriend turned out to be married. So, what do I know?”

Her mouth dropped open. “What a scumbag. How’d you catch him?”

Surprised, I blinked. “I inadvertently saw him with his wife, but you’re missing the point. He and I were seeing each other for eight months and I didn’t have a clue that he’d been lying to me.”

She shook her head, and raised her brows. “You must’ve been devastated.”

“Yes.” I’d bawled my eyes out for few weeks, sure. “More importantly, though, I misevaluated him.”

“Well, if he’d been wearing a wedding ring, obviously you wouldn’t have gone out with him.” Her forehead wrinkled. “I’m no therapist, but you shouldn’t blame yourself.”

Cringing, I shook my head. “I don’t. His actions are
his
responsibility.”

“Right. But it sounds like you feel at fault for not catching him sooner.”

The girl was annoyingly astute. “Aren’t you supposed to be training me on the phones?”

My words may have been confrontational, but I needed her to stop. Obviously, I shouldn’t blame myself for not catching him sooner. But I did.

She put a hand to her chest. “I’m sorry. It’s none of my business.”

Uh, no. “It’s fine. Let’s just stick to work. Okay?”

“Not a problem.” Ginger spent the next half hour showing me the employee directory, how to use the interoffice email, and the way to transfer calls. It wasn’t exactly brain surgery, or like scoring the Roscharch test.

The first call I made after Ginger left was to Gina. It rang twice before she answered. “Gina Hall. May I help you?”

“Why, yes, actually.” My voice was tight. “You can stop telling people I’m a counselor.”

“Kristen, hey.” If she was bothered by my tone, she didn’t sound like it. “How’s the front desk treating you?”

“Fine, until Ginger asked me if her bad dating choices might pertain to her alcoholic father.” I lowered my voice as a guy entered the lobby from the door behind the reception desk, nodded a greeting at me, then exited out the front door. “Why would you tell her, Gina?”

“Because,” she said, in an exasperated tone. “Her medical benefits bite. She can’t afford the out-of-pocket expense for counseling, and you’re just sitting there, using all your training and experience to transfer phone calls.”

“That’s
my
choice.”

“You should’ve heard about her last boyfriend.” Gina’s voice lowered, even though she had her own office, and I doubted anyone was in there. “Total drunk, and he was mean to her.”

My heart tugged, and I rubbed my forehead. Then, the phone started ringing, so I sighed. “I have to go.”

I switched calls and spoke into my earpiece. “Woodward Systems Corporation. How may I direct your call?”

“It’s Rach. We still on for lunch?” Her voice sounded panicked. “I’ve got to talk to you.”

Wondering what had her on edge, I said, “Sure. What’s wrong?”

“Can’t say right now.” She’d slipped to a hushed tone. “I’m in my cubicle. No privacy. I’ll be down in an hour.”

“Okay.” I hung up the phone, feeling dazed and hoping whatever had Rach upset wasn’t a big deal.

When the phone rang again, I tensed. Luckily, it was just a customer wanting to be transferred to the sales department. I pressed the appropriate buttons, announced the client, then sent the call.

Easy, and stress-free.

If only my coworkers could be that way, I’d be set.

****

Rach, Ellen, and I strolled several blocks to Cherie’s Café in downtown Sac for lunch. Once we were seated and had ordered, I waited for Rach to drop her bomb.

Instead, Ellen, who I’d been friends with since high school, patted my hand and gave me a proud look as if I were a two-year-old who’d peed on the potty. “How’s your first day back at work? Everything going smoothly? Do you like it?”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, Mom. I mastered my times tables, and got a sticker from the teacher.”

Rach snickered.

Ellen found my joke less amusing, as evidenced by her narrowed eyes. “I’m concerned about you, Kristen. Gina says you’ve been listening to Adele.”

Her tone made it sound like I’d resorted to drinking.

My mouth dropped open. “One month. Everyone’s entitled to a little Adele after a break-up. Then, I rebounded with Kelly Clarkson.”

Rach raised a finger. “Kelly totally helped me through my break-up with Jeremy.”

I reached for my water glass. “You see?”

Ellen seemed slightly mollified. “Still, you haven’t dated. What you need is a fling to get back in the game. Henry has a friend—”

“No way.” I brought my hands to my chest. “The last thing I need right now is another man. I’m focusing on me.”

Ellen leaned forward. “How? You’ve closed your practice, and you don’t leave the house.”

“I went to Folsom Lake with Rach and Noah this weekend. He took us out on his new boat.” I’d have to thank Gina for forcing me out the door, thus giving me a retort for Ellen.

“You did? Really?” She eyed my arms, then my face, as if she didn’t believe me.

Like I’d get a tan. As a red-head, my creamy complexion burns easily, and do I want to increase my chances for skin cancer? No, thanks. “Yes, really. I wore a hat and SPF-50.”

Ellen suddenly turned to Rach. “Why weren’t Henry and I invited?”

Rach’s eyes went wide. “I, uh . . .”

Although it would’ve been funny to see Rach squirm, I decided to bail her out. “It wasn’t a plot to exclude you, Ellen. She and Noah were going on their own, then Gina begged her to invite me.”

After the waiter set our plates down in front of us and left, Ellen lifted her fork. “You see? Gina’s worried about you, too.”

Whoops. I walked right into that one. “Nobody needs to worry about me. Everything’s hunky-dory. Why don’t you spread your love on Rach? She’s the one with a problem.”

Rach’s face tensed. “That’s putting it mildly.”

Ellen twirled her angel-hair pasta onto her fork. “What’s going on, sweetie?”

Rach buried her face into her hands. “I’m afraid Noah’s going to dump me.”

My eyes widened in shock since her boyfriend was pretty amazing. Correction, he seemed amazing. He could be going home to his dearly beloved on weekends for all I knew. Except not this weekend, since we were all going out on Noah’s boat to celebrate my thirtieth birthday. “You guys were fine last Saturday. Did you find out he was married?”

She threw me a look. “Don’t even joke.”

“It happens.” I shrugged. “Can’t blame me for checking.”

Her face contorted as if she were sick. “Noah’s ex-girlfriend, Kate, is coming into town on Friday and they’re going out to dinner. They were together for two years before he moved here, and almost got engaged.”

Ellen reached for her water. “She’s flying up to visit Noah? That’s odd.”

Rach flattened her palms on the table. “He claims she’ll be here for business.”

“What does she do?” Okay, I had career on the brain, but who knew when the perfect profession would cross my path?

“She’s a Six Sigma Black Belt for the Geoffries hotel chain.” Rach said this in what I could only interpret as an English accent.

My brows came together. “Black Belt? As in kung fu? How does martial arts help the hotel?”

It sure didn’t help my career search, since I’d never even taken karate.

She waved a hand dismissively. “It’s apparently an upper level management position, which creates methods for improving quality.”