The Good Luck Charm (The Good Luck Series) (5 page)

Darren relaxed a little. At least Keely was safe for the moment. He turned back to the task at hand. “I’d like you to work closely with me on the McDaniel account. Hopefully I can teach you a few ’tricks of the trade’ I learned working in New York.”

“That’s my ultimate goal. Working in New York.” Shelby laid her hand on top of his. “I’ll do
anything
to get there.”

“I thought so too before I went.” Darren pulled his hand out from under hers, not liking the sudden move and double meaning he heard in her voice. He glanced at his watch and pushed his chair back. “Pop in my office later this afternoon, and we’ll go over those story boards you mentioned earlier.”

“Sure. And thanks again. I know Jama asked you to work with me, but I really appreciate it.”

“No problem. See you later.”

Darren left, glancing one last time in Keely’s direction. She hadn’t seen him when she came in. And he hoped he was getting out of there without her seeing him as well.

Keely bit her bottom lip, half-listening to the conversation at the table. She’d spotted Darren having an intimate breakfast with Shelby Mitchell from Wright and Associates. He’d said he had an early appointment so maybe that was what he was doing. Yet, she couldn’t overlook the way Shelby had laid her hand on his. If only she had the talent of reading lips.

“So that is what I would like to see happen for Prescott Baby Products,” Prescott said.

“That sounds doable. Don’t you agree, Keely?” Tate Jackson asked.

She nodded, chewing on her bottom lip and tapping her pen on the pad of notes. She swallowed and tried to make her smile more genuine, focusing again on the client.

“I can have some sketches for you later this week. I’ll send samples by courier for your approval.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Prescott interjected. “I can drop by anytime.”

She shook her head. “My week is pretty busy. I don’t think I’ll have a free window to do a one-on-one with you. I think courier is our best plan. You can call me as soon as you review them.”

Prescott set his water glass down on the table. He looked pointedly at both Tate and Edward Jackson. “I thought it was understood that I’d have carte blanche with Ms. Jones’ time?”

Keely looked from one Jackson to the other. Surely they weren’t going to allow this? She couldn’t afford to jeopardize her working relationship with her other clients.

Tate cleared his throat. “Bob, I know that’s what you requested, but Jackson and Jackson has many clients. Keely has other obligations to fulfill besides working on your account.”

“Then you take up the slack. Give up a few of those golf games you play each week during business hours. I want her undivided attention. If you don’t give it I’ll pull my account and go elsewhere,” Prescott pushed.

Then you just do that
, she thought, but didn’t dare speak. If she caused the firm to lose the multi-million dollar account, she’d be committing professional suicide.

Edward shook his head. “We’re willing to work with you as much as we can, Bob, but no account manager has the freedom to devote all their time to one client. That just isn’t the way we do business. We never have and
we
never will. Keely will do what she can to work with you face to face as much as possible, but being brought onto the account at this late date, she does have other meetings scheduled this week. Surely you can understand.”

“Then squeeze me in. I’ll be there at noon on Friday to review the samples,” Prescott said, standing abruptly. He pointed a finger at them. “And no huddle sessions either.”

After he stalked away, Keely let out a low whistle and looked at her bosses. “And what exactly did I do to deserve this?”

Tate and Edward chuckled, relieving some of the tension at the table.

“Don’t worry. We’re not going to allow what happened to Richards to happen again. If we’d known what was going on, we could have put a stop to it before it went so far,” Edward assured her.

“Thanks,” Keely said, wishing that made her feel better, but it didn’t. She knew they couldn’t be with her every second when Prescott was around.

“And if Prescott wants to come to our firm to meet with you, then let him.” Tate shrugged. “We can keep an eye on him without appearing to ‘huddle’.”

“Should I hire a body guard?”

“No, just have your assistant sit in. You can have her run errands, but make it appear she’s necessary and not designed to keep a leash on him. Tate and I will drop in from time to time,” Edward assured her.

Tate nodded, reaching for a warm biscuit from the basket the waitress brought. “Prescott’s not the only problem we’ve got, Jones. We lost the McDaniel account unjustly. Wright and Associates has a new head hunter from New York and if we’re not careful there could be a repeat.”

“I know.”

“You sound worried, Keely,” Edward noted.

“Wouldn’t you be?” she winced the moment to words were out of her mouth.
Just great. Make them doubt your ability, Jones.

“Sorry. Prescott has me a little shaken. I can handle friendly competition from competing firms. I welcome the challenge as long as the game is fair.”

“That’s the spirit.” Tate buttered his biscuit.

Keely sliced into her spinach and mushroom omelet. She’d like nothing more than to send her competition packing back to New York. And he could take Shelby Mitchell with him too.

“Hey, watch it!” Clint complained when the Frisbee missed his ear by a fraction of an inch.

“Sorry,” Darren muttered, not really paying attention to the game. His mind kept going back to Keely working with that Prescott character. He didn’t like it, but what could he do without her finding out he worked for Wright and Associates? He still hadn’t figured out how he was going to tell her that one.

Darren caught the plastic orb and flipped it back towards Clint.

Ducking before the Frisbee hit him between the eyes, Clint cursed under his breath.

“That’s it.” He picked up the disk and stalked over to Darren, getting into his face. “You either get your mind on the game, or I’m gone.”

“Then go.” Darren dodged two boys rough housing near the jungle gym as he backed away from Clint.

“What’s gotten into you lately? You’ve not been yourself all week.”

Shrugging, Darren fell into stride with Clint walking toward their cars. “I’ve got a lot going on right now. Jama promoted me at work, and with it came more pressure to perform than before.”

“That’s great.” Clint slapped him on the back, and then frowned. “Hey, why didn’t you say anything? We could have gone out to celebrate. We still could go out tonight if you want.”

“That isn’t necessary.”

“Man, you’re working too hard. What’s gotten into you? Before you went to New York you’d have never passed up an opportunity to go out on the town. Now that you’re back I haven’t been able to get you out more than once, maybe twice a week.”

“I guess my taste has changed.” He dug his keys out and unlocked his Miata. “Let’s play again next week. I’m going to be tied up for a few days.”

Clint hesitated a moment, then nodded. “Sure. I’ll call you.”

Darren sat in his car, pretending to make a call on his cell until after his friend pulled away. He drove over to the lake and parked along-side the picnic area. In the distance, he saw Keely jogging with Duke. She’d been there a half hour ago when he drove through to meet Clint.

He got out of the car and walked over to the trail, waiting for her to come back around. When she saw him, she slowed down.

“Hey,” she said, continuing to jog in place.

“Hey yourself.” Darren pulled a rawhide bone from his back pocket. “I thought maybe Duke would like this.”

The dog perked up, panting.

Keely laughed and bent down to pat him on his head. “Looks like he does. Here, hold his leash. I’ll go get his water bowl.”

Darren watched her jog off, admiring her toned legs. The shape of her calf muscles proved she had been a jogger even before taking over the care of the dog.

Today she wore green shorts and a matching green and white top. Her brown shoulder-length hair was pulled back in a French braid. She looked adorable.

When she returned a few minutes later, he noticed she carried a blanket and a mid-size wicker picnic basket.

She motioned for him to join her in a grassy area. “Don’t laugh, but I was hoping you’d be here. I brought dinner. Can you stay?” She set the basket down and then started spreading the blanket out.

“S-sure,” he said. “Can I help?”

“Here, fix Duke some water.” She handed him a stainless steel bowl and a quart size bottle.

While she put out the food, he took care of Duke’s needs and then settled himself on the blanket. She handed him a bottle of liquid sanitizer to wash his hands, then she did the same.

“Would you do the honor?” she asked, handing him a jug of tea and two acrylic tumblers.

Darren opened the jug and poured them both a glass.

Keely uncovered a divided dish of assorted fruits and chilled, marinated grilled chicken. Then she split the foil wrapper, revealing a small round of baked Brie. She cut into it and the cheese oozed from the center onto the plate.

“Mmmm. Tomato basil. I picked this up at a little Italian bakery on my way over and it’s still warm.”

“What else you got in there?” he asked, when she reached inside and brought out another dish nestled inside a cozy to keep it hot.

Her eyebrows did an imitation of Groucho Marx. “Crème Brûlée for dessert.”

“Excellent.”

Keely gave him a plate. “Let’s eat before Duke decides that rawhide doesn’t appeal to him anymore.”

Darren filled his plate. “What would you have done if I hadn’t dropped by?”

She surveyed the males hanging around the lake. “Asked someone else to join me, I guess.”

He frowned, not liking her answer. She smiled, knowing she’d have taken her picnic basket back home to eat alone, but she didn’t have to tell him that.

“How’s work?” he asked, changing the subject.

She made a face.

“That bad?”

She munched on an apple wedge. “I guess it could be worse. I could be unemployed. I’ve been on a high for months enjoying my job. So hitting a little snag with a difficult client should only be expected.”

“Then let’s talk about something else,” he said, pouring more tea in their glasses.

“Like what?”

“What’s your favorite movie?”

“What’s yours?” she countered, putting him on the spot for a change.

“Anything Jackie Chan.”

“Favorite sport?”

“Soccer.”

“Favorite book?”

He laughed. “Book? Who reads?”

“I do,” she said. His smile told her he was joking. “Come on. Be serious.”

“Okay. What’s your favorite book?”

“
Jane Eyre
. I loved the romance among the moors.”

“Hmmm ... moors? Could there be a connection between the moors and your preference for jogging around the ‘duck pond’ instead of using the trail at the park?”

She thought for a moment then nodded. “Possibly. Though I avoid the park because of the onlookers who are there not to exercise, but to try and pick you up.”

“Are you opposed to dating?”

“No, of course not. I enjoy dating. I just don’t have much time for it. And I’m picky about the men I go out with.”

She watched Darren’s facial expression change as he ate a bunch of grapes.

“Then what are we doing?” he asked.

She shrugged. “Having a picnic and enjoying each other’s conversation.”

“We’ve seen each other every day this week.”

“True.”

“And I did ask you out Monday, even though you did try to drown me.”

“Your point?”

“I’d call that a pick up.” He moved his plate out of the way and moved across the blanket to sit closer to her. “Wouldn’t you?”

She shook her head. “It was an accidental occurrence, Darren.”

“Say that again.”

“Say what again?” she asked, biting her bottom lip.

Darren let his fingers crawl up her arm and across her shoulder blade then tilted her chin up so she was looking directly into his eyes. “Say my name again.”

She swallowed, wondering if she’d drown in the blue depths of his eyes if she didn’t look away.

“Darren.” Her voice turned husky as she spoke, and he closed his eyes. A low rumble came from his throat.

He nodded and backed away. “Yeah, we’re just having a picnic.”

Keely blinked, but the warmth running through her veins remained.

“I don’t think so,” she said, grabbing him by the shirt collar. She leaned toward him as she tugged. Their lips met. He tasted sweet from the grapes.

Duke barked.

Darren wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. He fell backward and she landed on top of him.