Читать книгу M.O.E. - Linda Blum - Страница 9

“I’m glad you came,” Jonathan said, as he held out a chair for Hope.

Hope reluctantly sat down. The only good thing about this meeting was the restaurant. It was small, but quaint. Every table had fresh cut flowers. The chairs were cushy so when you sat down you melted into them, and the background music was low and soothing, not like some restaurants were you couldn’t hear yourself over the blaring music.

“I wasn’t going to, but I thought I’d better so that I can tell you personally that I didn’t appreciate your call and that I’m not interested in you.” Hope seethed.

Jonathan chuckled. “Your words mean nothing. It’s your actions that say it all.”

Hope sighed knowing it wasn’t going to be easy to get through to this guy. She had called Judy for backup before leaving home and asked her to come and sit somewhere close in case Jonathan tried to do his M.O.E. thing again and she needed rescuing. Hope nonchalantly looked around to see if she could see her friend.

“Looking for someone?” Jonathan asked.

“No,” Hope replied nervously. “I’ve never been here before and was just checking it out.”

The waitress appeared, to take their orders. Hope wasn’t very hungry so she opted for a fruit salad and toast, while Jonathan ordered a hardy breakfast. Once the woman walked away Jonathan began his antics.

“You look beautiful,” he cooed.

Hope purposely outfitted herself in track pants, a bulky top, and wore no makeup in hopes of discouraging him from coming on to her. Obviously her efforts were not working.

“Oh, please.”

Jonathan moved closer to her.

“It doesn’t matter what you wear, I already felt your body and know that you are one sexy lady.”

Hope could feel her body tingle in response as he stared into her eyes. She quickly looked away and tried to shake off this feeling. Judy told her to put a block around herself in order to thwart off Jonathan’s efforts. So Hope pictured a white light surrounding her body that would protect her from his advances.

“You are so hot,” Jonathan said huskily, as he reached over to place a kiss on her neck.

Hope felt her body stir in response and wondered why the block wasn’t working. Quickly she pushed him away.

“Will you stop that!” Hope exclaimed slightly breathless.

Jonathan didn’t answer, but just smiled smugly instead.

“So why exactly did you want to see me?” Hope asked.

“I heard the library was hiring and wanted to talk to you about a job,” he replied.

Hope almost spit out her coffee at his comment. There was no way she was going to let Jonathan get a job at the library. What was this guy up to?

“Why do you want a job there?” Hope questioned.

“I need a change and saw the posting in the library the last time I came in to see you. I thought this may be what I need right now.”

Hope wasn’t buying it.

“The job doesn’t pay very well,” Hope stated.

“I’m not really working for the money. I’m looking for something to do.”

“Rich are we?” Hope said sarcastically.

“I have enough,” he replied.

“You’d probably find it a boring place to work,” Hope said. “Not many exciting things happen there.”

Jonathan smiled. “But you would be there, that’s pretty exciting.”

“Look,” Hope huffed. “If you’re planning to work there just to get close to me then forget it. I will put a stop to your possible employment if this is the case.”

Jonathan smiled. “What if I tell you I’ve always wanted to work in a library?”

“I wouldn’t believe you,” Hope responded.

“In truth, I’ve never wanted to work in one before, until I met you. Just think we could work closely together.” Jonathan winked at her.

Hope was beside herself. “Don’t even think of applying, do you hear me? I have a good job that I happen to like and I don’t want you screwing it up because you can’t seem to keep your pants on.”

Jonathan laughed. “If you had it your way, my pants would be off.”

Hope was at her breaking point and ready to slap this guy silly. She knew she had to leave now before making a scene.

“I’m leaving,” she said getting up. “I suggest you leave me alone or you will be sorry.”

She didn’t wait for a reply as she stormed out of the restaurant.

Judy was waiting for Hope outside.

“What got you so riled?” she asked.

Hope relayed what Jonathan had told her.

“Do you think they would hire him?” Judy asked.

“Not if I have a say about it,” Hope answered.

“What if he does his M.O.E. thing and gets a job that way.”

“Considering my boss is a man, I doubt it, but if for some reason he does get it then I’m screwed. There is no way I’m working with that man.”

“So what are you going to do?” asked Judy.

“I’ll talk to my boss and warn him about Jonathan. Hopefully he will turn him away.”

When Hope got to work she went in search for her boss. Cameron was busy talking to another employee when she found him.

“Cam,” Hope called out. “I need to speak with you.”

“Sure Hope what’s up?”

“You know how you are hiring someone to help you,” Hope started. “There may be a man coming in, showing interest in it. His name is Jonathan Winters. He is around six one, short dark hair, very muscular, dresses well, and has a major attitude. Don’t hire him.”

“Did you date this guy?” he asked.

“No!” Hope implored. “Why would you ask that?”

“The guy sounds like one on of your beaus, that’s why.”

“Well he’s not,” Hope exclaimed. “He’s a smug S.O.B. who doesn’t deserve to work here.”

Cameron held up his hands in surrender. “All right I hear you. I won’t give him the job.”

“Thanks.” Hope breathed a sigh of relief.

She was glad that she spoke to her boss about Jonathan. Now that he knew about him, he could show Jonathan the door. It bugged her, though, that she wasn’t allowed to hire the staff. She always found it odd that she was responsible for the staff and had to make up their work schedule, but could not select who she wanted to work with her. She had heard a rumour that the last person who held her position had hired poorly and that’s why the hiring policy had been changed.

At least she had Cameron on board now so Jonathan didn’t have a chance. She smiled at the thought of seeing the smug look wiped off Jonathan’s face after being rejected. Thoughts of Jonathan soon disappeared when she saw the long line up of people waiting for books to be checked out. She slipped behind the counter to help her staff. Once the line was gone, she headed to her office to work on placing a book order.

When she entered she was surprised to find Bill waiting for her. Bill was an old boyfriend. She first met him when she had suspected him as a suspect in Judy’s mom’s murder. Hope and Judy had decided to play detective themselves to find Judy’s mom’s murderer. Bill was on the top of their list, so Hope went in disguise to find out if he was the killer, but fell for him instead. They dated for a short time, until she found him locking lips with another woman. It ended after that.

“Bill what are you doing?” Hope asked warily.

“I’ve wanted to drop by and see you,” he answered.

“Why?”

“To say I’m sorry,” he replied. “I’m sorry for cheating on you and for hitting that guy.”

“That guy is my boyfriend,” Hope said.

She noticed a dark look crossover his face at her comment.

“I was hoping I could take you out to lunch so we could talk.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“I just wanted to make up for all the trouble I have caused you.”

“Thanks, but I accept your apology. That’s enough.”

“Do you miss us?” Bill asked bluntly.

Hope was taken aback by his question. Right after she broke up with him she did, but now she had Rick and didn’t think about Bill anymore.

“I did in the beginning,” Hope started. “But I don’t know.”

“I miss you,” he said as he advanced toward her.

“Bill please,” Hope warned.

Bill didn’t listen, but kept advancing towards her.

“I miss holding you.”

He backed her into a wall and she was trapped.

“I also miss this.” He kissed her.

The familiarity of his lips being on hers was making her body tingle in memory and she couldn’t help but respond to his kiss. Her brain suddenly kicked into what was going on and she quickly pulled away from him.

“Bill it’s over between us,” she said breathlessly.

Bill came up behind her. “I want you back.”

“Well, I don’t want you,” Hope declared strongly.

Bill grabbed her. His face was close to hers, so close that she could feel his breath on her.

“I think you’re lying to yourself,” Bill said before slamming his mouth down on hers again.

The passion igniting between them was strong, causing her not to pull away from him. She was saved from doing something stupid when a sudden knock at the door interrupted them.

“Come in,” Hope yelled out.

Mary Jane stood in the doorway hesitant to enter. Hope looked at her with envy. She was a beautiful woman with long black hair, a small nose, a killer body, and a nice smile. Maybe I could get Bill to go for her instead, Hope mused.

“Was I interrupting?” she asked.

“Not at all,” Hope said. “Bill was just leaving.”

Bill gave her a dark look. “I’ll be back.”

Hope slumped down in her chair.

“What was that about?” Mary Jane asked.

“You don’t want to know,” Hope replied.

“Oh yes I do,” Mary Jane said. “You looked like you were caught doing something you weren’t supposed to be doing.”

Hope groaned. “If I tell you what happened you have to promise not to tell Rick.”

Mary Jane made a motion to button her lips.

“Bill wants me back,” Hope started. “Then he kissed me to make his point. I told him forget it, but he wouldn’t give up.”

Mary Jane whistled. “You have one hot boyfriend then another hot ex-boyfriend who wants you back. How can you be so lucky?”

“I wouldn’t call this being lucky,” Hope huffed.

Mary Jane shook her head in understanding. “I know, but the Sun just moved into Cancer which means that old relationships are resurfacing. Also, in a few days the Mercury retrograde is in Cancer which will bring a closure on a relationship that has been lingering in your mind. But with this deeper bonds will form in your current relationships which will carry you forward on your path.”

Hope gave her a strange look. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“I’ve been studying astrology and have been doing charts on the people I know and this is what I came up with when I did yours.”

“So what you’re saying is that Bill will keep bothering me for awhile then, until the planets shift?”

“Basically,” Mary Jane replied. “You will feel a pull towards Bill which will test your relationship with Rick. Also Mercury retrograde in Cancer brings into review other relationship issues in your family as well as new ones.”

This would explain all the weird stuff going on between Jonathan, now Bill and even her family, with her brother getting her dad’s ring. It seemed when it rained it poured.

“How long is this supposed to last?” Hope questioned.

“It’s usually a month-long event.”

Hope groaned. “Maybe I’ll go on vacation and hope this goes away?”

Mary Jane laughed. “It wouldn’t help because the next time there is a Mercury retrograde in Cancer this would happen all over again until you deal with it.”

“Great,” Hope mumbled.

Mary Jane patted her hand. “It will be a trying time, but you will get through this.”

Hope quickly changed the subject. “What brought you by?”

“I just wanted to say hi,” she replied.

They talked for a while longer then Mary Jane took off leaving Hope in a bedazzled state. If what she was saying was true, Hope was in for a rough month. Pushing aside her problems, she opted to concentrate on work instead.

It was a long afternoon, but Hope got through all of her work. She was just about to leave when she saw Jonathan leaving Cameron’s office. Quickly she rushed over to her boss.

“How did Jonathan take it when you turned him down for the job?” Hope asked.

“Well...” Cameron hesitated.

“Well what?”

“I didn’t exactly turn him away,” he replied.

“What did you do?”

“I gave him the job.”

Hope exploded. “You did what!”

“He had great credentials, better than any candidate I’ve interviewed so far.”

“They could have been fake,” Hope implored.

“No they weren’t,” he said. “I checked his references, and called his past employers. Everyone spoke very highly of him.”

Hope harrumphed. “He probably paid them off.”

“Now Hope,” Cameron started. “I know you didn’t want me to hire him, but all you said was he was a smug S.O.B. Personally, I thought he was nice.”

“Of course he seemed nice because he wanted the job,” she spurted.

“Look, he’s on a three month probationary period, so if things don’t work out I can get rid of him. Does that make you feel any better?”

“Not really,” Hope sighed. “Just keep that man away from me.”

Hope turned away from Cameron and stomped to her office. She was fuming at the fact that Jonathan got the job. Now what was she going to do?

The day dragged by and Hope was glad when it was over. On the drive home, she stopped by Willy’s. She needed to speak with Judy. When she entered Hazel greeted her.

“Hi Hope.”

“Hi,” Hope said in a sullen voice.

Hazel looked at her with a critical eye. “Rough day?”

“You could say that,” Hope replied. “Is Judy around?”

“She’s either in the kitchen or her office.”

Hope stopped by the kitchen first. Judy was checking the inventory when she entered and talking to someone, but no one was there.

“Hi Judy.”

“Hi Hope.”

Hope heard Will’s voice in her head.

“You know, you should be careful. If anyone were to walk past and see you talking to the air they may get concerned,” Hope said.

“Normally, I do. I just forgot.” Judy said.

“Well, I guess I’ll be going,” Will said.

Hope heard Will.

“You don’t have to leave on my account,” Hope declared.

“I’m done here.”

And with that, Will’s presence was gone.

“What was that all about?” Hope asked.

“Uncle Will was worried about Grandma Nora. I’m assuming his concern is because of Uncle Leo’s death. ”

“Is Grandma Nora okay?”

Judy shrugged. “Last time I spoke with her she seemed fine, but I told my uncle I’d go check in on her tomorrow.”

Judy noticed the tense look on her friend’s face.

“What happened to you?” she asked.

Hope told her about her encounter with Bill then about Jonathan being hired. Judy was stunned.

“Bill wants you back?”

“Yes and I think he is not going to stop unless he gets me.” Hope sighed.

“As for Jonathan,” Judy started.

“I’ll just have to try and avoid him.”

“You should really tell Rick about these guys,” Judy warned.

Hope shook her head. “No way.”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea keeping him in the dark about this.”

“I’ll see what transpires, and if Bill and Jonathan get out of control, then I’ll let him know.”

When Hope left Judy, she wasn’t feeling any better about things. She hated to admit it, but she liked being in Bill’s arms. This made her feel guilty, especially when she thought about Rick. She loved Rick and wanted to be with him, so why was she having hot thoughts about Bill? She needed to get a handle on this and quick.