Читать книгу A Hell of a Woman - Ron Boone's Hummer - Страница 7

Gunn was up the next day, walking into Gold’s Gym to work out and meet his friend, Doug Kimball, who worked in the media buying department at Blake & Yurman. Once inside, he ran for about 45 minutes on the treadmill, from 3.0 up to 7.0. He usually went to the gym four times a week. Still thinking about last night and the man from Grizzlies, his mind wandered back to his night with Kim.

Her story seemed off he mused. It sounded as though she made it up as she went along. Part of him really liked Kim and wanted to see her again but the other half wasn’t so sure.

As he reached the half hour mark, he heard a voice say “not bad for an old man.”

He turned his head and saw Doug’s bald head, his 6-4 frame and his brass complexion. He wore a navy blue top and black sweat pants.

“Didn’t know 42 was old,” Gunn said, moving the speed up to 7.0.”

“Still older than me,” Doug replied.

“Only by 4 years.”

“But I’m still in better shape,” he said, starting his routine of punching and kicking the bag.

“Only because you were a soldier in Iraq.”

“Well, that’s true.” He threw a front kick to the bag.

The treadmill stopped on the hour and Gunn stepped off it onto the red mat.

“Too bad you missed the party yesterday.”

“Why is that?”

“Let’s just say I heard something very interesting,” he said, throwing a spinning round kick against the bag.

“Not sure I’m into the gossip.”

“It’s a little more than that,” he said turning.

“Well, lets hear it.”

“Last night, we were having a good time and drinking a lot. Then I overheard a conversation with Regina Belmont and Natalie Mendoza.”

Natalie Mendoza. Gunn’s mind wandered over the times that he and his wife ran into her and her husband and her 2 children in the mall before the divorce 3 months ago. No one understood why any man that was married to Natalie would even look at another woman, much less have an affair.

“Anyway, they didn’t know I could hear what they were saying. Guess they were really buzzed.” Doug grinned, leaning against the bag. “Regina was looking around the room and she said if there was a guy you could sleep with who worked at Blake & Yurman, who would it be?

“Of course, Natalie just laughed and shook her head so Regina said okay, I’ll go first. She said she would sleep with Richie Jordan in production.”

“Really,” Don said, almost laughing. “Did you tell him?”

“I will when I see him on Monday.”

“Just what we need,” Gunn said, taking a breath, “more office romance.”

“Don’t you want to know who Natalie said she would like to sleep with?”

“I thought you said she wouldn’t say.”

“Well, after Regina admitted who she would sleep with, she reluctantly told her.”

“I’m not sure I want to know.”

“Even if it was you?”

Gunn raised his eyebrows, chuckled. “You expect me to believe that?”

“Why would I lie to you?”

“I’m not sure but I have a hard time believing it.”

“Well, I’m just the messenger.”

“Not sure I know what to say to that.” Gunn took a deep breath, stared at the lights on the ceiling.

“Well, 99 out of 100 men would act on this information.”

“Do you know how many times Sara and I used to run into her and her husband at the mall? And her children.”

“Obviously, that was another time. Hey, I don’t expect you to marry Natalie but I mean, at some point you have to move on.”

“Not as easy as you think.”

“Okay, look, I won’t say anything.”

“Look, it’s not like I don’t appreciate the heads up” - he rubbed the back of his neck with his left hand - “but I don’t know, it’s hard for me to act on that. I liked Benny also. He seemed like a nice guy and they were a very happy family.”

“That’s true, but looks can be deceiving.”

“We don’t know what happened.”

“He had an affair with someone half his age. But still, she couldn’t compare to Natalie.”

“Natalie is a lot more mature than a 23 year old also. Smarter too.”

“You think so. Do I detect that you like her also?”

“As you said, who wouldn’t like her. She’s a nice woman. Not too many like her.”

“So I guess you do like her. You can thank me later.”

Gunn smiled, patting Doug on the shoulder. “I’m not acting on this Doug.”

“Yeah, right. You say that now but I can bet you a million dollars that you’ll run into her and your heart will beat like a jack rabbit and your knees will be weak. One look at Natalie and you’ll melt. Then this act of I’m not acting on this Doug will come to an end real fast. So, come on, how about it. I’ll bet you $20 that you’ll ask Natalie out 5 minutes after you see her.”

“No bet.”

“See what I mean.”

“Still not acting on this information.”

“Okay. Suit yourself.”

“I was just saying that Natalie has a lot more to offer than some kid.”

“Kid. That’s a harsh conclusion considering that you don’t even know this girl that broke up her marriage.”

“I might know a lot more than you think.”

“Wait a second,” Doug said, “If I didn’t know any better, I would say that you’re trying to tell me that you’re speaking from experience.”

Gunn wasn’t sure that he wanted to share what happened last night but he felt like he wanted to talk about what happened. “You weren’t the only one who had a good time last night.”

“Are you kidding me,” Doug said, laughing. “No.”

“Yes.”

“Were you going to tell me?”

“Yeah, I was.”

“Oh, I have to hear this. Details.” He sat down on the mat and Gunn joined him.

Gunn recounted his evening last night, only leaving out the part that he was followed afterwards. Doug listened carefully, laughing, hitting Gunn on the shoulder when he told him that he took her back to his place.

“Sounds like a real wildcat. God, I can’t believe it. Don Gunn sleeping with someone half his age. Are you going to see her again?”

“Tonight. At Grizzlies again.”

“Never been out to the docks.”

“What do you think of the story she told me?”

“Yes, I agree with you, she’s immature. A kid. So what. Do you realize how many guys would love to be like you so you can hit that?”

“I don’t know.”

“Unbelievable. You had sex with someone nearly half your age and you have a shot at Natalie Mendoza to boot.”

“Not acting on it.”

“Yet you were putting Benny down for sleeping with someone nearly half his age.”

“He was married to a great woman.”

“And he’s paying for it now.”

“I guess.”

“Probably thinks he can have other women because he’s a lawyer.” He bit his lower lip. “Anyway, don’t over think this. Just have some fun for once in your life.”

Yet Gunn’s mind went back to last night and the man who followed him home from Grizzlies.

“Maybe fun isn’t exactly something that comes to mind.”

“We’re all in the same boat.”

“Yes, the zombie boat. We all sit around, waiting and wondering if the office is going to be shut down or when that e-mail comes asking us to come in early so they can fire us.”

Doug bobbed his head, taking a deep breath. “Have you talked to Cole?”

“Actually, we’re going to the game on Thursday.”

“Phillies D’Back game. And we may get Roy Oswalt.”

“Hard to keep my mind on baseball.”

“How long has it been for Cole?”

“6 months.”

“Jeez. Once he was your boss.”

“He was a great boss. Much better than Stacey Jones.”

“Look, send him my best. I really miss him.”

“Me too.”

“All we can do each day is punch in. We still have a job.”

“What about our office in Texas.” Gunn raked his hand through his hair.

“There were over 200 people that lost their jobs after that office closed.”

“I know.”

“And none of them can work in the industry for 2 years. Unless they want to fight it and find a lawyer in Florida.”

“I’m sure they don’t have $10,000.”

“I wouldn’t even have to think about this if it weren’t for Rob Barker,” Gunn said angrily.

“Don, take it easy,” Doug said, holding out his left hand. “He’s not worth it. It’s over.”

Gunn walked over and thew a right to the bag.

“We might as well just change the subject, Don. You have every right to be mad at Rob Barker. There’s no point in thinking about that and our non-compete. We all feel the same way. Nothing is getting accomplished talking about it. All we can do is go on the web and see if we can get a job.”

“In another industry. Like North Star Publishing.”

“I know.”

“Well,” Gunn said, “At least I have another interview.”

“Good. Get that job and forget about Rob Barker. When is the interview?”

“Monday.”

“Really, that’s great.”

Gunn heard his phone vibrate by the treadmill. He walked over, grabbed it, then put it to his ear after opening his phone.

“Hi,” Kim said.

“Hey Kim.”

“You can call me Kimmy if you want.”

“I’ll stay with Kim.”

“That her?” Doug whispered.

Don shook his head yes.

“Look, I’m helping my roommate RoseAnn out tonight by waitressing with her. I was hoping that I can meet you at Grizzlies.”

“Why don’t we meet at the place where you’re waitressing?”

“It would be so much easier if we met at Grizzlies.”

“Not sure I understand why but okay. What time?”

Gunn heard her take a deep breath. “10:00.”

“10:00. It’s just that I have an interview.”

“What time is the interview tomorrow?”

“11:00.”

“So, we’ll be back in plenty of time. I really want to see you.”

“Okay. 10:00 it is.”

“All right. See you then.”

“Okay.”

As she hung up, Don closed his phone.

“10:00.”

“I should have time to make my interview.”

“Took the day off.”

“Yep. Just another PTO day. Not like they’ll see me after work or early in the morning. So I lose a PTO day. Not like the people who interview me really care to begin with.”

“They didn’t want you to come in earlier.”

“Nope. By the time I get out and get to work, it would be after 2:00. Besides, last thing I need is to make Stacey Jones suspicious” - Gunn sat down in front of Doug - “that I’m looking for another job. She would wonder if I’m out for a long time.”

“I remember Pat taking a very long lunch break. Nearly 2 hours. Everyone knew that she was interviewing.”

“So did Cole and look what happened. He was laid off.”

“I know.”

“I don’t see a point in being interviewed and having to look at my watch wondering if I’ll be caught. So take a PTO day. I’m the only one that loses out. They’re interviewing lots of people.”

“What kind of company is it?”

“The agency sells on-line ads.” Gunn stretched the back of his neck by moving his head back. “I could do that since that doesn’t compete with Blake & Yurman.”

“They don’t do product advertising?”

“They do but as long as I’m not involved in that, then everything should be okay.”

“Well, good luck.”

“Thanks.”

An hour later, Don was walking home, turning the corner to his apartment building. As he turned, he saw a man in a car, the bald-headed man with a mustache from Grizzlies, leaning back, his eyes on a newspaper. He glanced at Don briefly, then gazed at his newspaper again.

Gunn wondered if this was the same man from Grizzlies. He only saw him from a distance for a few seconds along with the other man. Yet, it was 90 degrees and here was this person in his car reading a paper.

He didn’t want to think that this man was following him also as he stepped into the doorway of his building. Eddie Francis, the doorman sat there, staring at the TV screen. He ran his hand through his dark hair that was slicked back, then said “Hey Don. Heard you’re going to the game on Thursday.”

“Yep. Should be a lot of fun.”

He wiped his mustache with the back of his hand. “I think we’ll win it now that we have Halladay. And we may get Oswalt.”

“We’ll see. Should be an exciting year.”

“It will be.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure.”

“Did you notice the man outside across the street in his car.”

He looked at his screen. “I think so. Been here about an hour.”

“Pretty hot to be out there in this weather.”

“I guess I never noticed.”

“Did you notice that there was someone else here last night just sitting around in his car?”

“Not really. Hey, as long as they’re across the street and not coming in here. I’m fine with that.”

“I guess you’re right. Thanks.”

“No problem.”