Eden

Later that day, as I turned into an almost empty parking lot, I tried yet again to shake Michael’s words, my reaction to them, and again didn’t do a very good job.

I parked, got out and walked toward the modular building, trying my very best not to think of Michael. As I often did when I was flustered, nervous, or agitated, I adjusted my clothing, taking extra care to smooth down my skirt and adjust the button-down shirt that had gotten wrinkled under my jacket.

Even as I did, I knew Michael’s question was the reason I was so focused on my clothes, but I couldn’t shake the impulse, as much as I might have disliked it.

“Kevin, are you here?” I called as I knocked on the metal door, searching for signs of my former coworker and a man I considered a friend.

I heard something move behind it, and a few moments later, the door opened and Kevin Carson emerged, his eyes shining as he came toward me.

“Eden!”

Kevin shook my hand enthusiastically, then went forward to brush a kiss against my cheek, his neatly trimmed beard tickling my skin.

“You come to take me up on the offer?” he asked, his eyes twinkling.

“You don’t waste much time, do you?” I asked, smiling at him, feeling flattered.

“Nope,” he responded, the pause after telling me he was waiting for an answer.

“Sorry. This is business,” I said, adding a little shrug at the end of my words.

“Don’t be. I’ll change your mind,” he said.

He spoke with a certainty I knew was misplaced.

I had known Kevin for years now, even though I had often considered taking him up on the offer, I had never quite been able to.

He was a wonderful guy, and anyone would consider him a good catch, but I didn’t feel that way about him, though his obvious interest was nice for my ego. I tried not to take advantage of that or lead him on, but like I’d told him, I was here for business.

“So what do you need?” he asked.

“I need some help with staff,” I said.

“You moved on from M.?”

There was a wealth of meaning in that question, and I knew I couldn’t avoid it.

Kevin owned a staffing company, one that specialized in security guards, and while I hadn’t had much chance to work with him, my other colleagues assured me he had excellent staff.

I would have known it myself if Michael hadn’t forbidden me from doing business with Kevin.

Neither of them had ever given me the full story, but I knew there was some measure of bad blood between them. Today however, I was in a pinch, and I knew I could rely on Kevin to supply good staff.

And getting to piss off Michael would be my own personal bonus.

“No. This would be for M.,” I said.

As expected, Kevin frowned.

“I don’t think that would be such a good idea, Eden,” he said, his smile dropping, though I could still see the deep dimple in his cheek.

“Kevin, I need staff, good guys, and I know you have them. And you know I’ll make sure you are paid what you deserve,” I said.

Kevin turned serious, looked at me with deep regard.

“You know who you work for, don’t you?” he asked.

“Look, I don’t want to start anything. But if you—”

“I don’t want to either, but I need to make sure I understand this and you do too,” he said.

“I need security guards, and I know you can get them for me. There’s nothing more to it than that,” I said.

“And your employer?” he asked, his voice quiet.

I crossed my arms, noticed when Kevin’s gaze strayed down to my chest. I was irritated that I instantly compared the way Kevin looked at me with the way Michael had, but I ignored it, kept my focus on business.

“Do you have the guys?” I asked.

Kevin studied me, seeming to consider.

“I guess if I made it contingent on you going out with me, that wouldn’t work?”

“Nope,” I said, trying to lighten the word with a smile but still certain there would be nothing more between us.

“Right,” Kevin said, seeming to accept what I said, at least for now. “How many guys do you need?”