Charley by Shelby C. Jacobs Read Free Book Online

didn’t mean to startle you.” The clothes were different but the man was the same.
    “I was in last night. You asked me to have dinner with you, remember? Could we talk?” 
    The coach flashed a nervous smile.
    What’s he doing here? Don’t lose it. I’m in control; he’s not going to get to me again.
    “Give me a minute.”
    I tried to be steady and business like. I continued my rounds. “Hello Mr. Mayor. Food any good? If it’s not, you’d better lie if you want my vote. Enjoy!”
    Turning to Coach McCoy, I was a bit curt. “What do you want to talk about? Wasn’t the food any good last night? Service not up to your standards? Sorry I can’t give you your money back because you didn’t spend any.”
    To my surprise, Coach remained remarkably calm considering my attitude. He remained very self-composed. “Food was wonderful. Could we go someplace not quite as noisy, maybe a little more private?”
    “Look, I’m working. This is my business, and I can’t take time to talk to everyone just because they come bouncing in with a smile and a handshake. Not even a famous basketball player. I’ll be through making my rounds in thirty minutes, if you want to wait. You may not have time. Loretta is probably waiting for you.”
    “I put her in a cab at 11:00 last night.”
    I was taken aback by his comment. “Why did you do that?”
    “I’ll wait in the lounge for you to finish. We can talk about that. But … I really want to talk to you.”
    There was something about his voice. Something different, pleading almost …
     
    I edged toward the kitchen as I continued working the crowd. I eased through the kitchen past the freezer and into the hall and hurried up the stairs and into the apartment. Inside, I leaned against the door and, for the first time today, allowed myself to really smile. With an emphatic hand pump, I raced into the bedroom and fumbled in the closet for something to wear.
    Sun dress? No, not business enough. Tank top? I wish, but no. Teal Tommy Bahama blouse? Nice, but no. Finally, there it was. I pulled out my white cotton dress with the cute collar and buttons down the front. Thank goodness it didn’t need ironing. This can be sexy or not.
    I  quickly changed, unbuttoned the top three buttons and the bottom three buttons, picked up the long string of big red bobbles, ran a comb through my long hair, changed shoes, freshened up my makeup and slowly walked out the door and down the stairs. It was 1:30 and the lunch crowd was thinning out. But the kitchen was active as the staff cleaned up lunch, and began preparing for the Saturday night crowd. 
    Wilma was waiting for me at the kitchen door. “He’s here again, in the lounge.”
    “I know, I know, isn’t this great?”
    “Honey, it doesn’t change anything, be careful. You don’t know the man.”
    “I will be careful and …” I said with a grin. “I will get to know him.”
    “I’ll have to admit, I didn’t expect we would ever see him again,” Wilma replied. “He may be okay after all.”
    “Thanks, Wilma.” 
    I checked my dress and hair and took a deep breath to slow down my pounding heart. With my confidence restored, I strolled through the swinging door into the lounge as if I hadn’t a care in the world. There he sat, in one of the stuffed leather chairs in the lounge, with a drink in his hand. His long legs were crossed and he leaned back in the chair, as if it were made for him …He looked the part of a typical tourist; reading the newspaper, sports page, wearing white shorts and deck shoes, no socks and red polo shirt with a Curtis University logo on the left breast. A red ball cap rested easily on his head. He hadn’t seen me yet, so I walked up behind him.
    “Looks like red is your color.”
    He was a bit startled and he hurriedly folded and put away the paper. He started to stand.  I put a hand on his shoulder. “Keep your seat. What are you drinking?”
    I was determined to be a cool hostess. I didn’t