“I’ve never lived with a woman. Other than my mother when I was growing up.”
He stood watching the oven. Dana sat at the big table, amazed at how beautiful it was. Having worked so many years in the family furniture business she recognized the quality. Wanted to ask him about it.
But figured she’d used up her allotment of questions.
* * *
DANA OFFERED TO check in on L.G. each morning and afternoon for the rest of the week, and Josh didn’t argue. He didn’t offer to pay her again, either.
On Tuesday night, feeling pretty good about his progress, he agreed to go out after work with a group of guys from the office. They were headed to Phoenix with box tickets to a Suns basketball game, compliments of an alumnus who’d been pleased with the year’s fund-raising efforts, and they’d invited Josh along.
Leaving straight from the office, he was in high spirits with his vehicle once again filled with male voices, raucous jokes, laughter and a bit of in-depth business discussion, as well. Market analyses. Something he excelled at. They were all shooting questions in his direction by the time they pulled into the reserved parking outside of the stadium.
“Bank One Ballpark’s right there,” Ian, one of the younger guys in the group, pointed to a huge complex across the street from the basketball stadium. “In the spring we’ll get great seats there, as well.”
Josh nodded and grinned to himself. The Redmonds had had a box at every Boston team game since before he was born. He was the guy who handed out the complimentary tickets for jobs well done, or deals that he hoped to close.
He wasn’t impressed by the VIP treatment they received from the moment they exited the vehicle—it was par for the course for him. But he had a great time. Downed a couple of beers.
And got to live it up like the old Joshua without compromising his current plans.
His phone rang as the Phoenix skyline was receding in his rearview mirror. His three passengers, all three of whom had consumed far more alcoholic refreshment than he had, were discussing player stats and arguing over potential strategies for the Suns’ current season.
“Hello?” He held his cell phone to his ear. In his Mercedes he’d had a button to press on the dash that allowed him to have conversations through his six-speaker stereo system while driving.
“Josh?”
Dana. L.G. Shit. It was the nicest of all the expletives that ripped through his brain when he recognized the voice.
He’d been so caught up in the joy of being on familiar territory, he’d forgotten the damned dog.
“I’m on the road. I can’t talk right now,” he said. “Are you going to be up for a while?”
He was sweating. And pushed his foot harder on the gas pedal as they entered a stretch of deserted highway.
“Of course.”
Promising to call her back, he rang off. And then called her right back.
“Hi,” he said, knowing it was safest if he didn’t talk on the phone and drive at the same time. But talking and driving was perfectly legal in Arizona. Everyone did it, and...
“Are you doing anything right now?” he asked succinctly, like the boss he’d been back east, a boss with an urgent matter on his mind that he needed someone to handle.
“Just homework,” she said. “Zack Foster called earlier. There was a litter of puppies that had been abandoned, but we called around and got them all delivered to new homes,” she said. “They’re little, so finding homes for them was easier....”
She’d talk the rest of the way home if he’d let her. He wished he could. Talking to Dana was so different from anything he’d ever known. She wasn’t after anything. She just talked to communicate with the other human beings in her midst.
“I have a favor,” he said with less charm than he’d have liked. This wasn’t about him. “I...kind of left L.G.” He paused. He’d screwed up.
“Left him?” Now it was her voice that held the urgency. “Where? Oh, Josh! Is he okay?”
“Not left him left him,” Josh said, slightly sick of himself. “I forgot about him and went to Phoenix after work.” Aware of the silence in the car, hoping his colleagues had all passed out on him, but doubting the probability, he kept his gaze firmly on the road in front of him. He told her about the basketball tickets. The suite...
“You’re telling me that Little Guy’s been in his kennel since I dropped by at three?”
The question seemed easy enough, but he was sure the accusation was there. Couched in Dana style.
“Yes,” he said. “Can you go rescue him?”
Take him home with you. He’d be better off there.