Kiss Lonely Goodbye Read online

  “Fake,” he said to himself, and grit his teeth.

  “Hey! If you’re getting tired, give a brother his turn,” Shaun shouted.

  “No way!” Marcus yelled back without looking down.

  Instead he looked up at his goal. Marcus kept going until he reached the top, the way he’d handled his career. The same way he’d rise once he walked away with most of Summers Security, as planned. Anticipation of that day made him feel a lot better. The pure physical exertion made his muscles tingle. His prescription had worked. All the kinks were gone. With a grunt of satisfaction he started down. He got to about two feet from the bottom and dropped to the padded floor.

  “Damn, that felt good.” Marcus wiped sweat from his face and neck. He drank deeply from the water bottle he carried.

  “Well, I didn’t have a bad day. I’m not going up so high. I want to get that steak.” Shaun rolled his shoulders.

  “Me, too. You know what? This day wasn’t so bad after all.”

  “You had some kinda religious experience up there?”

  “Nope, just cleared my head. Up you go.” Marcus gave Shaun a fraternal slap on the shoulder.

  four

  Nicole glanced at him sideways. Marcus was so all business. Ramrod straight in the driver’s seat, he seemed determined not to look at her. They were in one of the three company Dodge Durango SUVs on their way to Johnson Technologies, a midsized telecommunications firm. He’d given her a complete report in a flat voice. While he’d talked, Nicole had wondered just what it was about her that made him so uptight. If they were going to be a team, she’d have to figure out how to put him at ease. Maybe a little music would help. She turned on the radio. Hip-hop music jumped out of the speakers with a driving thud that shook the vehicle.

  “Damn!” Nicole blurted out as she fumbled to find the volume control.

  “I’ll get it,” Marcus yelled over a stream of street poetry.

  “I think I’ve got it,” she shouted back.

  Just as she found the knob and turned the sound down, his hand closed over hers. They jerked away at the same time, and somehow her hand ended up in his. Marcus let go first without looking at her. Nicole still felt the heat from his touch. She’d been surprised by the roughness of his skin.

  “You’ve been working construction or something? You didn’t get those hands from pushing papers around all day,” Nicole said.

  “I enjoy rock climbing. I also play a little guitar to relax.” Marcus cleared his throat as though the words had come out against his will.

  “Interesting.” Nicole updated her mental file on him.

  “LeRoi won’t be in, but his daughter will meet with us.” Marcus steered the Durango to the exit lane and they drove down the ramp.

  “Okay.” Nicole nodded. “Rock climbing, huh? Kind of risky.”

  “Not if you’re careful and get the right training. Mostly I do indoor to keep in shape.” Marcus cleared his throat. “Ellen Johnson mostly runs the company these days anyway. LeRoi is semiretired.”

  “I read a profile of her in Black Enterprise. So, what do you play?”

  “Excuse me?” Marcus glanced at her briefly, then back at the traffic. He looked baffled by her question.

  “On the guitar.”

  “Blues and old school R&B.” He checked traffic before making a right turn. “Ellen really kept the company going, even managed to turn a profit while most telecom companies went under. She restructured. For two years now their survival hasn’t depended on tech companies.”

  “Most dot coms tanked when the new economy got old.” Nicole glanced around at the scenery as she spoke casually.

  “You’ve done your homework.” Marcus glanced at her as though surprised and impressed in equal measure.

  “Nah, I heard that on CNN once when I was channel surfing trying to find the shopping network,” she said with a laugh.

  “I see.”

  “That was a joke.”

  “Okay.” Marcus wore a brief, tight smile and drove on in silence.

  Gees, lighten up, man! Nicole was piqued at his humorless disapproval. She pushed down the urge to goad him even more. Her father’s advice echoed in her head. Still, he was her employee. He should at least meet her halfway. Okay, she thought. Tackle the subject of her being the boss head on.

  “Listen, I appreciate how unsettling this whole change has been for you.” Nicole sat erect and wore her best professional demeanor to match his all-business mode. “I know a little more about the security business now, but I definitely want us to work as a team.”

  “Of course.”

  Nicole ground her teeth. His tone was lifeless, no defiance but no enthusiasm either. She tried again. “I realize you’re used to being pretty much in charge and working on your own. You probably think the last thing you need is some woman who knows doodly-squat about security telling you what to do.”

  “I’ve worked with a lot of different people, Ms. Benoit.”

  “Call me Nicole, Marcus,” she corrected.

  He paused a beat. “Okay, Nicole.”

  “Tell the truth—why haven’t you blanketed the world with your resume?” She raised one eyebrow at him.

  “How do you know I haven’t?” he tossed back.

  “Because you promised us at least six months, and you’re a man who does what he says he’s going to do.”

  Marcus turned into the parking lot of Johnson Technologies. He parked the Durango but didn’t turn off the engine. His hands still rested on the steering wheel as he turned to her.

  “I could still be lining up my next job,” he said with an impassive expression on his handsome face.

  “I intend to win you over long before six months go by.” Nicole lifted her chin confidently.

  “Really? Money doesn’t mean everything.”

  Nicole heard a trace of contempt in his tone, but she decided to ignore it. She held his gaze without batting an eyelash. “Most people say that until they hear the right dollar amount.”

  “I’m not most people. There are other aspects of a job that I value more.”

  “Such as?”

  “I need to work in an atmosphere that encourages creativity and autonomy, to name two.”

  “Don’t pack up just yet. I’m willing to give you what you need.” Nicole beamed at him.

  Marcus gazed at her without smiling back. “You’ve got your late uncle’s iron will.”

  “Just let me counter any offers you might get in the next six months. Deal?” Nicole stuck out her hand.

  He took her hand for only a moment, then let go quickly. “Deal. Now we’d better get going. Ellen’s waiting, and she’s more of a stickler for being on time than I am.”

  “Yes, sir,” Nicole said crisply. She pretended not to notice the sharp look he threw her way.

  Two hours later and they were heading back. Marcus talked more business during the ride to the office, but questions on a very different topic, his personal life, bounced around Nicole’s head.

  She thought she’d done a good job of paying attention as he’d talked. Once they were back in Nicole’s office and the door was closed, Marcus stared at her as though waiting.

  “So do you think we should move ahead?” Marcus stood with one hand in a pocket.

  “What?” Nicole gazed back at him.

  “I’m afraid I may have dumped too much information on you at once. I’m sorry.” He tilted his head to one side.

  Nicole looked him straight in the eye. “Yes, you can meet with Genesis Software about the new security task program.”

  “You told me that ten minutes ago. I asked if I should go ahead with hiring staff for the branch office in Lake Charles.”

  His serene demeanor only served to increase her annoyance, with herself as much as with him. Nicole spun around and marched to her desk.

  “Your report doesn’t include a budget for that branch office. I’ll make a decision when I get complete information.” She looked at her Citizen wristwatch. “H
ave it on my desk within the hour.”

  “I included a rough estimate of the total operating cost, but I’ll break it down to the last paper clip if that’s what you want.”

  Nicole crossed her arms. “You’ve got a problem with details?”

  He studied her as the wall clock ticked off the seconds. Nicole was acutely aware that she was being sized up. His expression seemed to shout that she didn’t measure up to some standard he had. Marcus Reed was a proud man who’d pulled himself up out of the ’hood. To him she must seem like a spoiled dilettante with the power to make his life difficult, at least for a few months.

  “Regretting that promise to stay on? I know what an ordeal change can be for some people.”

  “You’ll find I’m very adaptable, Nicole,” he answered, his voice even deeper than normal. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  The challenge in his brusque response sent a thrill up her spine. Nicole nodded once and sat down. She picked up a letter Cat had left on her desk. “Good. I’ll give you a call after I look at that budget breakdown. Paper clips and all,” she said as she scanned the page.

  “Done.”

  Nicole glanced up just as he whirled around and strode out the door. Her eyes narrowed to slits. “I’m going to have fun training you, Mister,” she murmured.

  Two hours later Nicole sat across from Russell. Instead of summoning him, Nicole had agreed to meet with Russell in his corner office. She was giving diplomacy one last attempt. With more of her mother in her than she cared to admit, reining in her impatience proved to be a constant battle. Nicole tried to follow her father’s example in dealing with her cousin. Stanton was respected for his business sense and his ability to build alliances under the most demanding circumstances, yet even the most forbearing saint would have cracked under the situation Nicole now found herself in.

  “Russell, we’ve gone over the reasons I don’t agree with your plan three times. I’m not going to change my mind,” Nicole said through clenched teeth.

  “If we want to win over the Fortune 500 companies, Nicole, we have to go state of the art,” Russell insisted. “We could double or even triple our profit. Using pupil scanners at ATM machines would put us miles ahead of our competitors.”

  Nicole counted to ten. “Russell, not one of the banks you contacted is interested. Not one.”

  “That’s because you won’t let me put together a full video presentation and buy the prototype. Brandon assures me this is new millennium technology.”

  “Unproven technology. Your frat brother has a reputation for losing other people’s money,” she retorted.

  “Who didn’t suffer losses when the bull market ended?” Russell waved a hand. “We can’t stop moving forward because of one downturn.”

  “We discussed this in a meeting. Marcus and I agreed that these new devices seem promising, but—”

  “You and Marcus,” Russell cut in. “Every time I try to take this company to a higher level one of you blocks me.”

  “But,” Nicole pressed on louder to get his attention, “those machines are too expensive. Your pal wants us to beta test the things and pay big money in the process.”

  “Brandon might convince his people to lease us the V-Protex for six months. I could set up a test site at the Pink Isle riverboat casino in Lake Charles. First Federal has an ATM machine installed there.” Russell sat forward eagerly.

  Nicole gave a short laugh. “Russell, think about what you just said. I’m not going to pay for Brandon’s field test.” Those were Marcus’s words, actually. Nicole wouldn’t have known the difference.

  “Cooperative deals are made all the time, Nicole. Maybe a few more years’ experience in the corporate world would help you understand the way business is done.”

  That was it! Nicole stood and looked down at him. “Work on equipping the new branch office.”

  “Buying staples, ink pens, and notepads can be done by your secretary,” he snapped.

  “Cat doesn’t have time,” Nicole lobbed back. “Ordering staples, ink pens, and notepads is your forte.”

  “I’m going to enjoy watching you crash and burn,” he replied in a flat tone.

  “Are you going to do your job or not?” Nicole stared back at him with a frown. “You can move on anytime.”

  Russell picked up the receiver of his phone and pressed a button. “Bring me the office supply catalogues,” he said to his secretary, then slammed it down again. He gave Nicole a defiant smile that stretched his facial muscles to the limit. “I’m going to be right here, cousin.”

  Nicole drew in a deep breath, counted to ten, and let it out. “Look, this constant fighting is a waste of energy for both of us. Together we can really take Summers Security to the top.”

  “Running a company can be scary, huh? All those sharp employees watching you. A dozen decisions to make each day.” Russell crossed his arms. “No thanks. I’ll stick to ordering supplies for now.”

  Nicole spun around. “Fine,” she muttered as she walked out.

  Russell’s secretary, a tall brunette named Amber, eyed Nicole with interest as she strode past. “Uh, you won’t need that coffee after all, Ms. Benoit?”

  “No, but a huge dose of aspirin would be nice,” Nicole tossed over her shoulder without breaking her stride.

  Cat was standing in the hallway leading to Nicole’s office. She took one look at her boss’s expression and hastily took two steps out of her way.

  “I’ll get you a cool glass of orange juice. It’s good for high blood pressure.”

  Nicole glanced at her with a frown. “Is that a joke?”

  “No, no. I’m really into natural healing. You should drink herbal tea instead of coffee. Going caffeine free is much better for your nerves.”

  “Uh-uh.” Nicole went straight to the refrigerator in her office and got a cola. She picked up a napkin from the table nearby.

  “I’ll stock up on juice. You’ve got a lot more meetings with Russell coming, you know,” Cat said in a controlled voice.

  “More cola. I’ll get my own headache pills,” Nicole mumbled and sat down hard. She glanced up to see her brother standing in the door.

  He crossed the space between them and kissed the top of Nicole’s head. “Poor little sis. I stopped by to see how you’re doing.”

  “Guess,” she said with a grimace. “I just finished another delightful discussion with Russell. Murder is still illegal, right?”

  “I’m pretty sure,” Terrell said and laughed. “I’ll check on the possibility of justifiable homicide as a defense.” He perched on the edge of her desk.

  “Please do.” Nicole took another sip from the can of cola, then put it down. She rocked back in the chair.

  “Here’s another plan—fire his obnoxious butt.” Terrell pursed his lips. The expression made him look even more like a younger version of their father.

  “I can’t. Uncle Hosea might have had a low opinion of him, but the will specifies that he hold some kind of position in the company. He’d be a fool to damage the company. He’d take money out of his own pocket. If for no other reason, he’ll be careful,” Nicole said.

  “Nikki, Russell is a fool.” Terrell slid off the desk. He went to a leather chair and sat down.

  “I’ve got my eye on him. He’s pathetically predictable, lucky for me.” Nicole waved a hand in the air. “What brings you to Houston?”

  “Dad is thinking of setting up an office here. He’s hinting I should run it. I think he wants someone in the family to be here for you.”

  Nicole clapped her hands together. “Praises on high!”

  Terrell held up a palm like a school crossing guard. “Hold on. You know how much I love living in Lafayette. Besides, I’m not sure we even need an office in Houston.”

  She seemed not to hear him. “Now if we can convince the rest of the family to pack up, life would be perfect.” Nicole grinned at him.

  “Does that include Mama?” Terrell laughed again when her grin melted away.
r />   “Good point. How Daddy deals with her has always been a mystery to me,” she quipped.

  Terrell’s expression became serious. “Yeah, she pushes him to the limit sometimes. But he’s not always in the right either.”

  Nicole picked up the can of cola. “Which is why I’m happily single and planning to stay that way.”

  He brightened again. “Not me. I want to juggle Little League coaching and dance recitals.”

  “Have a ball. One marriage cured me of that affliction.”

  “Let it go, Nikki. The guy wasn’t all bad.” Terrell wore a lopsided smile at the sour look she gave him. “C’mon. You were crazy about him all through high school and college.”

  Nicole grunted. “Three years of hell. The last seven have been wonderfully drama free, and I mean to keep it that way.”

  “Isn’t your bio clock ticking?” Terrell’s eyebrows formed twin arcs over his dark eyes.

  “I don’t know what all the fuss is about turning thirty. Last month was a snap.” Nicole snapped her fingers as a kind of proof. “Had a ball with my girls and kept on kicking.”

  “You go, girl. On to thirty-five,” Terrell quipped.

  “Shut up,” she tossed back.

  “No new man?”

  “I’m dating.” Nicole stuck out her chin when he stared at her hard. “I’ve got a company to run.”

  “You gave Marcus the eye the first time you saw him.”

  “I’m his boss so he’s off limits. Not to mention he’s got a serious chip on his shoulder about me being the boss.” Nicole tapped out a tune with the ink pen in her hand.

  “In other words, he’s all business. I know you, little sister.”

  “Terrell,” Nicole glowered a warning at him.

  “Bye, sis. I see you don’t need my help.” Terrell blew a kiss at her. He turned to find Marcus standing in front of him. “Hi, Marcus. Good seeing you again.”