Page 5 of Jimmy

Karey let go of Jimmy’s hand. “Sorry. I should go. See you at nine?”

“It’s a date.” He finished his coffee. “Thank you.” As she left, he turned to the irritated man, whom he guessed to be her superior. “She’s an asset to your store. If not for her, I wouldn’t have come in.”

“Right.” The man rolled his eyes. “Just go.”

What a pleasant guy. Jimmy placed his mug in the bus tub over the garbage bin, then tucked a five-dollar tip in the jar. He couldn’t wait to see Karey tonight. Something about her called to him. He wanted to see her smile, feel her in his arms and taste her kiss. He’d never been this head over heels so fast for someone, and he liked the way it felt.

He had a date.

Hot damn.

Chapter Two

Karey could’ve floated. A date. With Jimmy. It didn’t seem possible. She finished her inventory work and added the figures to the computer. Jimmy didn’t seem put off by her awkwardness. He’d asked her out to dinner, too. The idea seemed so strange.

“Are you done?” Brett joined her at the computer. “All the numbers are in?”

“Yes.” She saved the file. “All added.”

“Good.” He kept up with her as she left the counter. “You know I don’t mind bohemian types in the store, but are you sure that guy’s safe? He’s tattooed. You know I don’t trust people covered in tattoos.”

“He owns his own business. I can only assume he’s an upstanding guy.” She shrugged. “Why do you care?”

“He seemed a little too rough around the edges.”

“So?” Jimmy wasn’t hurting anything.

“Isn’t he a little rough for you?”

She stopped next to the romance section. “So?”

“Karey, you should reconsider your friends.” Brett shook his head. “He’s not your sort.”

Oh, for the love of God. Brett had taken her out three times a year ago and swore he knew her. He had no clue.

“You should date someone more your age and speed,” he said. “Not that guy.”

She’d had enough. “For your information, he’s a nice guy. Instead of going on his looks, take him for his behavior. He’d been upstanding, so he’s just fine by me.”

“Karey.”

“Why do you care?”

“About you? Because if he hangs around the store, he might bring his friends. If his friends look like him, we’ll get a reputation.” Brett shook his head again. “We don’t want that sort of reputation.”

“Because we’ll lose business?”

“Yes.”

“Right.” She’d do as she pleased. She didn’t own the store and wasn’t the face of it. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Good.” Brett smiled. “Would you like to go to dinner?”

“Tonight?”

“Yes.”

“Sorry. I’ve got a date.” She took off her apron. “Good evening.” She left him at the computer and headed to the break room. She stopped at her locker and collected her belongings.

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