Page 23 of V is for Valentine
“We heard about Pete’s accident,” Mr. Klein said. “Please send him our wishes for a speedy recovery.”
“Will do,” Felicity said in the voice that had become her default when she needed to be pleasant, but really wanted people to state their business and then move along. She was losing time, and the less than sincere note in Mr. Klein’s voice was causing her to lose patience as well. But her father didn’t need her stirring up ill-will with council members, so she worked up a sincere expression and asked, “How is Cade? I haven’t seen him in years.”
Mr. Klein didn’t seem to appreciate the reference to his son, possibly because it forced him to acknowledge that he and she had a connection. A nebulous one, because she and Cade hadn’t been tight when they weren’t studying, but she had gotten him through calculus and he’d gotten her through AP biology—oh, how she hated the cell—during their senior year.
“Cade is doing well, and you have a lot of work to accomplish in a short time, young lady.”
Before Felicity could address being referred to as a “young lady”, Mr. Klein strode into the hall, then nearly jumped out of his skin when Danny casually stepped out of the unfinished boardroom.
“Morning, Mr. Klein,” he said easily.
“Good morning,” the older man answered brusquely. He looked Danny up and down before stepping into the room. “I don’t see how you are going to finish in time.” He shot a look at Felicity, who’d followed behind him with Mrs. Braddock. “I hear Pete had a hard time keeping good help.”
He made it sound like it was Pete’s fault for being a poor boss, and Felicity felt her hackles start to rise. She rarely allowed herself to react emotionally in a professional setting, but this guy needed taken down a notch or two. Before she could speak, however, Danny fixed Mr. Klein with a cool gaze and said, “It’s a shame that so many of his employees were poached. I know for a fact that Zach was recruited.”
“Is that a fact?” Mr. Klein practically harumphed as he spoke.
Danny nodded.
“And you know this how?”
“Mr. Klein.” Felicity spoke up. “Do you want a tour?”
“Yes,” he said at the same time that Mrs. Braddock said, “No.”
Mrs. Braddock took over, taking Mr. Klein by the arm. “Kenneth, we can tour with the rest of the council and the city government officials on the sixteenth, as planned. After the inspections.”
Mr. Klein drew in a breath. “Very well. It looks like you need every second you can scrape together.”
Felicity nodded, thankful that he was on his way. “I’ll pass your good wishes along to my father. Tell Cade I said hello,” she added pointedly.
After the city councilmembers had made their way out the double doors and were walking down the steps leading to the street, Felicity turned to Danny. “Was Zach recruited?”
“I’m assuming so.”
“That’s not the same as knowing it for a fact.”
Danny shrugged, unrepentant. “He’d been recruited before. I know that. I heard him bragging at Pizza Bob’s. Not a complete untruth and I didn’t like Klein disrespecting your dad.”
Felicity felt herself go soft inside at the thought of Danny defending her dad. It wasn’t until her palm met stubble that she realized that she’d lifted her hand to touch his cheek. The flash of surprise in his eyes didn’t help matters. “Thanks for the backup,” she said in a remarkably normal voice before dropping her hand. “Time to get back at it.”
“Right. Back at it. So…” he headed to his side of the room, “…we were discussing a night out.”
Felicity rolled her eyes and let out an audible sigh before tackling the next wallboard. Some things were better left unanswered.
Speaking of things without answers…what had she been thinking, touching him like that?
She hadn’t thought, and that was alarming.
“Felix?”
“Leave me alone. I’m implementing behavioral extinction.”
“Which is?”
“Ignoring a behavior until it goes away.”
Danny laughed. “Fat chance.”
