Chapter 24
On Wednesday afternoon, the operations department had been transformed into a party zone. It was the day before Thanksgiving and Barb’s last day at the company, and Kudos Entertainment was pulling out all the stops for her.
The scents of lime and cilantro greeted Scottie as she entered Operations. A taco bar—Barb’s favorite—stretched along the counter in the break room, trays piled high with all kinds of taco toppings. A sheet cake sat on the table, ready for cutting.
Colorful streamers dangled down from the ceiling, and a large banner proclaimed, Happy retirement, Barb!
Employees mingled in small groups in the bullpen and the break room, plates and paper cups in hand. Barb wasn’t hard to find; her laughter rang out over the hum of conversation.
Scottie made her way over to Barb to wish her all the best.
“Scottie!” Barb immediately pulled her into a hug. “Thanks so much for coming by! I wasn’t sure I’d get to see you before I left.”
“I wouldn’t dream of not saying goodbye. And I wanted to give you this.” Scottie held out a framed photo with a red ribbon, showing Barb as Kudos’s Santa Claus a few years ago, complete with a fake belly and a long, white beard.
Barb laughed. “I didn’t think there were any pictures of that.”
“I’m in IT,” Scottie said with a grin. “If any data ever existed, I can retrieve it.” She glanced over Barb’s shoulder and let her gaze drift over the employees.
“She’s over there,” Barb said with a knowing smile.
Scottie looked in the direction Barb was discreetly pointing.
Somehow, she wasn’t surprised to see that Willow had found a corner to hide out in. She had retreated to a quiet spot in the break room, tucked between the lime wedges and the recycling bins, both hands wrapped around a paper cup, trying not to talk to anyone.
Scottie chuckled quietly. Somewhere in the dictionary entry about introverts and parties, there had to be a picture looking exactly like this.
“Why don’t you go over and say hi?” Barb said. “I think there’s something she wanted to ask you anyway.”
Scottie didn’t need much convincing. “All right. Take good care of yourself, and enjoy every minute of your much-deserved retirement.” She gave Barb another hug.
“Will do,” Barb replied. “Don’t be a stranger, okay? I think you have my number. I expect updates on…well, everything.”
Scottie playfully saluted. “I’ll keep you posted on how Kudos is faring without you.” She weaved through the clusters of chatting employees and made her way over to Willow.
“Still hiding out in a corner?” She kept her voice soft so she wouldn’t startle her.
Willow swiveled her head around. The relief in her eyes filled Scottie with warmth. “I told you I highly doubt I’ll ever start to enjoy parties.”
“That you did,” Scottie said with a smile. “Want me to hang out for a few minutes so no one tries to come over and rescue you?”
“Well, it worked last time, so…yes, please.”
Scottie stepped closer and took a moment to study her.
In a lavender blouse and a gray pencil skirt, Willow looked as lovely as ever.
Even the way she fiddled with her paper cup seemed graceful.
A few wisps of dark-brown hair had slipped free from her low ponytail, as if wanting to escape as much as Willow did.
It softened her careful composure and framed her fair face.
Scottie realized she’d gone quiet, staring in silence for longer than reasonable. She quickly cleared her throat. “So…Barb’s last day is finally here. Are you still nervous about taking over?”
Willow glanced left and right as if not wanting any of her colleagues to overhear. “I’ll be fine.”
Scottie continued to look at her. “I know. But that’s not what I asked.”
Willow stared down at her paper cup and circled the rim with one long finger. “Can I be honest?”
Scottie tore her gaze away from the unexpectedly sensual sight. “Always.”
“I am a little nervous,” Willow said quietly.
“I get it. Barb is a force to be reckoned with. But so are you. You braved PBJ fries; you can handle Kudos.”
“It’s not that I doubt my ability to do the job, but…” Willow waved her hand around the room. “Barb knows everyone. She knows how to handle people—who she needs to get tough with and who needs a gentle hand.”
Scottie tilted her head. “True. But she had thirty years to learn the ins and outs of people at Kudos. She knew most of us since we were wet-behind-our-ears baby employees.”
They chuckled together.
“Besides, don’t sell yourself short,” Scottie added. “You’re better with people than you think.”
Willow sent her a look that was part skeptical, part hopeful. “How so?”
“Rumor has it you got stuck in an elevator with Kudos’s near-claustrophobic IT support person and managed to calm her down.”
“Hmm. I guess I did.”
Scottie nodded. “See? You’ve got Barb-level people skills after all.”
“I wouldn’t go that far. It’s different with you.”
The words lingered between them, carrying more meaning than Willow might have intended.
Scottie’s mouth went dry, and she struggled to swallow.
Before she could think of something to say, Willow dropped her gaze. “So, what are your plans for Thanksgiving?”
“Going home,” Scottie answered. “My folks live in Corvallis, less than two hours from here, so I’ll be eating way too much, watching football, and dodging my parents’ advice on my love life or lack thereof. You?”
“I’m staying in Portland, spending it with my sister.”
“Is it going to be just the two of you?” Scottie asked.
Willow shook her head. “Fiona usually invites every friend and neighbor who’s single and doesn’t have family in the area, and it turns into a loud, chaotic potluck.”
“So basically another party?”
Willow put on a dramatically pathetic face. “Unfortunately, yes. But at least this one will come with pumpkin pie.”
Both went quiet for a few moments, then Scottie said, “Barb mentioned there’s something you wanted to ask me?”
Tension returned to Willow’s posture. She sent a dismayed look in Barb’s direction, then fixed her gaze on a spot above Scottie’s shoulder. She twisted the empty paper cup between her fingers.
Scottie wanted to reach out and cover Willow’s hands with her own, calming her, but she reined herself in.
One practice date didn’t give her the right to do that.
Now that their trial run was over, they were back to being friendly work acquaintances—even though Willow didn’t feel like any of her other co-workers at all.
“You look like you’re about to ask me for a kidney. ”
Willow crumpled the paper cup and tossed it into a nearby garbage can, still not making eye contact. “No. I promise your organs are safe. It’s just…”
“Hey, I hope you know you can ask me anything.”
Finally, Willow looked at her. The hint of vulnerability in her eyes took Scottie’s breath away. “Barb cornered me on Monday morning as soon as I walked in.”
Scottie had expected that. “Let me guess. She wanted a full report on Saturday.”
Willow nodded. “Barb thinks we need a do-over. According to her, waiting for AAA and eating PBJ fries isn’t considered the pinnacle of romance. She insists you need more dating practice.”
Barb, ever the matchmaker, even now that she was about to retire.
“Didn’t we agree not to tell Barb about Potato Champion?”
Willow hung her head. “I know. I’m sorry. It slipped out.”
“It’s okay.” Scottie didn’t care what Barb thought.
As long as Willow had enjoyed their not-a-real-date date, that was all that mattered to her.
She studied Willow. “So Barb thinks we need a second practice date. What do you think?” She would have expected Willow to shoot down Barb’s suggestion right away. Why hadn’t she?
“I don’t know,” Willow murmured. “I mean, it’s Thanksgiving tomorrow, so obviously not right away. But if you still feel a little out of practice, we could…”
“Could…what?” Scottie prompted. She wanted to hear it from Willow.
Willow pulled her shoulders back and looked into Scottie’s eyes. “Would you want to go on another date with me?”
A spark of elation flared through Scottie. She doesn’t mean a real date, she cautioned herself.
“Uh, practice date, of course,” Willow quickly added.
Of course. Scottie had known that’s what she’d meant. But it would be great to spend more time with Willow anyway. “Why not?” She struggled to keep her voice even and casual. “I’d be up for it if you are. Are you?”
“Well,” Willow said, “if it helps you knock the rest of the rust off, I’d take one for the team.”
“Wow,” Scottie mumbled. “High praise for my dating skills.” Was that really how Willow viewed the time they spent together? Just some kind of charity? The thought started a dull ache beneath her ribs.
Then she saw the humorous twinkle in Willow’s eyes, and the ache in her chest disappeared.
“Seriously, your dating skills are just fine,” Willow said. “In my expert opinion, you don’t need to knock more rust off, no matter what Barb thinks. All you need is a little polishing.”
“Polishing, hm?” Scottie couldn’t help smiling.
Willow nodded.
“I can live with that,” Scottie said. “So, do you want me to plan something for our polishing session?”
“Actually, if you don’t mind, I’d like to plan it this time.”
“Oh, really?” Scottie hadn’t seen that coming, but she liked the idea of Willow taking the initiative.
“Yes, really.” Willow gave a decisive nod. “What if your date—the next woman you’ll actually go out with—wants to be the one to plan something? As your dating adviser, I think you need to learn how to let your date take the reins every now and then.”
Scottie grinned and leaned in slightly, closer to Willow’s ear. “Who says I have problems in that department?” The line came out flirtier than she had intended.
A flash of heat seemed to sear through Willow’s eyes, making Scottie’s pulse skip.
Mercifully, Celeste tapped her fork against her plate, the sharp clank cutting through the moment. “If I could have everyone’s attention, please. I’d like to say a few words to honor Barbara.”
As the chatter around them stopped, they turned away from each other and faced the front of the room. The temperature seemed to drop a few degrees, and Scottie could breathe again.
Jesus, Scottie. She tugged on her collar.
If you’re really planning to go on another practice date with her, you’d better get a hold of yourself.
Willow’s made it clear she doesn’t want to date for real, and the last thing you need is another crash and burn.
Not when you’re only just getting your feet back under you.
She would head to Corvallis tomorrow and use Thanksgiving and her family’s company as a reminder that she needed stability right now, not another tangle of chaotic feelings. After that, she would be ready for a second practice date and for friendship with Willow.