Kate stopped shuffling through her briefcase long enough to snatch the blaring receiver on the kitchen counter.
“Hey Babe.”
Her stomach fluttered at the sound of her boyfriend’s voice on the other end of the line. She’d have thought two years of dating would have slowed the giddiness which always came over her, but it hadn’t.
“Hey Reed. What’s up? I don’t have a lot of time to talk, I am due at the office in half an hour.”
“You work too hard.”
She could almost feel his sigh.
“Let’s play hooky today. Just you and me.”
“I can’t, Reed. I have to go over all the plans for my presentation next week.”
“Kate. Do you love me?”
“You know I do.”
“Then come on. We’re only young once. We have the rest of our lives to work. Let’s play.”
Kate gnawed on her lower lip, shuffled more papers in and out of her briefcase and caught sight of the mock-up for her presentation. It wouldn’t kill her to slough off for the day, but in her business, you give the other guy an inch… “Reed, I can’t.”
“There’s nothing I can do to persuade you?”
“No.”
He laughed. “Hmm, we’ll see about that.” He hung up before Kate had a chance to ask him what he meant.
She didn’t have time to think on it further. She had to leave if she wanted to stop at the coffee shop on the corner and grab breakfast. Her stomach growled in protest of yet another hastily eaten meal and for a second she considered calling Reed back.
“Can’t, work beckons. Purse, phone, briefcase.” She patted each item as she reached the front door but paused when she heard the light strains of her favorite Chris Cagle song. “That’s weird.”
Kate opened the door. Reed stood next to a candy-apple red convertible and held a big bouquet of tulips—her favorite.
“Thought I might try to change your mind.” Reed handed her the flowers and kissed her lightly on the lips. He took her by the elbow and led her to the driveway. They stood between the awesome car and her conservative, beige sedan. “I packed a picnic with your favorites from the local deli. I sweet-talked the owner into opening early for me.” He winked at her.
She couldn’t help but smile. “Yeah, I am sure my dad was real hard to convince.” Her stomach fluttered faster. Reed had conspired with her dad to make her skip work.
“What do you say? You, me.” Reed leaned a hip against the rented Corvette. “Good food. A quiet spot under the huge oak tree in the park. No phones, faxes, bosses.”
Kate stepped closer to Reed.
“A man and his sweetheart.” Reed lowered his voice. “Necking in broad daylight. Reckless, carefree.”
A shiver darted down her spine.
Reed straightened away from the car. “But if you have to go to work…”
Kate shoved the flowers at him. “Give me ten minutes to change into my jeans.”
© Denise McDonald 2006
