8
It Had To Be You
A/N: Surprise! Something for the weekend.
----------
Chapter 5
"How's it coming?' Terry checked on the luncheon desserts.
"One more and we're done," replied Sue as she drizzled melted chocolate on the slices of cheesecake.
Jesse added the last few sprigs of mint as a finishing touch. He picked up the tray and slid it onto the dessert cart.
"Thanks, Jesse."
He nodded as he wheeled the cart away to the walk-in refrigerator.
"Good. Right on schedule," he smiled in satisfaction. "What's next?"
"Prepping for the continental breakfast and lunch tomorrow."
"Take a break," he ordered. "You've been on your feet since five this morning."
She grimaced. "If the hotel would stop taking reservations for breakfast meetings we wouldn't have to be here so early."
He snorted. "If I'm here early, you have to suffer along with me. Come on, let's go get a cup of coffee."
Sue made sure to tell her assistants to take a break as well. They'd been there just as early as she had.
"If the catering department continues to be so busy, we may need to hire another person to help," Sue mentioned.
"Put in a request," Terry answered. "You know how it is with these management types."
"Aren't you one of them?" He handed her a cup of coffee. "Thanks."
"Very reluctantly." He sat down and leaned back in his chair discreetly observing her over the rim of his cup. She put up a good front but he could tell she was feeling low. "Having second thoughts?"
"About what?"
"Jeff."
A frowned creased her forehead. "I spent yesterday thinking about our relationship."
"And?"
"I thought we liked the same things…had the same values but we don't," she said in a puzzled tone. "How could I have been so wrong about someone I thought I was in love with?"
"There's a reason why people say love is blind," he said sardonically.
"But was I was ever really in love with him!"
"Infatuation is pretty blind, too," he pointed out. "Cut yourself some slack, Sue. You fell in love with the guy you thought he was. Be glad you found out before you got married instead of after."
"There is that."
There was a knock on the window. Terry looked up—one of the bellboys was holding a bouquet of roses.
"Flowers for Sue Thomas," the bellboy announced.
"For me?" she asked in surprise standing up.
"Yup," he grinned as he placed the flowers in her arms. He liked Sue.
"Thanks, Chris."
"Who's it from?" a curious Terry inquired. "Read the card."
Slipping the card out, the pleased look changed abruptly. "It's from Jeff," she said flatly. "He wants to meet me…to explain."
"Are you?"
Sue stood there vacillating. Did she owe it to him?
"Sue…" said Terry warningly. Drat! She wasn't looking at him. He put his hand on her shoulder to get her attention.
Her eyes flickered up to his.
"I'm not going to tell you what to do except you really need to think about this," he cautioned.
She nodded thoughtfully. "You're right."
"Aren't I always?"
The corner of her mouth tilted up. "That's why you're the boss."
"I'm glad you realize it."
"Here," she said handing the bouquet to Terry, "give these to Michele."
"She'll get suspicious and think I have a guilty conscience," he claimed.
"Tell her someone noticed what a beautiful wife you have."
He nodded. "She might believe that."
There was another rap on the window. It was Chris again.
"They better be for me," warned Terry spotting the spring bouquet in his hands.
"Nope, still for Sue," he answered. "Is it your birthday and you didn't tell us?"
"No," she responded shaking her head. Hesitantly, she reached for the new delivery. Jeff wouldn't have sent two bouquets, would he? "Thanks, again."
"No problem!" he said cheerfully.
She sat down staring at the flowers. Who could be sending her flowers? She felt a tap.
"Want me to read the card in case it's from that jerk?" offered Terry.
"I don't think he'd send two bouquets on the same day," she remarked. "Besides, roses are more like him…not daisies."
She slid the card out—it was from Bobby.
"Sue,
The cookies were delicious,
so I've been told. Maybe you
need to send another batch.
I'll be waiting.
Bobby."
Terry watched as she read the little card. He noted the glow of pleasure that brought color to her face. Who the hell were the flowers from?
"Well?" he asked when she finally looked up at him.
There was a little smile on her face.
"You gonna tell me who it's from or you gonna keep me in suspense?"
"It's from a friend."
"Does this friend have a name?"
"Um…Bobby…Bobby Manning."
Sue was taken aback as Terry slapped his forehead. "What's the matter?" she demanded.
"I completely forgot!" he groaned.
"Forgot what?" asked a bewildered Sue.
"Yesterday…when you came by."
"Yes?"
"I forgot to tell you he called earlier."
"He did?"
"He said to give you a message."
"And?"
"He said to tell you thanks for the cookies and he hoped he'd get a chance to eat one. He wanted your phone number but I refused to give it to him. Figured if you wanted him to have it, you would've given it to him," he reasoned.
She liked Bobby…she really did. She could still remember the feel of his lips on hers, the touch of his hands. But she wasn't ready to start anything…not yet.
"Absolutely right." She stood up. "I'll take these to my office. You take those to your wife."
"Got it."
----------
"Good night" floated in the air as the catering staff drifted home. It had been a long day for most of them.
Sue stepped out into the cold night air. It was a good thing she drove today. She could bring the flowers home with her. As she rounded the corner, a tall dark figure stepped in front of her blocking her way.
"Jeff! What are you doing here?" asked a startled Sue.
"Those aren't the flowers I sent you," he frowned.
"How observant," she said dryly.
"Who are they from?" he demanded.
"It none of your business."
He looked at her suspiciously. "Is it that guy that was in your apartment?"
She remained silent.
Jeff wasn't a stupid man. He changed his tactics.
"Did you get the roses I sent to you?"
"Yes."
"Did you read the card?"
She nodded.
"Will you give me a chance to explain?" he pleaded.
"What is there to explain, Jeff?" she said gravely.
"She didn't mean anything to me."
Sue frowned. "Is that supposed to make me forgive you?"
"No…yes…I don't know!"
"For a lawyer you're not presenting your case very well."
"Maybe it's because I'm not thinking with my mind but with my heart," he said earnestly.
She looked at him unhappily. "I really wish I could believe you because I thought we had something pretty special."
"We did…we do!" he agreed eagerly as he wrapped his arms around her. "I feel the same way!"
"It's no good, Jeff," she said sadly. She made no attempt to respond to his embrace. "I don't love you any more."
"I don't believe it!"
"Believe it, " said a deep voice. A large hand grasped Jeff's shoulder. "Let the lady go."
"Terry!" exclaimed Sue.
"Next time I catch you close to Sue I'll call the police," he warned Jeff. "Here!" he said thrusting the bunch of roses into his arms. "Now get out of here!" he ordered.
"I'm leaving because I don't want to embarrass Sue in front of her boss," said Jeff attempting to regain control of the situation. He looked at his former fiancée. "I'll call you tomorrow."
They watched him as he darted across the street, a car narrowly missing him.
"Too bad it didn't hit him," commented Terry mildly.
He looked down at Sue. Her face strained, she was hugging the bouquet from Bobby tightly. He slipped his hand under her elbow.
"Come on," he said. "I'll walk you to your car."
----------