Author Notes – Aww – regrets – we all have them sometimes – short happy little fluffy chapter.
Chapter 11 - Nothing Really Happened!
Jackie woke up the next morning with a serious case of the regrets. She knew she was sort of teasing Eric, but he always had an easy going manner and great sense of humor and well, she had just greatly underestimated him in the romance department. What was Donna thinking by divorcing this man?
Then she felt guilty too, because she still hadn't found that one great love of her life after nearly 23 years. With Eric, she felt an undercurrent that maybe; he just possibly liked her more than as just a friend. But she couldn't go there with him. That would be just another basement friend that Steven would have accused her of adding to her trophy case. She shook her head. Screw Steven and what he thought. It took years to get her head straight after that relationship.
When she thought back, Michael was her first and it was a wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am kind of relationship. Michael Kelso was all about doing it with as many girls as he could but Jackie had learned that early on and still loved him. He was a great friend and would always be there for her.
Then there was Steven Hyde. The pessimistic, pseudo-anti-government paranoid rebel – who she thought she loved because all girls love the bad boy image at some time in their lives. She was foolish enough to think that she could make him love her enough to possibly envision a future. He liked the sex, oh yeah, but he married a stripper. Then he married the stripper again!
Jackie had a couple of semi-serious relationships since, but swore no one was going to share her bed until she was 30! Now she seriously doubted herself – especially when skinny nerd Eric Forman had grown up to be a dashingly strong, handsome man and was pushing all the right buttons. This was not good!
She needed to put some distance between them before something catastrophic happened!
*
Jackie spent the morning with the wife of oil baron Spencer Steele in their rented Madison penthouse. Jackie gave a copy of the event activities to Olivia to look at while they hammered out the details of the party that would occur at the end of the week.
Olivia Steele was a handsome woman. Immaculately dressed and all of her jewelry was just gorgeous. Mrs. Steele saw ambition in the young woman sitting beside her on the settee.
"Jackie, you remind me of myself when I was younger. You are stubborn, yet sweet and you are a take no prisoners business woman. I have no problem with your fee but I may have to add a couple of items if you don't mind."
Jackie smiled, "What are you interested in?"
"Well, did you get the authorization for the pig races yet?"
"I can find out this morning and have your answer today."
Olivia drank some tea from a dainty porcelain cup. "Some of my sisters are die-hard Square Dancers and we just don't know where to shop for decent skirts and petticoats. If I don't have a definitive dance for them, then it will ruin the party."
Thank you Mrs. Forman! "I know just the woman who can help. She lives in Point Place but if your sisters are willing to meet with her she can take them wherever they need to go."
"Well, good, I'll send a limo when you can have this arranged. Also, I can't find any rodeo clowns out here. Can you recommend someone that is silly? Some of the children need to be entertained and Spencer will pay whatever the daily rate is."
Michael you doofus – you're hired! "I have just the person for the job. Do you require a costume?"
"Oh yes, and make him silly."
Olivia had a few more requests and required a couple more rooms for extra relatives. "Mrs. Steele, I'm going to have to go to the hotel and see if I can make some arrangements for the extra rooms. They may not have any rooms left on the floors you've already booked."
"Oh, goodness by all means – please call me so I can make the flight arrangements by Wednesday."
Jackie smiled and gathered her day planner and bag. "I will call you when I have all the information."
"Thank you sweetheart - I am truly looking forward to the party. I haven't seen some of Spencer's family since we got married."
*
Eric was still smiling from last night. He didn't know what was going on with him and Jackie, if in fact there was anything at all, but it felt so good he couldn't stop grinning! His staff noticed when he came in whistling and all but locked himself in his office.
He had his coffee and was making notes for the weekly Staff Meeting. His phone rang and it was Ashley at the front counter. "Mr. Forman, the Event Coordinator is here and wants to talk to you."
Eric smiled. "Well, send her back. She knows where to find me."
*
Jackie pulled down her skirt and made sure her blouse was buttoned. She was not going to give Eric Forman any reason to think of her as anything but a business woman. She had serious business to take care of and that was that!
She exhaled and knocked on the manager's office door. A muffled, "Come on in" was heard through the door. She turned the knob but the door was stuck. She rapped on the door again. "It won't open."
Mere seconds later, Eric opened the door, "Sorry, Maintenance was supposed to fix that for me." He moved around to his side of the desk and motioned for her to take the empty seat. She looked even prettier today. Her hair was pulled back into a bun and she had a pencil sticking out of it. He smiled as the silliness. He looked at her with puppy dog eyes.
"Mr. Forman. I'm here on behalf of the Friday event. Please don't look at me like that."
Eric raised a brow, so she was playing professional today was she? "I'm sorry Miss Burkhart, how can I help you?" Two can play this game!
"First I need to know if you have the permits for the eight piglets."
Eric picked up the fax he got that morning. "The city will allow six pigs but no more and they need to have a portable sty available."
Jackie took down the notes. Where was she going to find a sty? "I need six more rooms for additional party guests. Is that going to be a problem?"
Eric looked at the reservation ledger. "No, we still have space on the same booked floors."
"Fine. I need to add two additional rooms on any floors. One is for Red and Kitty Forman and the other is Michael Kelso. Brooke is staying with him."
Eric looked up. "My folks are coming? They've never been here before." Jackie loved seeing the excitement on his face but didn't want to ruin her professional façade. "You're mom is in charge of the square dancing and Mrs. Steele agreed that they could use extra help with the cow."
"Why Kelso?" Eric dared to ask.
"Rodeo clown." She said simply trying not to laugh. Eric snickered when he realized what a perfect job that was for his old friend. "C'mon Jackie – you did that on purpose."
Jackie stuck her chin out and Eric knew she was trying to play it cool and pretend to be completely unperturbed. Eric was impressed that she didn't ever crack a smile because Kelso was a perfect clown; she had to find that hilarious!
"Mr. Forman." She said bringing the business at hand back to the present. "Do you have storage for 50 bales of hay?"
She was playing it so very cool but Eric wasn't intimidated by her attitude. "Yes and your mechanical bull arrived." He watched as Jackie nearly smiled but quickly caught herself. "Thank you very much. "
She handed him a check for the extra deposit and made some more notes. Talk to Brooke about a sty. "Well, I think I'm done here. Thank you for your help." She reached out to shake Eric's hand but he grabbed her fingers and didn't let go.
"Look Missy, I appreciate all of this polite business crap, but you're my friend." He walked around the desk still holding her hand. "If you are upset with me, tell me but don't tiptoe around like this. We are supposed to be looking at the BIG picture you said. Talk to me"
He caressed her cheek with his thumb a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. She looked at him with those beautiful eyes. "You're right; you are my friend I need to keep you as my friend. I'm sorry about last night – I don't want you to think I'm leading you on because that's what it feels like."
Eric's heart softened a bit. "Have I complained?"
"No, but you will. I have my own issues to deal with and I was taking advantage of you."
Eric smiled. "Lady, if you call that taking advantage, here I am; I'm yours for the taking."
"Eric!" She said with a goofy smile. "I'm working, I can't go thinking about your hands all day." Realizing what she just said, she covered her mouth.
He grinned. "You like my hands, eh? Well, I can put them to good use. Just tell me when or how."
Jackie thought back to the Boz Skaggs dance and how wonderful it was and she could feel a flutter in her stomach. "Stop doing that!"
Eric pulled her close and cupped her cheeks. "I like you okay? Even if you are just using me!" he teased.
She looked at the floor – professional business woman? She should be the rodeo clown!
*
"Oh… Jackie! - I'm so glad to see you" Kitty said giving the slight girl a big hug. "What brings you by today?" Jackie sat down at the kitchen table. "Is Mr. Forman here?"
Kitty hollered for Red who came grumbling from the living room. "Jeez, Kitty you don't have to scream. Hello Loud One." He added nodding to Jackie.
Jackie smiled – she just loved this couple. "Well, Mr. Forman, Spencer Steele is going to pay you to assist with the barbeque." She pushed a check towards Red. "He'll pay you this for your services."
Red picked up the check and said, "Holy Moley! That is a lot of money for cooking a cow!"
Kitty frowned. "You said Spencer Steele? You mean that rich guy from Texas? I saw him on TV last night he was talking about some new oil he found on his property. His wife is so pretty!"
Jackie pushed a check towards Kitty. "This is from Olivia Steele so you'll take her sisters shopping for square dancing dresses." Kitty looked at the check and gasped. "I get all this just for taking some ladies shopping?"
Jackie smiled. "You let me know what day you want to go, and they will pick you up in the family limousine. I need to know soon because they want to have their dresses by at least Thursday."
Kitty clapped her hands. "Red! Look at me – shopping in a limousine!" Kitty picked up the check and waved it in the air! Jackie grinned, "When you know what day, call this number and they'll send the car."
Red was very happy with the events. "So I get all of this money just for basting a cow? I like that kind of job."
"Also, you both have a suite booked at Eric's hotel for the weekend." Jackie hugged and kissed them both and waved goodbye. She had to go tell the rodeo clown about his weekend job.
*