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Humph. You did too. Kitt smoothed her paper with the notes and started to jot again.
“If that Harrison boy comes around again, tell him to lay off the horn,” Jonesy called before slamming her door.
Kitt looked up, taking a deep breath of the soft summer air. There were things to be said in favour of living in an apartment with neighbours who wouldn’t bother you unless you got too loud.
That happened to her once. Since then, she’d kept the television on, tuned to a sports channel when she and Lionel had sex because he had a habit of shouting when he came. He said he couldn’t help it and she shouldn’t try to interfere with his spontaneity.
Ahooga. The loud sound shocked Kitt out of her reverie and seeing an open-topped black car swoop into place behind her Bug, her heart raced.
Rob vaulted out of the vehicle and subsequently over the porch rail.
She clutched her chest even though the gigolo remark echoed in her mind. “A dramatic arrival,” she said, pursing her lips to keep from smiling. She couldn’t help herself. She was delighted to see him.
Rob bowed, sweeping a pretend hat from his head. “Why so snarky?” He plopped down in the wooden porch swing. “What have you got there?”
She slapped shut her notebook and lowered the lid to her laptop. “Just some homework. Jonesy made me snarky. She doesn’t like your horn waking her.”
Rob chortled. “Like I care.”
“She said to tell you to lay off of it, and she made a rude remark about me not being here for Sugar. She said I should spend the summer; Auntie really needs me.” Kitt studied his face as she asked, “What do you think?”
“I think you should stay. She needs you.” He grinned and Kitt felt that twinge of desire his smile always gave her. What about him? Did he need her? Want her? She wanted him in the worst way.”
“Are you in Summerville to stay?”
“More or less.”
“You never give a direct answer, do you?” she huffed. “Why are you always so secretive? Where have you been? Here and there. You blow off all my questions. Why?”
“Geez. You are in a snarky mood. I plan to hang around for a long while. I’ll leave town occasionally but I’ll be living in the condo I told you about. There. How’s that? When I left here, I joined the Navy and was aboard ship most of the time the next four years. Does that explain the ‘here and there’?”
“Somehow, I can’t picture you as a sailor.”
He shrugged. “I had a high school diploma but no real training and I didn’t want to pump gas or wash cars. I wanted a good job and the military offered food, shelter, steady pay, and the chance to learn something useful. Besides, women love a man in uniform, and those blues made my butt look really good.”
She chuckled like she knew he expected.
Rob asked what she’d been doing and she told him.
“A school librarian?” He nearly choked, laughing. He pointed at her laptop. “What kind of homework does a librarian do? List people with overdue books and hire hit men to go after them?”
“You are such a smart ass,” she said.
“Better than a dumb ass.
” Rob raised his arms over his head and stretched, his T-shirt hugging his hard chest.
“I was a cook in the Navy. Now it’s your turn to laugh. But it paid off. I got a job as a chef after my enlistment was up and I’m a damned good one.”
“You’re kidding.” She shook her head. “Where did you learn to cook?”
“Not at home, which I’m sure is what you’re thinking. Nope. I learned in the service. I started out as an apprentice to a guy who really knew his stuff.” Standing, Rob reached out to her. “Stow that stuff and I’ll take you for a ride in my hot car.”
Rob became a cook? She tried to picture him in a tall white chef’s hat. Maybe he’d shaved his head because of his job.
“Hot as in speed, not stolen, I hope.” Smiling, she rose while juggling her equipment, and he reached for the laptop. Afraid he might look at the screen, she handed him her cell phone instead. “Is your car a Porsche?”
“You mean you can’t tell it’s a ‘Vette?” He looked quizzically from her loaded arms to the tiny cell phone she’d given him.
