Maid for Martin (10 page)

“The plans do keep changing, and more than likely, they’ll be staying until New Year's.” Emma added a few more items to her list.

“But today’s Monday, and we don’t even have the tree yet. It needs to go up first so we know how much tinsel garland we need to buy for the stairs and the other rooms. I better get back to work and get busy.”

“You’re right, we need trees. Celia and Martin are supposed to pick out the tree, but he’s got this thing tonight, and I don’t know where she is. If we don’t get that tree in here soon, we won’t be ready for the family.”

“Will they let someone else pick it out?” Randi took another long drink and then tossed her empty bottle into the recyclables bin under the sink.

“I don’t know. If I know Celia she’ll want us to go down and take pictures with a camera, email them to her and then go back and get it.”

“I can do that. I can email with my phone.”

“I was just kidding.”

“But if you think that will get us the trees sooner . . . ”

“It might.” Emma looked back up quickly. “Can you really do that?”

“Sure I can. All the best trees come from the big tree market out by the mall. I don’t mind, but I don’t have anything to drive.”

“You’re right about the trees. That’s where we always get ours. You can drive the truck . . . oh . . . it’s all piled up with trash, and all those clothes.”

“That’s not a problem. I can dump the trash, then go look at the trees.”

“Could you really?” Emma took out some paper. “Jot down your number in case I need something. Take a moment and I’ll see if Celia has an issue with this.”

“Sure. I’ll take the trash just the same. If I go get the tree, how do I pay for it?” Randi walked a few feet and turned back around when Emma spoke.

“I’ll call and make arrangements. Hopefully, Celia will allow us to pick out the trees. I’ll tell her we’re pressed for time, which we are. If she says yes, you’ll need to pick out the best tree you can find. They’ll put it in the truck for you.”

“Do I have time to change clothes? I don’t want to go shopping looking like this.” Randi pointed to her black pants, white smock, and white apron.

“Sure, go change, and I’m sorry about that. Celia left orders this morning that the maids all start dressing alike. I hate to say it, but there will be skirts and black hosiery for you girls to wear when the family comes.”

“I know. We’ve already been given those items.” Randi smiled and said over her shoulder, “I’ve worn worse. I’ll be ready in a few.”

Emma looked down, rubbing her head, wanting to rub her eyes, and wondering if she was going to like contacts. She straightened and her brow furrowed as she spotted Martin walking past, carrying a white bag. “Since when did you start taking out the trash?”

Martin held up the trash bag and smiled. “I wanted to be sure this got tossed out.”

“You’re just in time. Randi’s getting ready to haul off the trash, in your truck, if you don’t mind.”

“Don’t we pay someone to do that?” Martin set the bag down.

“Yes, my dear, but they’re putting the lights on the house. Also, you popped in just in time. It’s time to pick out the trees. Celia wants three.”

“Me?” Martin said, picking up his bag, ready to go. "Would she trust me to do that?”

“I doubt it. I wouldn’t.” Emma smiled, “I asked Randi if she could do it. That is, if Celia doesn’t mind.”

“What?” Martin asked, turning back.

“I was just getting ready to call Celia and see if she wanted us to go ahead and pick out the trees. Her family will be here Wednesday instead of—”

“No, don’t bother asking. I’ll take care of the trees.” Martin said in a rushed tone. “I don’t want anyone driving that old truck. I better go too.”

“Are you sure?” Emma shrugged when he didn’t answer, and she thought it a bit strange that he was offering to help. Men normally liked having a tree around, but they never wanted to help pick one out. Then again, they could be very picky about their vehicles, so she shrugged and went back to work.

Chapter 15

Playing With Fire

When Randi came out, Emma was on the phone and she just waved her on out to the truck. She guessed that meant it was a ‘go’ for the tree, but she would call to make sure. She’d slipped into a white tank top, a flannel shirt, and jeans. She didn’t want the trees to scratch her arms.

She glanced at the truck, full of clothes and trash, and then went around to the side of the garage, taking out a doggie treat. Ann had bought the treats earlier when she went out to buy garbage bags. Celia had cleaned out her closets a few days ago and wanted the items taken to the dump. Most of the bags needed to go to Goodwill. Only a few were really trash.

Randi wanted to make sure the clothes were taken to a place where they would be useful, so she had offered to empty the truck. She wasn’t relishing driving it. She knew it belonged to Mike, and she didn’t feel right driving it without his permission.

She bent over and called. The two pups came and stuck their noses through the fence. She slipped her hand out through the hole, petting them. They were so cute, and she was thinking about taking them home when this job ended.

“Don’t you know better than to feed strays? Where did you get such bad habits?”

Randi smiled. She pulled her hand back through the hole and rose, turning to look at Mike. “You’re one to talk about bad habits.” She walked past him and even brushed his shoulder lightly as she did so.

He was gorgeous as usual, and she so wished he wasn’t dating anyone -- except maybe her. She could only guess that Mike turned around, gave her a dirty look, and then followed.

“You don’t think you’re driving do you?” Randi didn’t answer. She opened the driver’s side door, found the keys, and held them up.

“I was planning to.” She watched him approach. He wore jeans, a white shirt, and tennis shoes. The shirt was unbuttoned two buttons, and the cuffs were rolled up to his elbows.

He was a sight. It was tempting to ask him if he had any clue how good-looking he was. She guessed by the smile playing on his lips, that he knew very well what kind of effect he could have on the opposite sex.

Randi left her hand on the door and turned to face him. “Don’t you have anything better to do than go with me to dump trash and pick out a tree for this fancy shindig these fine folks are having?”

“I don’t guess I do.” He held out his hand and of course she gave him the keys.

“You are the driver.” She smiled and put her hand on the wheel to climb in.

“Yes, I am,” he said, stepping closer. “Now get in there and slide over.” The look he gave her would have melted Iceland. Randi did as the man said, knowing good and well she was playing with fire.

Her mother had told her all her life, "Don’t play with matches, don’t date married men, and don’t ever go to bed without asking the good Lord to forgive you for all the stupid things you’ve done this day."

This was going to go on the top of the list of stupid things she’d done. She climbed into the truck, slid over somewhat, and looked at Mike. For some reason he didn’t look like a Mike. He stood there a moment, glanced at the stuff in the back of the truck and gestured. “This doesn’t all look like trash.”

“It’s not. There’s some clothes in there we’ll need to drop off at Goodwill, some stuff we will take to the dump—”

“And then we’ll go pick out a tree?” He interrupted.

“That’s the plan.”

Mike looked at his watch, sighed, and climbed in, closing the cab door. He put in the key, leaned back, and smiled. “If we’re going to do all of that, and eat lunch, we better get going.”

“Who said anything about eating? I’m on the clock here and so are you.” Mike left his hand on the keys, paused, and started the truck. Randi didn’t like the smile playing on his lips when he spoke.

“You’re fine. I know the boss, and he won’t say a word.” When he rested his arm on the back seat and looked over his shoulder to turn around, they were close. He stopped backing up when she spoke.

“You know the boss, and you are or were sleeping with Celia, and the two of you still get along? That must be a man thing, or he doesn’t know.”

Mike smiled and sat looking at her. She had a feeling if she didn’t say something else, or move, he just might kiss her.

“You do ask a lot of questions.”

“I know, but this makes me feel kind of not so good. I want to know. Are you dating Celia or not?” Randi started to move, sliding over to her side of the truck, but Mike’s hand went to her shoulder.

“You and I are not doing anything. I haven’t kissed you. You haven’t kissed me.” He couldn’t say this without smiling, she noticed.

“No, but I think you want to.”

“I want to do a lot of things, but until I do, it’s not wrong . . . right?”

“You got me there.”

“Yes I do. We’re just running an errand, and we might find time to eat lunch while we’re out.”

“I know what you’re saying. But I can see where this is going, and it doesn’t feel—”

When Mike moved his left hand from the wheel and touched his finger to her lips, she felt electricity. She knew he could feel it too, because he pulled his hand back. For the first time, she saw a bit of guilt, or something, in those blue eyes.

He put his hand back on the wheel and his right hand let go of her shoulder. “I asked you to trust me. I’m still saying give me time, and let's just be sure and take this slow.”