Gerri Hill - The Rainbow Cedar

Jay wiped her mouth with her napkin. "They make the best burgers. God. I could eat here everyday."

"You practically do. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were hoping to run into Drew again."

Jay scoffed. "But you do know better."

"So, about the job."

"Oh, yeah. It's with R and K Builders. They're a small company. I think they probably only have two or three houses going at once. They're not spec houses. They design them to be custom, so they're really nice. And probably since they are such a small company, Wilkes and Bonner didn't want to waste their talent on them, so they outsourced. Mr. Kline found out and got pissed off," she said, remembering Drew's words. Randy Kline, when they'd met, said no such thing.

"So what'd you get? Just one house?"

Jay grinned. "That's the great part. I think he intended to give me one house, just to try me out. But he loved my portfolio. In fact, he said my style was just what he was looking for." She knew she was beaming, but she couldn't help it. "I got three."

"Oh, wow, Jay, that's fabulous. I'm so proud."

Jay reached across the table and squeezed Audrey's hand. "Thanks. I feel like maybe—finally—my big break is here."

"So why don't we go out and celebrate tonight?" Audrey bit into her burger, chewing quickly. "Or is Katherine making herself available, since it is Friday and all?"

"I haven't even told Katherine yet." Jay stood. "I'm going to get us some more tea." At the counter, she winked at Shelly as she grabbed a half-full pitcher of tea and brought it back to their table. "Besides, Friday nights are no different than any other night for her."

Audrey shook her head, but Jay wasn't in the mood to listen to how bad Katherine was. She didn't need Audrey to tell her.

"So, what'd you have in mind?"

"See a movie?" Audrey suggested.

Jay thought for a moment, then shook her head. "I'm too wired to sit still that long."

"Dancing?"

"Good grief, no. You and me?" Jay glanced at the blackboard behind the tiny stage, noting one of her favorite singers was playing tonight. She hadn't been out to listen to Tammy George since last summer. "How about margaritas?"

"That means here."

"Tammy George."

Audrey whipped her head around, her eyes wide as she read the board. "Wow. Cool." She nodded. "Okay, but it'll be crowded."

Jay knew it would, but it would be fun. A night out. And she knew Katherine wouldn't mind. She suspected it was a load off Katherine's mind knowing Jay had a pal like Audrey. Audrey was forever single, but forever looking. She went on her share of blind dates, but—as Jay had told her once—she was looking for a diamond among a box full of rocks. Therefore, one blind date rarely led to two, which was why Audrey had as much free time on her hands as Jay did.

"Crowded is fine," Jay said as she picked up her burger again. "Besides, maybe you'll get lucky."

Audrey snorted. "I've been here when it's crowded. They come out of the woods. And frankly, most of the women who come out of the woods scare me." She dipped a fry into her mayo cup, then pointed it at Jay. "But might you be hoping it's crowded enough for a Drew Montgomery sighting?"

"Oh, don't be silly," Jay said, dismayed to feel her face flushing with embarrassment. The thought had crossed her mind, she admitted.

"Right. And I'll just pretend I didn't see you blush."

"Oh, all right," she conceded. "Would it be so bad if she were here? I need to thank her anyway. My new job and all."

"You could just call her. Because as much as I hate what Katherine is doing to you, I think this Drew person is going to be trouble."

"Trouble? How so?"

Audrey raised her eyebrows. "Dreamy, steamy and creamy."

"Good God, you're right," Jay said as she clung to Audrey's arm. "Where did all these women come from?" Their normally quiet bar was hopping with wall-to-wall bodies, the noise level reaching a raucous decibel.

"Tammy George is cute, talented, rich and single," Audrey said loudly. "And most everyone here would dump their girlfriend to be with her."

"Oh, that's insane. I love her music, yeah. And she is kinda cute—"

"Kinda? What rock are you living under?"

"But she's not relationship material. And how can she be? She travels all the time. Unless you went with her, you'd never get to see each other. How can she ever have any kind of relationship?" Jay came to an abrupt stop as Audrey spun around.

"Did you even hear what you just said?"

Jay blinked several times, then narrowed her eyes. "What are you insinuating?"

"I'm just asking if you heard the words that came out of your mouth? About not being able to have a relationship when you don't get to see each other. Those words."

"Shut up, Audrey. No therapy session tonight, please?" Jay tucked her hand in the crook of Audrey's elbow, leading her through the crowd of women, trying to find the bar. "God, I hope Shelly's here tonight. I don't even recognize half the people working the bar."

"There's Rhonda."

Audrey shoved her way between three women, pulling Jay with her to the bar. Rhonda greeted them with a huge grin.

"Can you believe this place?" she asked as she refilled a bowl with peanuts. "We'll run out before the night is through."

Jay grabbed a handful and began cracking the shells. "What are the chances of getting a 'rita?"

"Gotta keep my regulars happy, don't I? Coming right up."

Jay turned around and leaned against the bar, scanning the crowd. A few familiar faces, that was all.

"Tammy George is in her mid-thirties. What are all these young kids doing here?" Audrey asked above die music.

Jay rolled her eyes. "So now that you're twenty-nine, you feel old?"

Audrey made a face. "I just don't have anything in common with twenty-one-year olds."

"Rhonda needs to have live music more often. This place has an energy tonight, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, young sweaty bodies in heat will do that."

Jay turned, her witty comment forgotten as her eyes locked with a pair of green ones across the room. Drew Montgomery. Seconds passed, then Drew nodded slightly before turning her attention to an attractive woman beside her.

"God, she is so damn cute," she murmured.

"What'd you say?" Audrey asked loudly.

Jay grabbed her arm and squeezed. "She's here."

"She? She who?"

"Who do you think?"

"Drew?"

Jay spun around, her back to the crowd. "She's got a date."

"Did you think she wouldn't?"

"No, I'm just saying she's here with someone so I doubt we'll even talk."

"Think again."

Jay turned back to the crowd, her eyes widening as Drew Montgomery headed their way. She smiled in greeting, wishing she wasn't quite so happy to see her.

"Hi, ladies," she said loudly,, just before a roar from the crowd as band members took the stage. "Good to see you again."

Before she could stop herself, Jay grabbed Drew's arm and pulled her closer. "I got a job," she nearly yelled.

"So I heard. He loved your stuff."

Jay laughed. "I know. Thank you so much for doing that."

But Drew shook her head. "All I did was hand him your card. Nothing to thank me for."

"Well, I can't wait to get started. First thing Monday."

"Then maybe we'll run into each other. I've got those same three houses."

"You want a drink?" Audrey interrupted. "Rhonda's coming this way."

Drew declined. "I should get back. I don't suppose I'm making a very good impression on a first date, standing here talking to two beautiful women." She winked at Jay. "Maybe I'll see you next week."

Before Jay could reply, Drew had disappeared into the crowd, leaving Jay staring after her. She's just perfect. Beautiful, charming... perfect.

"Yo, earth to Jay."

"Hmm?"

"You're married."

Jay sighed. Yes. Married. "She's just so... so beautiful." Jay glanced back over the crowd but didn't spot Drew. "I mean... simply gorgeous."

"True." The band started up and the crowd roared as Tammy George walked out. Audrey leaned closer, speaking directly into her ear. "But you have Katherine."

And where was Katherine? Was she even aware it was Friday night? Did she know that Jay was out at the bar? Would she even care?

Katherine was at the office, and no, she didn't know it was Friday, didn't know where Jay was... and no, she probably didn't care.

So Jay picked up her fresh margarita and took a sip, letting her eyes close for a brief few seconds as the music penetrated. She then turned into the crowd, her head bobbing to the beat, her gaze landing on Tammy George. Yes, she was definitely attractive, just oozing with raw energy. But as Tammy's hips gyrated and swayed, Jay felt very little. She glanced at Audrey, whose gaze was locked on the singer's every move, as were most of the others in the bar. Jay felt a curious sense of disconnection, of alienation. She felt there was a place she belonged, but it wasn't here. A heaviness settled over her, the crowd becoming nearly claustrophobic as her eyes darted across the bar, women moving in unison to the music. The room seemed to take on a life of its own, expanding and breathing as the crowd of women bobbed and swayed, all eyes on Tammy George.

She quickly set her drink on the bar, grabbing Audrey's arm and pulling her closer. "I gotta get some air," she said loudly.

Audrey nodded, her gaze turning back to the stage as Jay slipped quickly away.

Jay stood in the middle of the room, holding swatches up, trying to decide on which shade of brown to go with. Earlier, after much indecision, she'd chosen a rusty red for the walls in the dining room, but the contrast for the baseboards and trim was proving a difficult choice. Mainly because she hated rusty red.

"Then why did you choose it?" she asked, her low voice echoing in the empty house.

Yesterday, as she finished up the faux painting in the living room—her specialty—she'd had to fight the last of the carpenters as they'd finished staining the cabinets in the kitchen. Today, she was completely alone, and she'd gone from room to room, picking out colors and designs. Tomorrow she'd start the actual painting. Connie, whom she met while still at Wilkes and Bonner, served as her part-time help, quite happy to slap paint on walls all day while she sang along with her iPod. Which was fine with Jay. She could play with faux painting for hours, but when it came to uniform colors, she got bored with it easily.

Which was what she was fast approaching as she tried to decide on this, her last room.

"Whatcha doin'?"

Jay jumped, her scream turning into a growl, watching hundreds of swatches fall to the floor as her hand went to still her racing heart. Drew Montgomery stood there, tiny tank top barely covering her upper body, loose-hanging shorts stained with dirt covering the lower portion. Jay couldn't help herself as her gaze moved over the woman, pausing at her feet, which were safely clad inside work boots.

She finally breathed again. "You scared the crap out of me," she said, breaking into a smile.

"Sorry, didn't mean to. Thought you heard me." Drew bent to gather the fallen swatches and Jay did the same. "Hope these weren't in any particular order."

"Every good designer would tell you of course they're in some sort of order." Jay grinned. "I have a hard time keeping them that way." She paused. "You're starting on the yard?" Mr. Kline had told her Drew would be by sometime this week, not that Jay had been looking for her or anything.

"Yeah. Should have been here Monday, but we got behind. We were about half done with this other house when it sold. The new owner wanted some things changed."

"Can they do that?"

"Oh, sure. If they want to pay. The builders have already paid me and have tacked on the cost of landscaping into the price of the house. That won't change. But the new owners can plant whatever they want. I certainly don't want to go to the trouble of putting in my stuff only to have them rip it up. So I try to work with them on the cost."

They stood, Drew handing Jay her share of the swatches.

"Thanks," Jay said, allowing Drew to capture her eyes. Now she knew why she'd picked that particular color of green for the master bedroom. It just oozed sexuality.